Rant on the ZERO weeks of Paid Maternity Leave we get in the U.S.

I am currently on disability due to post-partum difficulties. The government only gives you a maximum amount of income from Temporary Disability and once that amount is used up, you get no more income, which is what has just happened to me even though I am still disabled. As far as maternity leave, the U.S. pays maternity leave via temporary worker's disability at 2/3 of your income, which comes out of our taxes. Law provides up to 4 weeks prior to your due date and then 6 weeks for vaginal birth and 8 weeks for C-section. As a woman who delivered a baby just 2 months ago, 6 weeks is really not enough time to go back to work. The current set up does not really give a woman the opportunity to properly heal from child birth (especially if you tear or have epidural related difficulties or something else) or to adjust used to being a parent. The first month and a half, you barely get to even sleep. Never mind how hard it is to continue breast feeding, which has been proven to be the best nutrition for a baby, before having to return to work. Studies have shown that breast feeding is not only financially more viable for the mother, but it also provides a child with a healthier life in general. Most women do not get adequate time at work to pump breast milk, either, so many women wind up no longer breast feeding after returning to work. American Pediatrics recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of an infant's life for optimal health. After 6-8 weeks depending on the type of birth, mothers in the state of NJ are eligible for Family Leave Insurance to bond with a newborn or adopted child if their employer approves it with job safety. If their employer does not approve FLI, you risk the possibility of being fired if you choose to use FLI, which comes out of the mother's taxes. FMLA which allows up to 12 weeks with your new born child or a sick relative is unpaid. In today's economy most people cannot afford to risk their jobs by taking FLI or to make use of the FMLA. I believe that instead of bailing out Wall Street and spending countless dollars on wars, our government needs to do more to protect its own citizens, especially our children. How can we expect our society to improve if mother's are not supported in caring for their children? I find it appalling that mothers are expected to be comfortable with leaving their 6 week old in day care or with a babysitter (which are both incredibly expensive). We need to value the family a lot more, and we can guarantee to raise much more stable, capable, intelligent human beings by supporting their mothers in raising them.