Maternity leave · 2026
Paid maternity leave by state (2026): how many weeks you get
A birth parent can get the most paid weeks in New Jersey and New York: typically about 22 weeks after a vaginal birth and 24 after a C-section, counting pregnancy disability pay plus 12 weeks of bonding. Massachusetts and Rhode Island allow up to 26 and 30 weeks if a provider certifies medical leave. Most other paying states give 12 to 16 weeks; 34 states have no state program at all.
Check your state
| State | Pregnancy and recovery | Bonding weeks | Most a birth parent can get | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | State Disability Insurance: typically 4 weeks before birth + 6 after (8 after a C-section) | 8 | About 18 weeks (20 after a C-section) | Disability pay runs longer if your provider certifies it. |
| Colorado | Included in FAMLI: up to 4 extra weeks for pregnancy or childbirth complications | 12 | Up to 16 weeks with complications; 12 otherwise | |
| Connecticut | 2 extra weeks if pregnancy leaves you unable to work | 12 | Up to 14 weeks | |
| Delaware | Medical leave: up to 6 weeks per 24 months | 12 | 12 weeks a year | Medical and parental leave share the 12-week yearly limit. |
| District of Columbia | 2 weeks of prenatal leave | 12 | Up to 14 weeks | Prenatal leave is the only leave that adds to parental leave in a year. |
| Hawaii | Temporary Disability Insurance covers pregnancy and recovery while your provider certifies it | None | Disability pay only (up to 26 weeks) | No paid bonding program. |
| Maine | Counts toward the same 12 weeks | 12 | 12 weeks | Benefits began May 2026. |
| Massachusetts | Medical leave while your provider certifies it, up to 20 weeks | 12 | Up to 26 weeks combined | Mass.gov explains how to move from medical leave to family leave to bond. |
| Minnesota | Medical leave up to 12 weeks | 12 | Up to 20 weeks combined | Benefits began January 2026. |
| New Jersey | Temporary Disability: typically 4 weeks before + 6 after (8 after a C-section) | 12 | About 22 weeks (24 after a C-section) | Disability pay runs longer if certified, up to 26 weeks. |
| New York | Disability Benefits: typically 4 weeks before + 6 after (8 after a C-section) | 12 | About 22 weeks (24 after a C-section), capped at 26 | Disability pay is at most $170 a week; the two can't overlap. |
| Oregon | 2 extra weeks for pregnancy-related needs | 12 | Up to 14 weeks | |
| Rhode Island | Temporary Disability while your provider certifies you can't work | 8 | Up to 30 weeks combined | Bonding (caregiver) leave is 8 weeks. |
| Washington | Medical leave for pregnancy and recovery, combined with bonding | 12 | Up to 16 weeks; 18 if pregnancy keeps you from working | No waiting week for leave after the birth. |
Maryland’s program starts paying in 2028. New Hampshire and Vermont have voluntary plans that pay only if your employer joined or you bought coverage. “Typically” weeks are the standard disability periods the state programs list for an uncomplicated birth; your provider can certify more or less.
How do pregnancy leave and bonding leave add up?
In California, New Jersey and New York, a separate disability program pays while you are pregnant and recovering, and bonding leave starts after. In most newer programs (Washington, Oregon, Colorado, Massachusetts, Minnesota), pregnancy and recovery are medical leave inside the same program, and a yearly cap limits the total. Weekly pay is a share of your wages up to each state’s maximum; see paid family leave by state for the caps.
What if my state has no program?
Federal FMLA gives up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave if you qualify. Some employers pay maternity leave on their own, and short-term disability insurance through work can pay while you recover from the birth. Estimate the pay gap with the baby budget calculator.
Last verified October 5, 2026 against official sources: California EDD, New Jersey DOL, New York PFL, Rhode Island DLT, Hawaii DLIR, Washington ESD, Paid Leave Oregon, Colorado FAMLI, CT Paid Leave, Mass.gov, Minnesota statute, Maine PFML, Delaware DOL, DC DOES.
Cite this page: This Mom, “Paid Maternity Leave by State (2026)”, thismom.com/maternity-leave-by-state/ (updated ). Data free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 with a link to the page.