Does daddy heal mommy?: paternity leave and maternal postpartum health

Abstract

This paper examines the effects of paternity leave on maternal postpartum health. Using administrative data and a difference-in-discontinuities design, we compare mothers in households with likely eligible fathers to comparable control groups, accounting for seasonal variation around the implementation cutoffs. The results show limited effects on overall healthcare use and physical health during the first nine months after childbirth. However, we find suggestive evidence of significant improvements in maternal mental health following the most recent expansion of paternity leave. A better labor market attachment seems to be one potential mechanism.