Menstrual Leave; Why Women Need It ?

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I was in an urgent meeting when my cramps just came in a screaming flow. It was so painful that I could feel my insides contorting. I sat on my workstation for at least 30 mins writhing in pain. Yet I could not muster the courage to ask my boss for an early off. I thought It wasn’t a reason enough for a menstrual leave.

This is the story of Aditi; a corporate employee who has learned to deal with the lethal period of pain and meet deadlines simultaneously. Well, This is the shared fate of all the women who have become a silent sufferer instead of standing up for their right to rest during periods

Almost 25 million women have endometriosis illness. This illness leads to the worst menstrual pain. The pain gets so unbearable sometimes that may lead to a person’s death under certain circumstances.

Endometriosis Society India

Why is period still a stigma?

Even several years of concentrated efforts to spread period awareness through articles, discussions, blogs, vlogs, awareness camps, and workshops have done little change only. What is the reason behind stigmatizing menstruation and not doing away with it completely? Here is the answer. Destigmatizing periods will call for facing challenges like menstrual management, adverse reproductive health outcome, social ostracization of women, diseases, and death due to period pain.

In any case, we need to speed up our collective effort to demand a legal framework for menstrual leave law in India

A look at India’s legal framework for menstrual leave.

The Indian legislative has been extremely backward in framing period-friendly policies. Firstly, It was considered an important issue to be brought into the legal arena. Secondly, women had to always put up a good fight to ask even for a bare minimum.

On the other hand, countries like Japan, South Korea, and Italy have always had period-sensitive policies. However, Bihar is the only Indian state to provide special menstrual leave since 1992 through its Human Resource guidelines.

The Menstruation Benefit Bill 2018 tabled in the parliament prescribes two days of menstrual leave every month. However, it is yet to receive assent.

On the other hand, Private companies have been up to speed in implementing period-sensitive policies. Companies like Zomato, Byju’s, Swiggy, Mathubhumi, Magzter, Industry ARC, FlyMyBiz, Gozoop, and iVIPANAN are the nine private companies that provide adopted different frameworks to provide monthly period leaves to their employees.

There is another tangent of discussion on menstrual leaves in the workplace. Though some women have been demanding paid menstrual leave at the workplace, there is another group of women that holds a contrary opinion. They say providing menstrual leave will deepen male preconceptions about a female weakness which will also affect the overall hiring and promotion prospects of women in the workplace.

The issue of menstrual leave tends to a backseat among other issues due to the male dominance in every work sphere. They associate menstrual leave an attack on productivity and outcome.

Why do we need the paid period leaves?

Everybody is built differently and thus responds differently to menstrual pain. The biological complexities should be considered a strong reason to base the provision of paid period leaves in India. Deriding women of rest during periods when they experience excruciating pain not only violates women’s rights but basic human rights as well.

Right to rest: Every menstruator deserves a proper rest and medication(If required) while on periods. To work at the cost of an ailment not only worsens physical health but mental health as well.

Improved productivity: There is an infamous misconception that period leave will affect the productivity of women professionals. In fact, the period leave will leave women to rest and get back to work all fresh and energetic.

Period-sensitive workplace: Workplace policies have been running to and fro on various issues. However, period talk has always been a taboo topic. The provision of the paid period will make the workspaces period sensitive.

Encourage Women professionals: Often women flinch from taking up challenging jobs and companies that are not period friendly. This dwarfs the longitude of their career and personal growth. Period sensitivity at the workplace will encourage women to stretch their potential to the fullest.

It high time for all menstruators to stand up for their right to demand paid period leaves. In a country that has been oscillating between regressive and progressive reforms and ideas, Fighting for menstrual leave is going to be a tough task but nevertheless, We should anticipate victory at the end.

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Healthy eating, plenty of water intake, eating green veggies and fruits, avoiding junk, taking a walk post-meal, protein intake, no stress, meditation, and the list goes on. Well, that is pretty much a pregnancy planner for every mom-to-be, right? All of this is to keep the little life growing inside you healthy and happy.

If you are already keeping up with all these healthy habits then why keep Yoga off limits?

Studies suggest that prenatal yoga has multiple health benefits. It not keeps the mother and baby healthy but also prepares the body for childbirth and labor. It is obvious to have some confusion and doubt about prenatal yoga but this article will dispel all of them by the end you would be prepping for your yoga routine already.

What is prenatal yoga?

Prenatal yoga is a holistic approach to keeping the mother and the baby healthy while also preparing the body for childbirth. It includes exercises, and meditation plans appropriate for an expecting mom. It makes the body supple, relaxed, and free of frequent joint pains and body aches. Apart from the physical benefits, it helps in reducing anxiety, stress, and tension and pacifies the compulsive behaviors that stem from mood swings during pregnancy.

When should I take up prenatal yoga?

Everyone’s body reacts differently to change. These changes double up while you are expecting. Yoga helps to deal with these changes in a comfortable and easy manner. However, if your doctor has indicated some pregnancy complications already then It is advisable to consult your gynecologist before taking up prenatal yoga.

In another case, if the doctor flags off no complications then You may start practicing yoga right from the beginning of your pregnancy on the doctor’s advice.

In the first trimester

During pregnancy, it becomes important to build a relationship with your body. Instead of forcing strenuous poses and bends, start off with improving the basic agility and flexibility of your body. An amalgamation of a few stretches, bending, and breathing exercises would be perfect to start off your yoga routine.

In the Second trimester

Visible changes in the body start appearing in the second trimester. The belly enlarges as the baby grows in shape, the size of the breasts increases, and mood swings become frequent. It is about time to practice pregnancy-specific poses such as Bound angle pose(Baddha Konasana), Cat-cow pose(Marjaryasana Bitilasana), Yoga Squat (Malasana), Easy pose(Sukhasana), Corpse pose(Savasana).

Avoid doing any poses that require you to get laid on your belly. Deep twists, long stretches, and heavy endurance exercises should also be avoided.

In the third trimester

Here comes the most precautionary stage of pregnancy. The weight doubles up with a huge bulging belly that leaves no room for mistakes while performing yoga. Be aware of taking a perfect stance while doing a pose and holding a pose with perfect balance to prevent your belly from any hurt or accident. Rest if you are performing it under expert supervision there isn’t much to stress over.

Benefits of prenatal yoga

You check and then you double-check before adding up anything into your routine during pregnancy. The same goes for yoga. Why should you practice prenatal yoga after all how does it benefit you and your baby? Here are a few benefits of prenatal yoga enlisted below.

1. Makes the body supple and flexible thereby preparing it for childbirth.

2. Reduces stress and anxiety.

3. Improves sleep cycle

4. Decreases back pain, muscle stiffness, nausea, morning sickness, cramps, and soreness.

5. Increases oxygen supply for the baby.

Precautions for prenatal yoga

Expert Supervision: It is strictly recommended to perform yoga under expert supervision. Leaving anything for chance is a big no-no. Experts are well trained and know exactly how to make the task easy for you. This also reduces the chances of injury or any unforeseeable complications to zero.

Set realistic goals: Start by setting realistic goals for each week. This will help you push your limits bit by bit without forcing anything upon yourself. You may increase your time limit by a few minutes each day to check your progress.

Stay hydrated: Doing yoga at room temperature may increase your normal body temperature as well. Thus, staying hydrated will keep your body cool and make the practice easier for you without making you go breathless.

Avoid certain postures: Strictly avoid deep bends or twists. Avoid bending from the abdomen as it may harm the baby. Ensure maintaining a normal spine curvature throughout the practice. You should also not be lying against your abdomen.

Know your limits: Once to start off this practice you can easily estimate the limit of your endurance. Make sure you do not overdo any practice, As excess of anything is bad.

While doing yoga if you experience any unease, pain, bleeding or cramps immediately consult your doctor. Make sure to put your comfort first and do not get into the race or compare your journey of yoga with others. Ensuring your own safety and wellness should be of utmost priority.

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