FMLA doesn't apply to everyone unfortunately. And unpaid leave isn't an option for some families either.
My previous employer (who actually made a bunch of "mother friendly" lists) offered 6 weeks paid for vaginal, 8 weeks paid for cesarean with the remainder of your FMLA weeks unpaid. So everyone "came back" at 12 weeks but some had been paid more than others. And yes, it is horrible that this may be a factor in someone's birth choice... my former employer also offered some on site child care but you had to start paying based on your EDD regardless of when the babe was actually born so, a lot of mamas opted to induce in order to try and ensure their child really was "there" by the EDD. And we all know an induction is more likely to lead to medical complications or a c/s. So I do know many women who have choosen to compromise their own health and birth experience because they can't afford not to. It's tragic. What's impressive is that this woman is actually saying aloud what many women must be thinking.
That said, obviously I don't think it's in anyone's best interests to schedule a surgical birth to ensure an extra two weeks of paid leave. Even assuming a completely textbook perfect cesarean with a quick and complete physical/emotional/spiritual recovery the impact of the surgery can be huge. Minimally invasive procedures years later can be ruled out by a prior cesarean (too much scar tissue or adhesion growth to allow for the laparscopic procedure). Should she switch employers or need private insurance there are many companies that will not insure a woman who has had a cesarean unless she can provide proof that she was surgically sterilized. And companies that do insure post cesarean women may charge higher rates. Cesareans have been linked to secondary infertility and a higher risk of pregnancy loss/complications. Future births will be complicated by her surgical history, if for no other reason than she will be limited in her choice of provider or birth site unless she chooses a second cesarean (which may or may not come with a longer paid leave, may or may not be complication free, may or may not be a positive emotional place for her if her first surgery didn't go as well as hoped or led to down stream physical/emotional complications).
I second the ICAN site for general information (they have a handout that looks at relative risks as you have more c/s as well as relative risks as you have more vbacs). And perhaps check the
Natural Family Living Cesarean Resource thread here at mdc for ideas? Articles that discuss "best case" cesarean experiences may make her realize that even in a best case a c/s birth is more traumatizing than she realized and that the dollar amount of two paid weeks may not be worth the pain and potential complications.
My heart breaks for her and for women in similar situations... I know how hard it can be to face the thought of going back to work after the birth and the way a tight budget can affect the impact of two weeks salary. But she really needs to take a hard look at this and see if there is another solution.
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I'm actually writing her a whole series of emails (one every few weeks) with resources on breastfeeding, birth bonding, natural birth, vax info, circ info . . . I hope something will plant a seed!
