In the early part of that decade, 44 percent continued to work during pregnancy; that rose to 67 percent among women who gave birth to their first child between 2001 and 2003. The share who quit work before or after giving birth dropped to 25 percent, from about 36 percent in the late 1980s. Fully 80 percent of the women who worked during their pregnancy from 2001 to 2003 continued to do so into the last month of pregnancy, compared with 35 percent in 1961-65. In the early part of this decade, 55 percent returned to work within six months after giving birth; that figure was 14 percent in the early 1960s. The share who said they returned to work at lower pay declined to just under 2 percent in the latest period from a little more than 4 percent in the early 1990s. The census analysis of maternity leave and employment said the percent of first births to women 30 and older increased sharply, to 24 percent in 2000 from 4 percent in 1970. read more

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