# Going on maternity leave requires a present?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-on-maternity-leave-requires-a-present/662119>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [June 28, 2013, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-on-maternity-leave-requires-a-present/662119 "2013-06-28T14:27:49Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![PookahMacPhellimey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pookahmacphellimey/32/3175_2.png) [@PookahMacPhellimey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PookahMacPhellimey)\
**Post date:** [June 30, 2013, 9:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-on-maternity-leave-requires-a-present/662119/21 "2013-06-30T09:41:36Z")

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> [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](#):
>
> Is it normal for pregnant women to drink there?

She drank soft drinks. Don’t take it so literally. Although, yes, we don’t go into hysterics either if a pregnant women has a glass of wine with dinner.

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**Author:** ![Gestalt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/90ced4/32.png) [@Gestalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gestalt)\
**Post date:** [July 1, 2013, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-on-maternity-leave-requires-a-present/662119/22 "2013-07-01T05:39:14Z")

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Wow, I think 9 bucks is a lot, especially when everyone is on low-income and you are buying another gift for her later. And probably paid for her drinks while out.

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**Author:** ![PookahMacPhellimey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pookahmacphellimey/32/3175_2.png) [@PookahMacPhellimey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PookahMacPhellimey)\
**Post date:** [July 1, 2013, 8:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-on-maternity-leave-requires-a-present/662119/23 "2013-07-01T08:24:29Z")

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> [@Gestalt](#):
>
> Wow, I think 9 bucks is a lot, especially when everyone is on low-income and you are buying another gift for her later. And probably paid for her drinks while out.

Yes. Most of us clear 12 euros after tax. So it’s more than half an hour’s pay. We didn’t pay her drinks, though.

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**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\
**Post date:** [July 2, 2013, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-on-maternity-leave-requires-a-present/662119/24 "2013-07-02T06:12:20Z")

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> [@PookahMacPhellimey](#):
>
> She drank soft drinks. Don’t take it so literally. Although, yes, we don’t go into hysterics either if a pregnant women has a glass of wine with dinner.

Probably because studies have shown that [isn’t a problem](http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-11476456). Sure, not drinking at all is probably better, but the evidence shows that light drinking is not linked to problems. Neither is moderate drinking [in early pregnancy](http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-18506174).

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