I had a little more than five months off for maternity leave. I could have used more, but I know I'm very lucky compared to some of my friends who weren't able to take off that much time.

So I thought I'd pass along this study done by the Economic Policy Institute, which I found interesting. It compares what's offered in the United States and in other countries. And, no surprise really, the U.S. is far behind. (Check out the U.K. - 35 weeks of paid leave!)

New moms aren't guaranteed pay during maternity leave here in North Carolina. That's changing in other states. In May, New Jersey passed legislation that offers some paid family leave, according to the report. New Jersey follows California and Washington.

Last month, I wrote about a local chapter of Moms Rising, a national nonpartisan group that lobbies for families and kids. Among the issues: Better leave policies for moms and dads. Go here to find out more.