Mother returned to work in a diaper to keep family health insurance

Dagbjört Barringer Gunnarsdóttir says she had to return to work in the United States after giving birth, still wearing a diaper and suffering from mastitis, while her premature son Óðinn was in a neonatal intensive care unit. She feared her family would lose its health insurance, which covered his treatment, according to an interview with Dagmál published by mbl.is.

Dagbjört recently moved back to Iceland with her family after 12 years in the United States. She had a job she loved at an American cosmetics chain, and she and her husband had bought a home, built up savings and waited to have children until they felt they had “done everything right.”

She was diagnosed with pre-eclampsia at 19 weeks of pregnancy. Her blood pressure was dangerously high, and doctors advised her to stay in bed. But she says she did not feel able to follow their advice because the family’s health insurance was tied to her job.

Under US law, she was entitled to up to 12 weeks of job-protected leave. She feared that taking the leave during pregnancy would use it up before the baby arrived, putting her job and the family’s insurance at risk. She continued working despite her condition, persistent headaches and vision problems, and was taken to hospital by ambulance several times.

At 34 weeks, her condition suddenly worsened at work. She smelled metal and saw flashes of light, then called for help over her radio in Icelandic.

“I just call for help in Icelandic over the radio, and nobody understands it or knows where I am or anything,” she said.

She then developed a sudden, severe headache, the last thing she remembers before being found on the floor. She had vomited and lost control of her bladder. At the hospital, her blood pressure was 198 over 165. She was in danger, and doctors induced labour.

Óðinn was born prematurely and needed care in the neonatal unit. Dagbjört says she had already used much of her leave during the pregnancy and had to return to work while still recovering from childbirth and her illness. She feared that staying away would cost the family its insurance and jeopardise her son’s continued treatment.

Dagbjört says the experience showed her how quickly circumstances can change in the United States. Her family has since returned to Iceland.