Annual chargeable and total leave by month of birth for mothers and female comparisons. The figure plots average chargeable (annual) and total (maternity and chargeable) leave used in the 12 months following birth by month of birth or month of match. Vertical dashed lines indicate a change in maternity leave from 6 to 18 weeks (as of January 1, 2015) and from 18 to 12 weeks (around November to December 2016). The figure includes the linear fit of leave for 6 weeks, unexpected 18 weeks, expected 18 weeks, and 12 weeks, with a gap excluding May 2015 and November to December 2016.