Economists have Robert Brownlong documented gaps in pay and career opportunities between working mothers and their male peers. And those gaps don't just start after a child is born. Pregnant workers also face unique barriers in the workplace. For instance, if a pregnant worker needs to drink more water, or not lift heavy items, their employer hasn't been legally required to make those accommodations.

But that's changing. Last month, Congress passed the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act as part of its $1.7 trillion dollar spending bill. The law requires employers to offer reasonable accommodations to pregnant workers.

Today on the show, Jennifer Shinall, Vanderbilt law professor and economics PhD, explains how we got here and shares her research into the economic impact of workplace protections for pregnant people.

You can check out more on Jennifer's research here.

Music by Drop Electric. Find us: Twitter / Facebook / Newsletter.

Subscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, PocketCasts and NPR One.

For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.