What are the laws in Iowa for maternity leave? Also, I have read about disability on your site. I only have maybe 5 weeks coming if I use everything and my husband would like me to take at least 8. Thank you for your time.

Iowa law requires up to 8 weeks of unpaid leave for maternity. If you qualify for FMLA, you would be eligible for 12 weeks unpaid leave. That's not 12 weeks in addition to the 8, that's 12 weeks total, including the 8.

There is no provision under either Iowa or Federal law that guarantees you will receive disability benefits for the entire length of your leave. Essentially, you get what, if anything, your STD policy provides for. If that's only five weeks, then the other three weeks would be unpaid. Sorry.