In the USA what happens once

you've had your baby? how long do you get off work? do you get maternity pay? and what about your partner? what seems to be the most popular child care choices for whose who work? in the UK we get up to a year off work with 6 months full pay, 3 months half pay and the rest is the minimum amount possible from the government. I keep seeing ladies saying there's going back to work when their baby is 8 weeks old - that seems crazy to me!!!