VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. A couple s introduction to parenthood was burdened by three- and six-week time constraints, which made recovery from birth, adjusting to having a new baby, and finding child care before returning to work that much harder. But according to new Department of Defense guidelines, active-duty birth mothers are authorized 12 weeks of parental leave following six weeks of convalescent leave, while the non-birth parent is eligible for 12 weeks of parental leave.