IN A bid to boost the birth rate, the government is dangling a carrot of four months of paid maternity leave.

This has been well-received by women.

In a Sunday Times poll, 88 of 100 married women said they would take all of the leave at one go.

But more than 90 of those polled also had worries over whether the prolonged absence will actually hurt their careers and bonuses.

As one woman said: 'Colleagues will have the opportunity to perform better and the company may even replace you.'