Breastfeeding and work

Throughout times and all over the world women and mothers have worked and economies would collapse if the work of women was to stop being carried out.  What makes it different in our time and place is the fact that we separate mothers and children, more so, we exclude children almost completely from our societal view. Children are supposed to belong strictly to the private world and if they are taken out in the world, special services make sure they are kept out of the sight of adults and their attention as possible. For mothers who work outside of house this poses an extra problem. First, they will have to extract the feeding part from the breastfeeding relation, outsource the relation part, and collect the food in an alternative way. Next comes the even bigger problem that in our society we don’t want to be exposed to the knowledge that some women will have to bend themselves backwards and do odd things in order to take care of their children who are made invisible. Collecting the milk becomes, even if in our country in theory it’s legally taken care off quite nicely, a Hercules Task to perform in daily practice. Research all over the world shows that returning to work turns down duration and incidence of breastfeeding and the longer working hours, the less breastfeeding performed. Good counseling and preparation will help a bit, but what really does make a difference is a boss who cares and actively provides for a breastfeeding friendly work place. Companies that provide for a in-company lactation program will ensure more moms breastfeeding longer. Earlier research already showed that women who feel supported in their intention to breastfeed turn out to be more loyal and more reliable employees.
Mandal B, Roe BE, Beck Fein S: The differential effects of full-time and part-time work status on breastfeeding. Health policy (Amsterdam, Netherlands), 2010, 97(1):79-86.
Chao-Hua Chuang, Pei-Jen Chang, Yi-Chun Chen, Wu-Shiun Hsieh, Baai-Shyun Hurng, Shio-Jean Lin, Pau-Chung Chen: Maternal return to work and breastfeeding: A population-based cohort study. International journal of nursing studies, 2010, 47(4):461-474.
Ortiz J, McGilligan K, Kelly P: Duration of Breast Milk Expression Among Working Mothers Enrolled in an Employer-Sponsored Lactation Program. PEDIATRIC NURSING, 2004, 30(2)