Mothers At Work

Articles

The Benefits of Workplace Breastfeeding Programs

General Information

Your organization is offering the Mothers at Work program because it recognizes both the need for and the many ways in which workplace lactation programs can benefit employees and their babies—and ultimately your organization’s bottom line. The statistics speak for themselves.

According to a 1997 study conducted by the Families and Work Institute, 46 percent of employees have children under age 18 and 35 percent have children under age 13. Though all working parents face the challenge of juggling work and family, this balancing act is even harder for women who make the choice to nurse their babies and continue their careers. Despite these challenges more and more women are choosing to nurse their babies—and to return to work. Consider these statistics based on the 1997 Mother’s Survey by Ross Laboratories:

In 1997, 62.4 percent of all mothers started nursing in the hospital in contrast to 18 percent in the 1960s. 26 percent were still nursing when their babies were six months old.
In 1997, only 18 percent of working mothers were breastfeeding their children at six months old as opposed to 29 percent of non-working mothers.
44.8 percent of women were employed outside the home in 1995 when their babies were six months old. 28.3 percent of those mothers had full-time jobs, and 16.5 percent had part-time jobs.
47.2 percent of mothers were working in 1995 when their babies were one year old.

Breastfeeding mothers returning to work is a statistical reality. Though statistics vary company to company, today almost half of new mothers return to work, some as early as six to eight weeks after giving birth. And many of these women are choosing to provide their babies with the continued health benefits of breastfeeding, even after returning to work. This, however, requires a commitment from the working mother.

Specifically, milk production works on the principle of supply and demand. The frequency of breastfeeding, or expressing (removing) milk (using a pump) stimulates further milk production. Decreasing breastfeeding and/or pumping, or stopping altogether, will diminish and eventually eliminate a woman’s supply. Therefore, an employee who chooses to continue breastfeeding her baby after returning to work, must breastfeed her baby or express her milk (using a pump) throughout the work day in order to maintain her milk supply. Workplace breastfeeding programs make this possible.

To fully understand the importance of a workplace lactation program—and sufficiently understand a woman’s choice to return to work while continuing to breastfeed—consider the benefits of breastfeeding and how, in turn, Mothers at Work can benefit your organization.

This publication is for general informational purposes only and it is not intended to provide any reader with specific authority, advice or recommendations. Where you deem necessary, we suggest that you seek advice regarding your particular situation from the appropriate professional.