Working Women and Breastfeeding
In 1900, 20% of the U.S. labor force was female. In 1950, it was 29% and, in 1997, women made up 56.6 % of the labor force. In 1998, at least 50 % of women employed in the U.S. who became pregnant returned to work by the time their children were 3 months old (La Leche League). As the number of working mothers increases, employers are becoming more supportive of breastfeeding, due in part to the realization that breastfeeding can help their businesses.
For example, breastfed babies typically have fewer illnesses than other babies, due to increased antibodies in breast milk. Fewer sicknesses for the child mean fewer absences for the working mother, which mean greater productivity for the company. One study found that non-breastfeeding mothers were absent from the work site 3 times as often (due to babies' illnesses) as breastfeeding mothers.
Special Concerns
When mothers attend school or work while breastfeeding, several considerations need to be made.
1) Mothers need to select an appropriate breast pump to empty their breasts quickly and efficiently.
2) A knowledgeable care provider who supports the commitment to breastfeeding needs to be selected and/or trained (for example, taught how to heat breast milk).
3) Breaks at regular intervals (ideally, about every three hours) during the day must be arranged in order to have time to pump.
4) A private place to pump must be found, preferably with access to an electrical outlet.
It is also very important to establish a good milk supply after the baby is born and before the mother returns to work or school. This will make it much easier to maintain the milk supply when mother and child are separated.
