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Published
May 2006
Breastfeeding:
good for mom, By
Kimberly Hilden You’re a new mom who has spent the past few months on maternity leave bonding with your baby through baths and playtime, countless sleepless nights and diaper changes, and precious time spent nursing. Now, however, it’s time to get back to work, and though that means fewer diapers for you to change, it doesn’t have to mean the end of breastfeeding. With the help of technology, an employer supportive of nursing and a multitude of studies documenting its health benefits, there are plenty of reasons to keep breast milk in your baby’s diet. According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, breast milk is the most complete form of nutrition for infants with antibodies to help protect them from bacteria and viruses. Also, the American Academy of Pediatrics notes that studies indicate that infants who are not breastfed have higher incidence of Type-1 and Type-2 diabetes, lymphoma, leukemia, Hodgkin’s disease, overweight and obesity, high cholesterol and asthma.
Mothers benefit from breastfeeding, too, with studies showing a lower risk of breast and ovarian cancers and possibly a lower risk of osteoporosis after menopause, according to Health & Human Services. It’s also relaxing for moms because the act of breastfeeding releases the hormone prolactin, which produces a feeling of calm, said Kali McCauley, a registered nurse, certified lactation consultant and owner of Loving Arms Breastfeeding and Childbirth Education Services in Stanwood. For all its benefits, continuing to breastfeed after a return to work does take some planning. New mothers need to talk to their employer, “that’s probably the biggest thing,” McCauley said of finding out how supportive of breastfeeding the workplace is. Will the employer allow job share if you’re not ready to come back full time? Can you work from home? If you are working on site, will the schedule be flexible enough to allow for breaks to express your breast milk? These are questions that need to be addressed before heading back to work. “Also, you need to make a couple of trial runs; you need to look at a child-care provider even before the baby is born, and you should be talking to your provider about nursing before you deliver,” McCauley said. “You want to find a child-care provider that’s also going to support breastfeeding and is willing to give your baby breast milk, store it, freeze it and warm it up.” The next issue to nail down is where and how you will express your milk while on the job. In its issue paper “Workplace Breastfeeding Support,” the U.S. Breastfeeding Committee breaks down the components of on-site milk expression and storage facilities, ranging from “adequate” to “comprehensive.” At the “adequate” level, employers would provide:
At the other end of the spectrum, the “comprehensive” level, employers also would provide:
For employers, the benefits of making their workplace “breastfeeding friendly” are numerous, said McCauley, who offers a program, “Pumping in the Workplace,” to teach moms about milk expression and storage and also helps employers set up breast-pumping rooms. “Most women are happier, so you have higher morale and greater loyalty,” she said. “... It promotes a family-friendly image for the company in the community.” And then there are the cost savings. According to the U.S. Breastfeeding Committee, companies that have adopted breastfeeding support programs with breast-pumping facilities, proactive breastfeeding policies and workplace education have noted:
“It is a very big incentive to get women to come and work in your facility, people of child-bearing age,” McCauley said of employers who take proactive breastfeeding measures. “This is 2006, and we should be supporting what is best for our moms and babies,” she said. Back to the top/Business Women 2006 Main Menu
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©
2006 The Daily Herald Co.
Everett, WA |