Breastfeeding In The Workplace Essay

In the past, breastfeeding in the workplace has been frowned upon. In 2010, a workplace pumping law was put into effect and nursing in the workplace is becoming increasingly popular as more women are joining the workforce. “It seems as though the only option for working, nursing mothers is to either potentially sacrifice the health of their baby due to switching from breast milk to baby formula, or to sacrifice valuable time and money, or even their job.8” Many mothers in the United States want to breastfeed their child, and most try, but because of busy lifestyles it is very difficult. In fact, within only three months after giving birth, more than two-thirds of breastfeeding mothers have already begun using formula, and by six months postpartum, more than half of mothers have given up on breastfeeding. One of the biggest reasons is because mothers are returning to work. Working outside of the home is related to a shorter duration of breastfeeding, and

Infants that are breastfed for the first six months, with no formula, have fewer ear infections, respiratory illnesses, and bouts of diarrhea.4 The risk of hospitalization for lower respiratory tract disease in the first year of life is more than 250 percent higher among babies who are formula fed than those are exclusively breastfed for at least four months.6 Breastfeeding also has many other benefits such as reducing the infant's risk for major chronic diseases and conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, asthma, and childhood obesity, all three of which have increased among children in the United States over time.6 Many women are forced to return to work early and are unable to experience these benefits. Low-income women are more likely than higher-income women to return to work earlier and are more likely to be engaged in jobs that make it challenging for them to continue