大象传媒

The U.S. Department of Labor reported in April 2018 that 65.1% of all mothers with a child under the age of six participated in the labor force.^[1] As working mothers are a major driving force into today鈥檚 economy, the ability of new mothers to successfully balance work and family is critical to the health status of children. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the American Academy of Pediatrics agree that for 鈥渘early all infants, breastfeeding is the best source of infant nutrition and immunologic protection鈥�.^[2] While the Center of Disease Control and Prevention reports that 鈥�60% of mothers do not breastfeed for as long as they intend to鈥� and name 鈥渦nsupportive work policies and lack of parental leave as a factor鈥�.^[3] To support the ability of working mothers to breastfeed while working, several key action steps were developed by Former Surgeon General Dr. David Satcher in 2001 and were then updated by U.S. Surgeon General and 大象传媒 School of Medicine Alumni, Dr. Regina M. Benjamin in 2011. These action steps can be found in the report entitled 鈥淎 Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding鈥�^[4].

Key steps to support breastfeeding in working mothers includes:

• Find Space for Nursing Moms鈥擬others need a space to express milk which includes privacy and access to an electrical outlet. Many businesses that employ a large number of female employees ages 18鈥�45 have found that permanent space dedicated as a milk expression room is the most cost-effective and efficient option. ^[5]
• Find Time For Working Moms鈥擳he federal  provision of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act requires that employers provide reasonable break time for employees to express their milk during the work period. Women typically express their milk every 2 to 3 hours, or around 2鈥�3 times per 8-hour work period. Women who work 12-hour shifts may need to express 3鈥�4 times to maintain their milk production.^[6] 
• Find Innovative Solutions for Moms鈥擳he Office on Women鈥檚 Health provides in various workplace settings ranging from agriculture to retail. These solutions identify ways employers could implement accommodations that support the Break Time provisions.

Support from healthcare practitioners such as physicians is also critical to successful breastfeeding in working mothers. Organizations such as the , and the (SHLI) at 大象传媒 School of Medicine promotes the training of physicians on the role medical providers play in supporting the breastfeeding action plan of working mothers. This is done through training pediatrics, OB/GYN and family medicine physicians and residents on breastfeeding basics and support.

Training physicians, encouraging businesses to dedicate space and supporting time for working mothers to express milk are a few examples of how the business and medical community can support breastfeeding in working mothers.