The World Breastfeeding Week theme this year is 'Breastfeeding and work; let's make it work.'
The World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) is calling for concerted global action to support women to combine breastfeeding and work. WABA states "whether a woman is working in the formal, non-formal or home setting, she needs to feel sufficiently empowered to claim the right to breastfeed on behalf of both herself and her baby. "
While more and more women are making breastfeeding work as they return to paid employment, for many the decision is fraught with worry about how they'll manage to maintain a milk supply. There are also the practical aspects of expressing, storing and transporting their 'liquid gold' to think about too.
Sarah, mother of a 10-month-old, returned to work when her baby was five months old. "I remember stressing about having to express and what that would mean for me, how I would cope, if it was going to be easier to just stop breastfeeding," she says. "Once I started work and got into a routine it was fine and I realised I was worried about nothing. We are still breastfeeding as much as ever."
Cara, mother of a four-month-old, started back at work last week. "Our company has a 'soft landing' policy, so I work from home in the morning then go into the office at lunch. We have a nursery room so it's pretty easy to pump in the office.
"The biggest challenge is finding time to pump, so I schedule it in my diary and have even started walking out of meetings if I need too. I pump in the morning then breastfeed my baby, then head into the office around 12. She has two 120ml bottles of expressed milk while I'm gone, then feeds normally at night.
"The only trouble is if I have a late meeting or work event, but I have a nanny so I get her to bring her to me so I can feed her. Over the next few months I'll add on hours until I'm back in the office full time."
While Sarah and Cara make breastfeeding and employment seem relatively straightforward, for other women, facilities and circumstances can be much less accommodating for some breastfeeding women at work.
Hayley returned to work when her baby was six months old. "When I asked the manager where I could express while I was at work she said I was more than welcome to grab a stool and sit in the disabled toilets. I ended up expressing twice a day in my car. I wish I'd told her it wasn't appropriate to offer toilets as a place to express, but I didn't want to cause any issues with my job. It was a casual position and I needed the money."
Sydney lawyer, Cassandra Censigh, regularly appears in courts across NSW as part of her job, and she says that the court system doesn't supply facilities for mothers breastfeed or express. "Often the only private place to express is a public toilet where the conditions are absolutely abhorrent," she says. As a result, Cassandra has notified the Women's Lawyers Association about the conditions and has created a petition in an effort to have things changed. http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/facilities-for-breastfeeding-mums.
Sorting it out with work
To gain support in your workplace, it's best to notify your employer of your intention to continue breastfeeding as early as possible, preferably while you are pregnant.
The Australian Breastfeeding Association has excellent information to share with employers about why it's beneficial for businesses to support their breastfeeding staff, including increasing retention rates, lowering absenteeism, reducing recruitment costs and retaining valuable corporate knowledge.
Although many workplaces could potentially be happy to support breastfeeding staff, they may not be aware how to help. Try and make your requests clear and simple, and let them know that you'll need:
- a private comfortable space to breastfeed or express (NOT a toilet)
- access to a fridge (although you can keep freshly expressed milk in an esky with a cool block)
- time to express (you may need to multitask during your lunch break - a double electric pump and a hands-free nursing and pumping bra that holds your pump flanges in place will make things much easier)
- support from co-workers (inappropriate comments should be reported to HR, as this is discrimination).
It can be helpful to suggest that your workplace apply for Breastfeeding Friendly Workplace accreditation. This is awarded by the Australian Breastfeeding Association to organisations that provide three simple criteria to support their breastfeeding employees: space, time, and support. This will help your employer understand and implement breastfeeding-friendly practices - and you could be making it easier for other women to consider breastfeeding when they return to work, too.
Pinky McKay is an Internationally Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) and best-selling baby-care author. She's also the creator of Boobie Bikkies, all natural and organic cookies to boost your energy and support a healthy breast milk supply.
Pinky is holding a FREE teleseminar, 'Breastfeeding Made Easy,' to celebrate World Breastfeeding Week. Register now (the call will be recorded if you can't make the live time).
