Dear Anne and Lactnetters: Anne Wrote: >I am sure it is true that maternity leave affects BF. I know from >experience with the moms I help that lower income women returning to >work frequently quit BF because they cannot afford pumps/are unable >to work on flexible schedules, etc. But why do I keep hearing the >quote that in the US at least, BF rates are NOT in fact higher among >stay at home Moms than among working mothers? Anyone know where this >comes from and what is actually the case? In the U.S., the breastfeeding statistics are most widely collected, analyzed, and publicized by Ross Laboratories. The most recent publication of these demographics is "The Resurgence of Breastfeeding in the United States" by AS Ryan (Pediatrics 99(4):e12) and is available at <www.pediatrics.org/cgi/content/full/99/4/e>. Under maternal employment, this report says: employment in hospital% 1995 at 6 mo % 1995 full time 60.7 14.3 part time 63.5 23.4 not employed 58.0 25.0 Unfortunately, the statistics are basically frequencies -- there are no additional stats examining employment by household income, geographic locale, education, etc. Low income moms -- I work with them too -- do face challenges in combining work and breastfeeding. However, with the economy in the U.S. very strong and entry-level employers competing for our employees to work for them, moms are in a relatively powerful position to get more flexibility to pump on-site and better wages. We have a H-----s hamburger restaurant in town which started a new mom support group and allowed the employee breakroom to be used for pumping because the management saw the need to meet their employees needs (and to keep them happily employed!). Don't forget: WIC can purchase breastpumps with their breastfeeding promotion funds. We have begun a demonstration project with N------ III pumps as a loaner to moms returning to work, with a good milk supply and a strong commitment to begin breastfeeding. Worked great with a teen mom, too, who pumped at school! Don't let your moms think the only way to combine bf and working is with a pristine pump room and on-site pump. The most important component of working and bf is an agreement from management to give moms permission (and support) to do what they need to do to continue giving their babies human milk. Hope this helps! --Doraine Bailey, MA ILCA WBW Coordinator WBW 1998: Breastfeeding: The Best Investment ILCA Action Kit and WABA Action Folder available soon!!! ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com