I heard on the news this morning that a new bill was passed in Israel
protecting the health of pregnant AND lactating women.  The good news is
that pregnant women will be banned from work which may be hazardous to
their health and the health of the baby, such as working with chemicals
or working in environments which can raise body heat for extended
amounts of time.  The woman can be given compensation or can be
transferred to less dangerous positions.  (She can't be fired.)
Lactating women will not be able to work in similar jobs for 6 months. (
Most women take a 3 month maternity leave anyway.)  My question is: who
came up with the figure of 6 months?  Some well-meaning government
person who assumes mothers don't bf past 6 months?  This reinforces the
NY Times articles in yesterday's paper which claims that breastfeeding
is starting to gain acceptance - but only for young infants.  BTW, the
headline on this week's "La Esha" - Israel's most popular weekly women's
magazine is:
BREASTFEEDING:  WHY WE HAVE SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH IT.  (sounds even more
negative in Hebrew.)

Susan Nachman-Srebrnik. IBCLC
Ranana, Israel

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