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!!!

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