I could not help but add my .02 on this topic, one in which I have done
repeated studies.
Some points to consider:

1) In most highly industrialized countries, MORE women planning to return
to work initiate breastfeeding than those who are full-time stay at home
mothers.  Why?  Very likely a reflection of social class and maternal
education.  Put another way, more women who plan to return to work are
better educated than many (though certainly not all) women who stay at home
and (presumably) have fewer skills they can sell on the open market in the
form of a job for which they are paid money. [Please: I am not attempting
to impugn stay-at-home mothers; am just the messenger here.]

2) In many cases, after the mother returns to work, the number of hours she
works (fulltime or parttime or more than fulltime) often makes a difference
in terms of breastfeeding duration.

3) #2 above is especially true if the working mother is relatively
uninformed about why and how she can maintain/stimulate her milk supply
when separated from the baby.  Keep in mind that many such women stop
breastfeeding during their work hours and do not pump or express by hand
during this period, breastfeeding only when home with the baby.  It doesn't
take a LACTNUT to realize that markedly reduced stimulation of the breasts
may result in a reduction in milk production and subsequent addition of
supplements to the baby, even when mother and baby are together.  Over
time, what happens?  You know, of course.  The mother weans earlier than
she expected/wanted to.

4) #2 above is also true if the working mother does not respond to the
baby's (usually) increased interest in breastfeeding more often when she is
home, esp. in the evening and needs her at night as well for touching as
well as nurturing.  Obviously, co-sleeping would take care of this
situation, but many working mothers fear that doing so will mean LESS sleep
rather than at least as much as they were getting before and are often
quite reluctant to bring baby to bed to see that she will get MORE sleep
and baby will get more breastfeedings (thanks you Jim McKenna for making
this so clear in your recent article in PEDIATRICS on co-sleeping and its
relationship to breastfeeding).

5) MOre first-time mothers return to work (and earlier as well) than
second-time mothers.  Far fewer women with three or more children return to
work.  This relates both to childcare needs and expenses and to the greater
likelhood that their husband/partner may be making enough money on his own
to sustain their household without the mother also having to work fulltime.
(an issue of time increasing earning potential as well as the wisdom of
practicing available mothering around the clock, not just when home from
work--I personally know the differences, having experienced both as a
single mother).

Working and breastfeeding is a complex issue and presents no easy answers.
Hoping the above makes that complexity a bit clearer....

PS A committed mother can certainly experience as lengthy a breastfeeding
experience as she wishes. Several women in one of my studies breastfed well
past 3 years--even when working fulltime.

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"We are all faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly
disguised as impossible situations."
Kathleen G. Auerbach,PhD, IBCLC (Ferndale, WA USA) [log in to unmask]
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