To clarify a little more on the work environment where we are having this
issue: This is a very large company, so one of the problems of allowing a
mom or dad to bring baby and feed a bottle (of pumped milk) is that we have
no way of telling if it is truly breastmilk; we have to constantly remind
employees that this is a breastfeeding policy, so I'm sure having an
employee bottlefeeding in front of everyone would just add to the confusion,
and dilute the effect we want to achieve. I also worry that our new mothers
would not be as committed to learning how to breastfeed at the breast if
they know they don't have to to utilize the policy (and also worry about
those just using formula and calling it breastmilk).
We also try to be a model to other businesses in our community, and do
outreach to other businesses to help them develop policies - so, in the case
of the father wanting to bring his infant, we did offer to help his wife
approach her place of business about starting a policy - he declined.
The last issue is that we run the risk of losing the policy if it is abused;
if the higher-ups think it is being used for all babies, or if it is being
used as a substitute for child-care, it could easily be taken away -
From: "Rachel Myr" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Work breastfeeding policy issues
Date: Thu, 15 Sep 2005 23:45:19 +0200
Melinda asks for inspiration to defend the policy in place where she works
which allows mothers of breastfed babies to bring them to work for the first
4-6 months. A father who wants to bring his baby who will be fed on
mother's expressed milk, and a mother whose baby will not latch and who is
exclusively pumping, want to be included in the arrangement.
If I were the EP-ing mother I would have a very hard time understanding why
my baby was not welcome to accompany me but a latching baby would be. It
may be easier for her to express if the baby is present, and it seems to me
that if the goal of the policy is to maximize the number of babies getting
breastmilk, then there is no good reason for her wishes not to be
accommodated. To deny her something that she would have the right to if
only her baby latched, seems cruel to me.
Perhaps the mother of the baby whose father works with Melinda, works in a
place where pumping is feasible but having baby along is not. Perhaps they
want the baby to be cared for by a parent, but can't afford to be without
either of their incomes. Perhaps this is also a non-latching baby for all
we know. If the mother is home with a pump and father is bringing baby plus
expressed milk to work just to prove a point, it seems less worthy of
serious consideration, but in my mind there are situations where this could
be the best solution for the family.
Maybe the company should consider getting pro-active and contacting other
companies to tell them what a success the program has been for them, and
encourage them to institute it themselves, and this mother's company might
someday change. I have a hard time finding arguments for denying this
father the opportunity to take the child along, as long as the same things
are expected of him as would be expected of the mother if it were she who
worked there.
Rachel Myr
Kristiansand, Norway
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