It’s hard to breastfeed when you’re at work
OK, tell me something I don’t know. I hope the researchers from southern California didn’t pay too much money to learn that going to back to work makes it more difficult to continue nursing your baby.
Specifically, they learned that when women go back to work in less than six weeks, they are up to four times more likely to quit breastfeeding. And, if they go back to work somewhere between six and twelve weeks, they are at twice the “risk” of weaning the baby. The findings were published in January in a report titled “Juggling Work and Breastfeeding: Effects of Maternity Leave and Occupational Characteristics.”
Of course, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends breastfeeding for a full twelve months. And of course, the authors of the study say women should take longer maternity leaves. That might be possible in France, where, by law, women are given four months of PAID leave (six weeks before birth and ten weeks after). But here in the US, the Family Medical Leave Act promises full-time working moms (and dads) that their jobs will be there when they return from up to 12 weeks of UNpaid leave. Women who work part-time are not protected by the FMLA.
Actually, researchers from Canada’s McGill University surveyed 168 countries, and learned that the United States, along with Lesotho, Liberia, Swaziland, and Papua New Guinea were the only countries without any paid maternity leave. As many as 98 nations pay 14 weeks or more! Of course, it’s a matter of great debate whether or not we should pay for maternity leave here in America–a worthwhile debate that I don’t want to get into right now.
I actually just wonder how many women do manage to continue nursing after returning to work. My son was born in December. Since I was a teacher overseas, I lost my job for the rest of the year. We returned to the US and I began teaching part-time again in August. And, in fact, my son quit nursing soon after. For me, I couldn’t do the pump. I felt like a dairy cow when I hooked up to that thing. Now, with my daughter, I intended to return to work this month, but due to budget restraints in our local school district, there is no job for me. So I’m not teaching, and I am still breastfeeding. Probably not a coincidence. I had two friends/colleagues who would go into the restroom at lunch and pump breast milk, put it in the refrigerator in the office and use it for the next day’s bottles at the sitter. Whew! I admire them. I couldn’t keep that up.
Do you think that going back to work affected the duration of nursing your baby? Would paid leave make a difference for you as far as breastfeeding goes? Is it necessarily “bad” to quit nursing your baby after you go back to work at 6 or 12 weeks?
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Michelle says...
The FMLA act only applies if certain conditions apply. The company I work for only has 13 employees, so that didn’t apply to me.
I was able to keep my job after my vacation/maternity leave was depleted at just 4 weeks by going part time. I continued to work part time for as long as they would let me, but I had to go back to full time work at just 10 weeks. I pumped until she was 12 weeks.. but I wasn’t able to pump every 2 hours, so my milk supply decreased as her appetite increased. By 14 weeks I was only feeding her morning and night from the breast, she had switched to the bottle/formula the rest of the time. By 16 weeks, I has stopped nursing all together.
Has I been able to stay at home with her for a full 12-16 weeks I might have been able to increase my milk as she needed me to, but the circumstances wouldn’t allow. I wish I could have nursed her longer.
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Intrepidgirl says...
My baby is 16 weeks old and I returned to work when he was 9 weeks old. I have been pumping for him at work and then those bottles are his food for the next day. It’s working out just fine. The key is to have a caregiver who is committed to breastfeeding. My baby is in a home-based daycare and the woman has more than 20 years of caregiving experience. I was on a waiting list through an agency and when she had a spot, the first thing she asked me was, “are you breastfeeding?” I thought maybe she wanted children to be formula fed, but she really supports breastfeeding mothers. Additionally, my workplace is pump-friendly too. I have an office with a door and access to a fridge. And luckily so far I’ve had plenty of milk for the little guy. If all of these 3 variables continue to work out so well, I’ll be able to do this for some time…hopefully until my next goal of 6 months exclusively breastmilk fed. I set short-term and long-term goals for myself, which keeps me motivated and gives me a sense of accomplishment when I reach them. I discuss breastfeeding a lot on my blog. It’s something I enjoy, it’s good for him, and gives me a sense of closeness and bonding when I return to my baby after the work day. Thanks for addressing this!
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Susan says...
I started pumping for my daughter at 3 months when I went back to work. She is about to be 17months and I am still pumping.
Dawn says...
I had challenges using a pump too but ffortunately don’t have to. Do I think it’s bad to wean because you have to go back to work? No but it is unfortunate because of the health benefits and the costs of both formula and daycare! Just wanted to say I feel your pain with the pumping. I was offered a paid business trip to vegas in march and can’t go because I can’t pump. Not to mention I’d love more than two hours away from the baby LOL
Beth says...
I too am a teacher. I use my 25-30 minutes of lunch every day to pump, with no time for eating. I wolf down a pack of crackers after I pump (can’t do the hands free thing due to concerns with let-down – pumping is 100% hands on for me). I hate that FMLA doesn’t protect us more. I have an 8 month old son that I have breastfed exclusively, and I intend to keep on no matter how hard it gets, but it IS hard!
jess says...
I went back to work when my son was 3 months old. I pumped for the next 6, until he weaned himself off my breast and straight to the bottle. At that point, I couldn’t keep up with his demand, so he ended up on formula.
However, any breastfeeding or pumping is always beneficial, so moms that are doing it, keep doing it if you can!
I can’t wait to breastfeed my second one (due in June). It is the best for your baby’s health and yours and the bonding is exquisite.
lauren says...
Breastfeeding is best for your baby. period. I went back to work when my son was 4 1/2 months old. I pumped 2-3 times at work, then breastfed exclusively when we were together. I’m lucky to work only 3 days a week, but I would’ve pumped 5 days a week if I had to. My son was breastfed for 13 and a half months.
Heiddi says...
I only breastfed for about a week or two because my son had trouble keeping it down. By the time I went to the pediatrician to find out what was going on, it was time for me to go back to work. And no one there told me about the FMLA. I found out when I got back. I was so upset. Then again, I had to go back to work to support my child.
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Dawn says...
just wanted to thank everyone for visiting and for the comments. This is an important topic and it’s interesting to read everyone’s situations.
Kat says...
I returned to teaching when my son was 15 weeks old. I pumped several times a day and had a great sitter who understood breastfeeding. I used a hospital grade pump (covered by insurance), hands free bra, and graded papers, ate, and read while pumping. We weaned at 12 months just before the end of the school year. I am due with our second child any day now and will only get 10 weeks off.
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Alexandra Lutz says...
An additional thought… I was discussing with a girlfriend that my daughter (now 9 months old) has been refusing to nurse at times. Trying to wean herself, I suppose. I don’t mind giving her a bottle, but formula is so expensive! My friend suggested I try to pump again. Any ideas about the best kind of “inexpensive” pump to buy or rent?