Protecting, promoting, and supporting breastfeeding among women in the labor force

The need to protect, promote, and support breastfeeding among women in the labor force is an important global issue that requires greater attention. An increasing proportion of women of child-bearing age are employed outside the home. Women who resume full-time work outside the home when their infants are young tend to have shorter durations of breastfeeding and less exclusive breastfeeding. However, evidence indicates that appropriate breastfeeding policy and support programs can help sustain breastfeeding among employed women. Effective strategies include delayed return to work, working part-time, improved conditions at work for breastfeeding, breastfeeding breaks during work hours, milk expression and storage, and access to breastfeeding counseling. In this chapter, we consider the special needs of women working outside the home; provide a brief overview of the literature; and address international policy regarding the protection, promotion, and support of breastfeeding among women who work outside the home.