Assessing Workplace Breastfeeding Support Among Working Mothers in the United States

Background: Workplace breastfeeding resources (e.g., break times and private spaces) help working mothers exclusively breastfeed for 6 months. However, not every employer offers lactation resources as specified in the Affordable Care Act. This study examined working mothers' access to workplace breastfeeding resources, their barriers and facilitators to combining breastfeeding and work, and their recommendations to improve access to breastfeeding resources. Methods: Working mothers between the ages of 18 to 50 years who had given birth in the previous 2 years were recruited online to participate in the study. An online, cross-sectional survey collected qualitative and quantitative data from working mothers on their access to workplace breastfeeding resources and experiences with breastfeeding at work. Descriptive statistics were used to report the quantitative results from the survey, and the qualitative data were examined using the constant comparative method. Findings: Fifty-two participants met the inclusion criteria for the study and completed the survey. Most of the participants in the study were White, college-educated women who worked in clerical or administration support and education occupations. Approximately 78.8% of the participants reported access to private spaces and 65.4% reported access to break times for breastfeeding. Fewer participants reported access to breast pumps, lactation consultants, and support groups. Conclusions/Application to Practice: There are gaps in access to workplace breastfeeding resources, but occupational health nurses can inform and help employers implement lactation resources to reduce breastfeeding disparities.