Real Life Solutions: Pumping at Work
We are proud to have Dr. Linda Mintle in ParentLife each month answering questions submitted from readers. To submit a question for Dr. Mintle, e-mail it to parentlife@lifeway.com and include "? for Dr. Mintle" on the subject line. This month we have an extra Q&A from Dr. Mintle we wanted to share.
Q: I want to breastfeed my infant but there is no place for me to pump at my workplace. Is it worth the effort because it is a hassle? I have to go in the bathroom that is not really equipped to handle pumping. I want to talk to my employer but wonder if he will be sympathetic or look at this as a problem. Any suggestions?
A: Pediatricians recommend breastfeeding infants for at least the first year of life. The benefits to your child are worth the effort — lowered risk of infections, illness, and obesity. The benefits to you include a faster recovery from pregnancy and a lowered risk of breast cancer, ovarian cancer, osteoporosis, and obesity.
There are several programs around the country now designed to educate businesses about the value of supporting breastfeeding moms in the workplace. Businesses may need to make a few changes to support women and often need education on how to do this. However, the changes are usually low in terms of cost and the benefits to the employer include lower health-care costs, absenteeism, and turnover rates as well as higher employee productivity and morale.
Breastfeeding an infant is a win for all parties. When talking to an employer, focus on the bottom line of cost effectiveness; don’t be defensive or demanding. Educate the employer on how this can help the business save money. Begin by talking to other moms at work and see if there is support for introducing such an initiative to your employer. As a group, you may want to present the benefits and ask about private areas where you can express milk. If you have a wellness program or human resources officer, ask him about this issue. If there is interest, a free kit can be ordered from the Health Resources and Service Administration (HRSA). The kit includes a brochure explaining why businesses should support moms, some easy steps to implement, and an employee’s guide.
Given the cost of health care, breastfeeding is one of the free initiatives a business can support that lowers health risks for the baby and mom. So yes, it is worth the effort.
