World Breastfeeding Week 1-7 August 2015:
Breastfeeding and Work: Let’s make it work!
UK breastfeeding organisations come together to support mums this
World Breastfeeding Week
The major UK breastfeeding organisations have joined forces for World Breastfeeding Week to show their support for mothers returning to work.
A joint statement has been issued by the organisations, which includes La Leche League GB, the Breastfeeding Network, the Association of Breastfeeding Mothers, the Lactation Consultants of Great Britain and Maternity Action.
In the statement they call for improved legislation for breastfeeding women returning to the workplace. Introducing such legislation would have benefits for both employees and employers – breastfed babies are less likely to get sick, meaning parents need to take less time off, and employees in organisations that accommodate and support breastfeeding are more likely to have higher levels of staff morale and satisfaction and in turn higher productivity levels.
Support for mothers to make their own decisions about when and how they return to work and how breastfeeding can fit in alongside paid work, combined with good quality information for employers about how they can accommodate breastfeeding mothers on their return to work is vital alongside legislation to ensure everyone is treated equally.
A mum says: “I have returned to work now twice, full time. My first child was bottle-fed so I was apprehensive the second time about how breastfeeding would go when I returned. I had excellent information from a breastfeeding counsellor about different options and I’m particularly happy that I kept breastfeeding and working.”
The organisations are also using social media to ask mums to share their stories about returning to work and how they managed to make it work.
For more information and to read the full statement, please visit: www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/WBW
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Notes to editors
For further information, please contact Felicity Lambert, 07979872301 felicity.lambert@breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk
For families looking for support and information on this or any aspect of breastfeeding:
- National Breastfeeding Helpline: 0300 100 0212 (run by the Breastfeeding Network and Association of Breastfeeding Mothers)
- LLLGB Helpline: 0845 120 2918
- NCT Helpline: 0300 330 0700
- Maternity Action Helpline: 0845 600 8533
- abm.me.uk/breastfeeding-information/returning-to-work-whilst-breastfeeding/
- breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/breastfeeding-help/returning-to-work/
- maternityaction.org.uk/wp/advice-2/mums-dads-scenarios/6-breastfeeding-rights/continuing-to-breastfeed-when-you-return-to-work/