How to make your workplace more breastfeeding friendly

Having a baby and navigating life as a new mum with a whole new set of responsibilities can take a while to adjust to. And for many mothers, the prospect of returning to work can raise mixed emotions. For some, it’s a welcome opportunity to reconnect with life before motherhood and to continue to forge ahead in a career. For others, the logistics of juggling homelife and worklife can feel overwhelming. And that can be especially so for those who choose to breastfeed. To help with the transition back to work, the Occupational Health experts at YourGP have compiled a list of practical tips for employers to ensure their workplace is as breastfeeding friendly as possible.

When the end of maternity leave is looming…

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of a baby’s life. Following this, WHO suggests continuing breastfeeding alongside complementary foods for up to two years or beyond.

In the UK, however, while the legal right to maternity leave is 52 weeks, many women choose to take a shorter period, often aligning with the duration of Statutory Maternity Pay. In fact, the average maternity leave taken by new mothers is around 39 weeks (approximately 9 months).

So where does this leave mothers who wish to follow the advice of WHO and continue to breastfeed beyond their maternity leave?

It’s a dilemma faced by countless families, but one that could be helped immensely by proactive employers. By taking steps to make their workplace more breastfeeding friendly, employers can ensure a return to work doesn’t have to spell the end to a mother’s breastfeeding journey.

The benefits of breastfeeding

There are multiple benefits of breastfeeding, as countless studies have proven. For babies, breast milk provides:

• Nutritional balance: It contains all the vitamins, minerals, proteins, fats and carbohydrates babies need to grow and thrive.
• Immunity: It contains antibodies that protect babies from infections and diseases.
• Protection for later in life: Breastfeeding has been linked to a lower risk of developing obesity, type 1 and type 2 diabetes, and certain types of cancer later in life.
• Better cognitive development: Breastfed babies tend to have better cognitive and motor skills development.
• Reduced Risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS): Studies have highlighted the protective effect of breastfeeding against SIDS.

Mothers also benefit hugely from breastfeeding. It can help to:

• Improve postpartum recovery: It helps the uterus contract after delivery, reducing postpartum bleeding.
• Reduce the risk of diseases: Studies show it can decrease the chances of getting breast and ovarian cancer, type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure.
• Support emotional bonding: Breastfeeding can help in the formation of the mother-baby bond.

All of these benefits can have a positive knock-on effect for your business. By ensuring your workplace is breastfeeding friendly so your employees can continue to breastfeed if they wish, your business will benefit from:

• Reduced employee absence due to child sickness: Multiple studies have shown that breastfed babies tend to be healthier.
• Increased staff morale: Employees that feel supported in the workplace are more likely to feel happier and be more productive.
• Lower staff turnover: Breastfeeding mothers are more likely to return to the workplace if they are supported to continue their breastfeeding journey there, resulting in higher staff retention rates and therefore lower recruitment and training costs.

Top four ways to make your workplace more breastfeeding friendly

• Create a dedicated space for breastfeeding or expressing: This should be clean, private, accessible and comfortable. Ideally it should feature comfortable seating and access to an electrical outlet for breast pumps.
• Provide a refrigerator: Those wishing to express and store breastmilk will require a refrigerator to ensure the milk is kept at the optimal temperature.
• Be flexible: Be open to the idea of remote working, so the mother can continue to breastfeed at home. Or provide flexible hours and break times so the mother can express at regular intervals in the workplace.
• Communicate openly: All staff should be made fully aware of your business’ commitment to supporting breastfeeding employees. Help to normalise breastfeeding and expressing by talking openly about it, and encourage employees who have breastfed or who currently are breastfeeding to provide feedback and practical suggestions for improvements in the workplace.

Speak to the Occupational Health experts at YourGP

If you’re interested in finding out more about ways to protect the health and wellbeing of your team, speak to the experts at YourGP about our wide range of corporate and occupational healthcare services. We’d be happy to tailor a package to your unique business needs. Simply call 0131 381 0322 or email occhealth@your.gp to make an appointment.