For Breast-Feeding Moms, Co-Workers' Support Is Key

A study published in Health Communication found co-workers' support is essential for new mothers who want to continue breast-feeding after going back to work, reports HealthDay News . Michigan State University Professor Joanne Goldbort notes in the workplace, a breast-feeding woman "has to work collegially with co-workers, gain their support to assist with the times she's away from her desk, and ultimately try to lessen the 'you get a break and I don't' stigma." The study involved more than 330 new mothers who continued breast-feeding after returning to their jobs, more than half of whom stopped breast-feeding within six months. Returning to work was a key factor in a woman's decision to stop breast-feeding, but co-worker support was important for those who continued breast-feeding. More than 25 percent of mothers who tried to continue breast-feeding after returning to work did so because their workplace offered a supportive environment. About 15 percent said they kept breast-feeding because they had co-workers or supervisors who encouraged them. "If women know that co-workers and supervisors will support them in their breast-feeding efforts, it can make a big difference," Goldbort says.