August 1st – 7th is World Breastfeeding week (#WBW2024), a campaign that’s been running since 1992 and seeks to raise awareness of issues around breastfeeding in order to inform and galvanise action. #WBW2024 will focus on survival, health and wellbeing. It will showcase the need to improve breastfeeding support to reduce inequalities that exist in our society.
There are many health benefits associated with breastfeeding, for both mother and baby. This article has been written to support the campaign by emphasising these benefits and to discuss the obligations and opportunities by which employers can support breastfeeding mothers.
Breastfeeding – what the NHS says
As you might expect, the NHS has an extensive amount of guidance available. They advise that breastfeeding exclusively (giving the baby no other food or drink) is recommended for around the first 6 months. After this time, breastfeeding is recommended alongside solid food.
The natural benefits of breast milk
Breast milk is a bioactive fluid that contains proteins, fat, vitamins and minerals as well as hormones to help the baby grow and to keep them healthy. Comparatively, formula milk – or ‘baby formula’ is an ultra-processed food that does not provide the same barriers against illnesses or health benefits.
Benefits of breastfeeding extend beyond the benefits of natural breast milk. It also strengthens the mother and child bond as well as helping the mental health of both mother and child. Let’s look at the benefits for both.
Benefits for the mother:
The longer a mother breastfeeds, the greater the benefits gained from the experience such as lowering the risks of getting:
- Breast cancer
- Ovarian cancer
- Osteoporosis
- Cardiovascular disease
- Obesity
Benefits for the child:
Breastfeeding has long-term benefits for the baby, and any amount of breast milk has a positive effect. The longer breastfeeding lasts, the longer the protection lasts and the greater the benefits. Breast milk adapts as the baby grows to meet its changing needs and the mother’s body naturally changes the formula of the breast milk to help protect further, reducing the risk of:
- Infections
- diarrhoea and vomiting, meaning less visits to hospital
- Sudden infant death syndrome
- Obesity
- Cardiovascular disease in adulthood
Breastfeeding – the employer opportunity
Workplace regulations require employers to provide suitable facilities where pregnant and breastfeeding mothers can rest. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) recommends that it’s good practice for employers to provide a private, healthy and safe environment for breastfeeding mothers to express and store milk.
As many mothers breastfeed for the first 6 months at least, it’s quite likely they will want to do this while perhaps coming back into the workplace possibly for work or training.
As well as certain legal obligations, supporting breastfeeding mothers has benefits in terms of employee engagement and goodwill and reduced absence due to child sickness. This is because breastfed babies are, according to the NHS, generally healthier.
Forming a policy to support breastfeeding
Given the business benefits of supporting breastfeeding mothers, if you don’t have a policy in place, your organisation might want to consider the following NHS suggestions:
- Being understanding and supporting a break allowance for mothers to express milk
- Provision of a clean, warm, private room (not the toilet) for expressing
- Providing a secure, clean fridge to store expressed milk
- Understanding the need for flexible working hours for breastfeeding mothers
So that your female employees feel reassured that you have a policy in place, it’s good practice to let them know before they start their maternity leave.
In conclusion
There are many health benefits for both mother and baby whilst breastfeeding, and it’s something that the NHS suggest takes place for the first 6 months if possible. During this time, working mothers may return to the workplace which presents an opportunity to form a policy that benefits mother and baby, as well as the organisation itself.
More information:
Cordell Health have produced a new guide to the health benefits of breastfeeding and workplace obligations. If you are not signed up to this service and would like to find out more, please contact us on wellbeing@cordellhealth.co.uk.
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/baby/breastfeeding-and-bottle-feeding/breastfeeding/benefits/
