Why Businesses Should Adopt Worksite Lactation Programs

from A Milky Way blog



With the new Breastfeeding Provision law that requires companies to provide time and a private place for moms to breastfeed and an emphasis on Health & Wellness in today's corporate environment, right now is the perfect time to encourage businesses develop work-place lactation programs. Working mothers want to breastfeed after returning to work. Businesses should want them to just as much. But why?


WHY EMPLOYERS SHOULD ENCOURAGE THEIR EMPLOYEES TO BREASTFEED
If 90% of families breastfed for six months the savings would be astounding - $13 billion in health care costs and the lives of 900 babies every year. This translates to an estimated annual savings of $350 to more than $500 per baby. This is significant as children are typically covered under an employee's health care insurance plan. There are also important health benefits for the mother, most significant of which for working mothers are lower levels of stress, lower risk of postpartum depression and less incidence of mastitis. It would therefore follow that working mothers who breastfeed would be more productive and would take considerably less sick time to tend to themselves and their babies.


WHY WORK-PLACE LACTATION PROGRAMS
Studies show that working full-time 3 months postpartum decreases breastfeeding duration by an average of 8.2 weeks relative to not working and returning to work is cited as a leading cause of early weaning. Corporate work-place lactation programs have been proven to improve breastfeeding success rates at the National Health Objective's six-month goal by an astounding 75%-80%.


Another compelling reason for companies to implement worksite lactation programs is increased employee retention. Limerick, Inc., a breast pump company and pioneer in worksite lactation programs since 1992, conducted a comprehensive study of their lactation programs that found that 94.2% of the moms who participated returned to work at the same company. Higher employee retention translates to losing less talent and less time and money spent re-training new employees.


Ernst & Young who uses Limerick's comprehensive lactation program scores in the Top Ten Businesses for Women year in and year out. Businesses with worksite lactation programs will have more appeal and will therefore be able to attract better talent.
 
We are convinced that companies who choose to provide their employees access to prenatal education, ongoing support from a Certified Lactation Consultant and a supportive work environment which provides both privacy and efficient breast pumps will see a great immediate and long-term return on their investment.