In this episode, Barbara Robertson and Nancy Mohrbacher review recommendations and outcomes of parental leave policies around the world. Paid parental leave varies by country, but the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine (ABM) has issued a new position statement for maternity leave guidelines, recommending at least 6 months of paid leave.
Nancy and Barbara dive into some of the details of when mothers return to work, the economic cost of not breastfeeding babies, as well as the long-term health outcomes for women who breastfeed, such as reduced incidences of heart disease and diabetes. Nancy also reviews a study looking at the impact of parental leave on mental health issues, which is such an important topic.
And keep in mind, it’s not just the length of parental leave that matters – mothers need support for breastfeeding: from their families, their community, their health care providers, and their workplace. And they need that support through all stages of breastfeeding, however long they choose that to be. Parental leave policies can help provide the support that families need to be successful in their breastfeeding journey.
Resources:
ABM Position Statement: Paid Maternity Leave—Importance to Society, Breastfeeding, and Sustainable Development – https://abm.memberclicks.net/assets/DOCUMENTS/PROTOCOLS/bettinelli-et-al-2024-abm-position-statement-paid-maternity-leave-importance-to-society-breastfeeding-and-sustainable.pdf
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services: Business Case for Breastfeeding – https://www.womenshealth.gov/breastfeeding/breastfeeding-home-work-and-public/breastfeeding-and-going-back-work/business-case
Bartick, 2010. The Burden of Suboptimal Breastfeeding in the United States: A Pediatric Cost Analysis – https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article-abstract/125/5/e1048/72534/The-Burden-of-Suboptimal-Breastfeeding-in-the?redirectedFrom=fulltext
Society for Human Resources Management 2023 Employee Benefits Survey: Executive Summary – https://shrm-res.cloudinary.com/image/upload/v1685728116/Employee%20Benefits/CPR-222434-Employee-Benefits-Executive-Summary-FINAL-for-PUBLICATION.pdf
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