1511cf66_all_To_Action_on_Breastfeeding__Topic
[ID] 592 [Interest Areas] Community Organizer Concerned Citizen Public Health Worker [Comment] Yes! We are the only developed nation in the world that does not require employers to offer paid maternity leave, and in fact still allow employers to discriminate against mothers (and fathers). Employers are part of social fabric and should have to participate in the social contract...infants need to be with their mothers, especially during the first few months of life. The benefits of this are enormous (breastfeeding is just one part of it). The long term outcomes of a healthy, bonded, breastfed infant are so much better than those who are not, and yet our goverment has to yet to see this as a priority because of the cost to business. If a healthy future generation of workers and citizens is not our goverment's priority, than what is? I am a stay at home mother in the Washington D.C. region and I see a LOT of infants cared for by nannies. These nannies are experienced and caring women for the most part, but the care they provide does not even compare to that offered by an infants parents, especially a nursing mother. In this area, just making the mortgage payment often requires both parents to work, and the absence of paid maternity/paternity leave forces many many parents back to work before they or their infants are ready. My husband and I make a lot of sacrifices so that I can stay home with my son, but at least we have the option. Many families do not, especially those with children who need a mother's care the most. [Topic] 
Paid Maternity Leave
Call To Action on Breastfeeding
Topic