1511cf66_all_To_Action_on_Breastfeeding__Topic
[ID] 142 [Interest Areas] Health Care Provider Lactation Professional Other Areas: employed mother [Comment] WHen I look at the numbers from countries that provide a paid maternity leave, I think about what a difference it would make to mothers in the US. As a lactation consultant (IBCLC), I see so many mothers who stop nursing when they return to work for a variety of reasons. If they had a little longer to stay home, those babies would receive breast milk longer - the numbers from Canada, Sweden, Norway, and Australia are very clear - it does help. I see mothers who return to work or school within 2 -3 weeks after delivery because they cannot afford to stay home and then add the cost of artificial milk to that as well and it is a burden to our families. I also see quite a few mothers who return to work and decide they cannot make ends meet and so they come out of the work force and go on public assistance - what good does that do for anyone? It is sad that in the US, we cannot provide that benefit to our families. I felt fortunate that I could return to work part-time, but not all mothers have that as an option. I think not only would this help with breastfeeding, but with all aspects of parenting and child raising. I implore you to really look at this issue. The first year of a child's life is so important! [Topic] 
Paid Maternity Leave
Call To Action on Breastfeeding
Topic