1511cf66_all_To_Action_on_Breastfeeding__Topic
[ID] 160 [Interest Areas] Health Care Provider [Comment] The shorter the maternity leave, the shorter the duration of breastfeeding. This has been documented in multiple high-quality studies. Currently, with UNpaid maternity leave, many women struggle to take time off of work- and many (lower AND middle class) cannot afford 12 weeks off without pay. Thus, they return to work earlier which, in turn, shortens their duration of breastfeeding. By implementing Paid maternity leave, we can help lower and middle class mothers stay home longer with their infants. This will lengthen breastfeeding rates. While this may threaten some businesses who would prefer mothers to take very little time off... in actuality, this type of policy will likely increase recruitment and retention of female employees. Added benefits will be healthier children- decreasing societal costs of ill or unhealthy (i.e. obese) children. Thank you, Jennifer Bevacqua RN MS CPNP-Ac/Pc CCRN Pediatric Nurse Practitioner [Topic] 
Paid Maternity Leave
Call To Action on Breastfeeding
Topic