1511cf66_all_To_Action_on_Breastfeeding__Topic
[ID] 980 [Interest Areas] Community Organizer Concerned Citizen Other Areas: Pastor [Comment] I work with many moms that also work full time. The average paid maternity leave is 6 weeks long. I do not see how this supports a woman to establish a healthy and comfortable breastfeed relationship, build up a frozen supply at home and feel comfortable enough to be away from her child and pump at work. This is a lot to happen in 6 weeks. I have a 5 week old and I currently do not have to return to work until my son is 6 months old (unpaid). I am making this decision because I know I would be too stressed to keep up with constant pumping at this point. When my son is 6 months the number of feedings go down and it will be easier for me to either pump or find a way to be with him for his feedings. At 6 weeks old my son will be needing a feeding every 3 hours still and this is too much for a person to deal with. Pumping for those feedings and not getting a full night sleep. This is hardest on blue collar workers. The work environments do not promote pumping. Sure, it's the law to give space, but when the space is the same break room share with others, or an open cubical or the corner of a room where other employees are told to avoid if they hear the pumping machine, that does not make for a very comfortable environment to pump. Also, in blue collar jobs your breaks are very rigid. 45 minutes for lunch and a 10 minute break. If you are watching the clock the entire time you are pumping you probably are not going to get that much milk because you are stressed. Paid maternity leave and availability of pumping space on the job is a major hindrance on promoting a healthy and established breastfeeding relationship. [Topic] 
Paid Maternity Leave
Call To Action on Breastfeeding
Topic