1511cf66_all_To_Action_on_Breastfeeding__Topic
[ID] 866 [Interest Areas] Concerned Citizen Other Areas: Working Mother [Comment] As a working mother, I feel that our current maternity leave system is unacceptable. Basically if a new mother can afford to take unpaid leave and if she and her company meet the requirements, she can take 3 months off unpaid. Others, unfortunately only end up with 6 weeks (if that)of short term disability and sometimes that too is unpaid. My mother worked with someone who came back to work at 2 weeks post-partum. Based on my experience, 6 weeks is not enough time to establish a good breastfeeding relationship with a new baby. I remember when my son was 6 weeks, I was still having many breastfeeding issues including lots of pain and soreness and luckily I was able to take off my unpaid time (I had 18 weeks total) and those issues finally were resolved a few weeks later. My supply was still establishing itself as well. I feel that if the new recommendations are to exclusively breastfeed for 6 months, then we need our economy, government and private companies (large & small) to support that. Ideally a minimum of 6 months should be given and in order to encourage more women to use that time off, it should be paid. Whether the whole 6 months is paid should be up to the government to institute a fair policy, so all women, whether they work at large or small companies can take advantage of it. Also I think its important to have some sort of transition period back to work, like allowing the employee to work reduced hours for a few weeks so its not a shock to her or the baby to be separated all day. For me, returning to work full time after being off for 4 months was extremely difficult especially since he was still so young. I cannot imagine going back to work in a high demanding job after only 6 weeks off. A 6 week old still needs his mother. A comparison study should be done comparing breastfeeding rates with countries with no paid leave versus those who give several months or a year of paid leave. [Topic] 
Paid Maternity Leave
Call To Action on Breastfeeding
Topic