44 • PERINATOLOGY Vol 24 • No. 1 • May–Aug 2023 Review Article Women in some areas need to travel long distances in order to reach their workplaces. Even if workplaces do have on-site childcare facilities, it may not be feasible for the mothers to carry their babies along. A facility to transport breast milk to where the baby stays would be of great help. Workplace environment A supportive environment at the workplace is a crucial factor in improving the breastfeeding rates. Employers have to recognize that supporting breastfeeding employees is not a burden but a contribution to society. This would ultimately contribute to healthy babies free from long-term morbidities such as asthma, hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. This is also beneficial to the employer as it leads to decreased absenteeism due to childhood illness, significantly reduces health care costs, and increases productivity and loyalty of the employees. Providing lactation and nursing rooms at the workplace, on-site or nearby childcare facilities, extended breaks or options of part-time work or work from home, facilities to store and express breast milk safely, and if possible, to transport it to the place where the baby stays would go a long way in improving the rates of breastfeeding. Provisions of lactation and nursing rooms should be a must at all workplaces.12 These rooms should be isolated from hazardous X-rays or chemicals and have basic facilities such as clean drinking water, a comfortable chair, proper lighting, and ventilation. The lactation and nursing rooms should be equipped with a breast pump and a refrigerator to store breast milk. India should have laws that mandate all establishments and workplaces to obtain accreditation from a central agency, which after ensuring that all the necessary facilities are present, declares the workplace as breastfeeding friendly. Knowledge gap In India, grandmothers or domestic helps are the primary caregivers for the babies of working mothers, which affects breastfeeding rates. Another significant barrier is the lack of complete knowledge regarding expressing, storing, and using stored breastmilk. On one hand, mothers are themselves worried about the breast milk getting spoiled after expression and transportation. On the other hand, there is lack of knowledge regarding frozen/thawed breast milk among the secondary care providers. Education programs regarding the rights of working mothers, what to expect at the workplace, methods of expressing, storing, and using frozen breast milk should be strengthened. Lactation consultants have a crucial role to play in this regard. Attitude The most significant change that is needed is the attitude of the woman herself regarding breastfeeding. A woman has to realize that she is fighting not just for her right to breastfeed but also for the right of her baby to have a proper diet. Women support groups, social media support groups, and colleagues can help a great deal in this area. Conclusion The responsibility to ensure that every baby is adequately breastfed lies not just with the mother but also with the father and other family members, the employer, lawmakers, and society. The World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) campaign was started in 1992, with annual themes that involve health care systems, community support, ecology, economy, science, education, and human rights to step up breastfeeding. WBW is observed every year from August 1 to 7, worldwide. The World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action coordinates the global WBW campaign. In 2018, the World Health Assembly resolution endorsed this campaign as an important breastfeeding-promotion strategy.13 The theme of WBW 2023 is “Enabling Breastfeeding—Making a Difference for Working Parents”, and our article addresses the same issue, predominantly focusing on the Indian scenario. References 1. World Health Organization. Global strategy for infant and young child feeding. www.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/ Mangla M, et al. Improving Breastfeeding Rates in Working Mothers
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