Timing of Return to Work and Breastfeeding in Australia

Abstract

To examine the effects of timing of return to work, number of hours worked, and their interaction, on the likelihood of breastfeeding at 6 months and predominant breastfeeding at 16 weeks. METHODS:A nationally representative sample of Australian mothers in paid employment in the 13 months before giving birth (n = 2300) were surveyed by telephone. Four multivariate logistic regression models were used to analyze the effects of timing of return to work and work hours, independently and in interaction, on any breastfeeding at 6 months and on predominant breastfeeding at 16 weeks, controlling for maternal sociodemographics, employment patterns, and health measures. RESULTS:Mothers who returned to work within 6 months and who worked for ≥20 hours per week were significantly less likely than mothers who had not returned to work to be breastfeeding at 6 months. However, returning to work for ≤19 hours per week had no significant impact on the likelihood of breastfeeding regardless of when mothers returned to work. Older maternal age, higher educational attainment, better physical or mental health, managerial or professional maternal occupation, and being self-employed all significantly contributed to the increased likelihood of any breastfeeding at 6 months. Similar patterns exist for predominant breastfeeding at 16 weeks. CONCLUSIONS:The effects of timing of return to work are secondary to the hours of employment. Working ≤19 hours per week is associated with higher likelihood of maintaining breastfeeding, regardless of timing of return to work.

Frequency of Breast feeding among working women of Multan.

“…9 Moreover an improved rates of exclusive breast feeding were also observed when expecting women were provided with awareness regarding the benefit of breast feeding in the form of antenatal breast feeding counseling which is not commonly practiced in our region. 11 Our results were validated by previous researches which stated that socio demographic factors such as nature of job, 10 younger age, 12 ethnicity, 12 family system, 13 working hours, 14 inter pregnancy interval, 15 number of children, 15 and family income 16 were significantly associated with exclusive breast feeding among working women.…”

Maternity or parental leave and breastfeeding duration: Results from the ELFE cohort

“…We found that a decrease in working time during the first year post‐partum was associated with longer breastfeeding duration. In line with these results, several studies underlined that working part‐time was related to greater breastfeeding initiation (Mandal et al, ) and later breastfeeding cessation (Hawkins et al, ; Skafida, ; Xiang, Zadoroznyj, Tomaszewski, & Martin, ). We hypothesized that some women may prepare for parenthood by planning to reduce their working time and as a consequence are in better conditions for breastfeeding, but others may wish to breastfeed and consequently decide to adjust their working time for this purpose.…”

Influencia del tiempo extendido por la Ley 20.545 en el mantenimiento de la lactancia materna al retorno laboral, en funcionarias de un hospital público en Curanilahue, Región del Bío Bío, Chile

“…El trabajo ejecutado por Ruiz y cols 29 permitió revelar que en España se asocia la incorporación temprana de fórmulas lácteas a la reincorporación materna al trabajo, debido a que es a los 4 meses del menor en donde la madre debe retornar a sus labores, terminando en este momento el descanso maternal y con esto la LME, lo anterior demuestra que una vez terminado el periodo de postnatal la madre debe implementar formas de continuar con la alimentación del menor y en algunos casos, como lo evidencia el estudio, deben ser incorporadas fórmulas por lo que existiría una correlación directa entre el tiempo de postnatal y la incorporación de sucedáneos de leche materna y/o alimentación sólida. Además de lo anterior, otro estudio realizado por Xiang, Zadoronzyj y cols 30 que evaluó los efectos de las horas trabajadas en el mantenimiento de la lactancia materna, reporto que aquellas madres que tenían una jornada laboral menor o igual a 19 horas por semana aumentaba la posibilidad de continuar con la lactancia luego de los 6 meses, lo que permite demostrar que al ser la jornada por sobre este tiempo disminuye la prevalencia de lactancia materna ya que aquellas madres que no pudieron continuar con el amamantamiento la principal causa fue el sistema de turnos con el que contaban; esto es 12 horas de trabajo efectivo sin considerar el tiempo de traslado hasta sus hogares que fácilmente podría aumentar el tiempo fuera de casa.…”