August is National Breastfeeding Awareness Month. This campaign aims to raise awareness on the importance of and to further promote breastfeeding. It is recommended to exclusively breastfeed a child for the first 6 months of life and continue breastfeeding with adequate complementary food from 6 months until the child reaches two years of age to achieve optimum nutrition. However, working mothers face extra challenges in achieving this. Therefore, we should work hand in hand in encouraging and educating our modern moms that breastfeeding can be possible even in the workplace.

According to UNICEF, Family-friendly policies enable parents and caregivers to provide the best start in life for their children; they pay off in healthier, better-educated children, a better-equipped workforce and lead to sustainable growth. Family-friendly policies help workers to reconcile work and family responsibilities and advance the well-being and development of their children. As of today, our country established Republic Act no. 10028 (RA 10028) also known as the “Expanded Breastfeeding Promotion Act of 2009”.

It is mandated in RA 10028 that all health and non-health facilities, establishments or institutions shall establish lactation stations. The lactation stations shall be adequately provided with the necessary equipment and facilities, such as: lavatory for handwashing, unless there is an easily accessible lavatory nearby; refrigeration or appropriate cooling facilities for storing expressed breastmilk; electrical outlets for breast pumps; a small table; comfortable seats; and other items, the standards of which shall be defined by the Department of Health. The lactation station shall not be located in the toilet.

Furthermore, nursing employees shall be granted break intervals in addition to the regular time-off for meals to breastfeed or express milk. These intervals, which shall include the time it takes an employee to get to and from the workplace lactation station, shall be counted as compensable hours worked. According to RA 10028, Lactation break should not be less than a total of 40 minutes for every 8-hour working period and shall be counted as compensable hours worked and this is in addition to the regular time-off for meals.

If you cannot go to your baby for feed during working hours, you will need to express your milk. According to Better health, the number of times per day will depend on the age and needs of your baby. To express breastmilk at work, you will need a clean, private area (not a toilet), access to a fridge to store the milk, an area to store your manual or electric pump (if you use one) and regular opportunities for breaks. Breastmilk can be expressed by hand or with a manual or electric breast pump.

So why is breastfeeding support in the workplace important? According to UNICEF, Breastfeeding support is crucial as breastfeeding nourishes and provides all children with the best start in life. Breast milk acts as a baby’s first vaccine, providing critical protection from diseases and even death. Breastfeeding also allows for secure attachment, cognitive development and reduces the burden of childhood and maternal illness, lowering health care costs, creating healthier families and strengthening the development of societies.

Supporting breastfeeding in the workplace has significant human and economic benefits. It improves the corporate image of businesses, showing that they care about the health and well-being of working women and their families. It also increases the retention of female workers, as they feel more supported by the company.

In addition, the World Health Organization stated that Breastfeeding is one of the most effective ways to ensure child health and survival. Breastfed children perform better on intelligence tests, are less likely to be overweight or obese and less prone to diabetes later in life. Women who breastfeed also have a reduced risk of breast and ovarian cancers, encouraging a speedy recovery after delivery as it prevents heavy bleeding and also improves birth spacing. Indeed, breastfeeding poses numerous benefits to the mother, the child and the company. Thus, we should enforce breastfeeding, even in the workplace. Help create a work environment that is not only healthy for the employees but also for their breastfeed babies. Support breastfeeding at workplace and let them do it with privacy and ease by establishing lactation spaces! For more information, you may also visit: https://mbfp.doh.gov.ph/faqs

PNFP-ZDS Marie Claire A. Gaas

References:

• It’s Breastfeeding Awareness Month!

https://www.first5la.org/article/its-breastfeeding-awareness-month/

• Breastfeeding

https://www.who.int/health-topics/breastfeeding#tab=tab_1

• REPUBLIC ACT No. 10028: “Expanded Breastfeeding Promotion Act of 2009”

https://lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra2010/ra_10028_2010.html

• Breastfeeding support in the workplace

https://www.unicef.org/media/73206/file/Breastfeeding-room-guide.pdf

https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/HealthyLiving/breastfeeding-and-work