Abstract
BackgroundThe challenge of combining professional work and breastfeeding is a key reason why women choose not to breastfeed or to stop breastfeeding early. We posited that having access to a high-quality lactation room at the workplace could influence working mothers’ satisfaction and perceptions related to expressing breast milk at work, which could have important longer term consequences for the duration of breastfeeding. Specifically, we aimed to (1) develop a checklist for assessing the quality of lactation rooms and (2) explore how lactation room quality affects lactating mothers’ satisfaction and perceptions. Drawing on social ecological insights, we hypothesized that the quality of lactation rooms (operationalized as any space used for expressing milk at work) would be positively related to mothers’ satisfaction with the room, perceived ease of, and perceived support for milk expression at work.MethodsWe conducted two studies. In Study 1 we developed a lactation room quality checklist (LRQC) and assessed its reliability twice, using samples of 33 lactation rooms (Study 1a) and 31 lactation rooms (Study 1b). Data were collected in the Northern part of the Netherlands (between December 2016 and April 2017). Study 2 comprised a cross-sectional survey of 511 lactating mothers, working in a variety of Dutch organizations. The mothers were recruited through the Facebook page of a popular Dutch breastfeeding website. They completed online questionnaires containing the LRQC and measures aimed at assessing their satisfaction and perceptions related to milk expression at work (in June and July 2017).ResultsThe LRQC was deemed reliable and easy to apply in practice. As predicted, we found that objectively assessed higher-quality lactation rooms were associated with increased levels of satisfaction with the lactation rooms, perceived ease of milk expression at work, and perceived support from supervisors and co-workers for expressing milk in the workplace.ConclusionsThe availability of a high-quality lactation room could influence mothers’ decisions regarding breast milk expression at work and the commencement and/or continuation of breastfeeding. Future studies should explore whether and how lactation room quality affects breastfeeding choices, and which aspects are most important to include in lactation rooms.
Highlights
The challenge of combining professional work and breastfeeding is a key reason why women choose not to breastfeed or to stop breastfeeding early
Future studies should explore whether and how lactation room quality affects breastfeeding choices, and which aspects are most important to include in lactation rooms
According to research by the International Labour Organization, the provision of paid breastfeeding breaks is included in the legislation of 71% of the countries, and the provision of a lactation room is included in the legislation of only 31% of countries worldwide [2]
Summary
The challenge of combining professional work and breastfeeding is a key reason why women choose not to breastfeed or to stop breastfeeding early. To support women continuing to breastfeed their babies when they return to work, organizations may, among other things, offer paid breastfeeding breaks and a lactation room. When a breastfeeding mother returns to work, she is entitled to paid breastfeeding breaks until her infant is 9 months of age; her employer is responsible for providing a suitable, lockable, and private space for this purpose (Article 4.8, paragraph 1 of the Working Hours Act). Such legislative provisions cannot guarantee that a lactation room will be present for the majority of mothers. Despite legislation, there appears to be considerable room for improvement regarding the provision and enforcement of suitable breastfeeding facilities worldwide, and in the Netherlands
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