WASHINGTON, May 19 (UPI) -- Many U.S. mothers face a series of challenges to breastfeeding because the potential inconvenience at work often appears to outweigh the heath benefits.
The U.S. Healthy People 2010 target is to increase the proportion of mothers who choose to breastfeed their babies for at least six months to 50 percent.
Most industrialized nations guarantee maternity leave for up to 16 weeks at 75 percent to 100 percent of pay, but a U.S. mother gets 12 weeks of unpaid leave without the risk of losing her job.
Other barriers to breastfeeding in the workplace include a perception of a disruption in job performance, lack of privacy for the mother, problems with insurance regulations and difficulty finding a daycare facility close to the mother's workplace, according to the study published in The Journal of Pediatrics.
Potential benefits to employers include an increase in employee retention, a reduction in health insurance costs, a reduction in absenteeism and a boost to morale.
"Much can be achieved by educating employers and the public about the health and economic benefits from high rates of breastfeeding," said Dr. Tonse Raju of the National Institutes of Health.
