Today, new mothers represent the fastest-growing segment of the workforce, but despite the increased demand for breastfeeding services, many still struggle to have their needs met at work.
Eighty percent of new mothers will breastfeed, according to data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. For both the parent and the child, breastfeeding has been linked to significant benefits, including lowering risk of asthma, infections, and sudden infant death syndrome, on top of fostering an emotional connection. While cultural shifts and new federal initiatives, such as the PUMP Act, have expanded lactation access, many breastfeeding parents feel that their employer fails to accommodate their needs, according to a survey conducted by Mamava and Medela, companies which provide breastfeeding services.
