T
he benefits of breastfeeding
are well known. Not only
does it have a protective
effect for babies against
certain illnesses and allergies, it
is also beneficial for the mother’s
health and it helps with bonding. So
clear are the benefits that the World
Health Organisation recommends
that women exclusively breastfeed –
with no supplementation of formula
or water – for the first six months of
a baby’s life. So when a new mum
has worked hard to establish a
breastfeeding relationship, it can seem
a cruel blow when Hong Kong’s paltry
ten-week maternity leave comes to an
abrupt end and, all too soon, a mother
is faced with the decision of how she
will feed her baby, once she can no
longer be at home, breastfeeding
whenever necessary.
Although many mothers might
want to continue feeding their child
with breast milk on their return to
work, for many, the challenges may
seem insurmountable. To make it
work, a mother will either have to
have her baby close at hand, so she
can feed when necessary, or find a
private place and be able to allocate
some time to expressing milk, which
she can refrigerate and use for her
baby’s bottle feeds in her absence.
In some roles and workplaces, either
of these options can be extremely
difficult – or even impossible – to
achieve. Some workplaces are just
not suitable for babies to visit, and
many roles do not allow employees
the flexibility and autonomy to work
their day around their need to express.
In these cases, formula may seem
like the only practical option. Add
to this Hong Kong’s culture of long
hours, lack of work flexibility (such as
job sharing or part-time hours), and,
often, regional or long-haul business
trips, and breastfeeding might seem
one complication too many.
But despite the very real and
obvious challenges, some mums do
manage to continue breastfeeding
once they are back at work. So what
sort of help or support can they expect
from their employers? And how do
they make it a success?
Breastfeeding basics
Despite the general consensus
from health organisations and
governments that breastfeeding
should be encouraged, there is no
legal obligation in Hong Kong for
companies to help facilitate it. Some
companies do provide a breastfeeding
room with a comfy chair where
mothers can express and store milk,
and some companies even have a
breastfeeding policy, covering issues
such as flexible schedules to facilitate
lactation breaks, and the provision
Does going back to work always have to signal
the end of a mother and baby’s breastfeeding
relationship?
Rachel Kenney
finds out.
Breastfeeding
boardroom
AND THE
February 2014
57
