Breast milk expression in the workplace: A look at frequency and time

Wendelin M. Slusser, Linda Lange, Victoria Dickson, Catherine Hawkes, Rona Cohen

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The objective of this article is to study a barrier for breastfeeding women working full-time outside the home: breast milk expression in the workplace. Data are from a large corporation that provides employee benefits. Mothers express breast milk about twice a day when infants are 4 months old (x = 2.2 ± 0.8) and 6 months old (x = 1.9 ± 0.6), with a significant decline in frequency (P < .05 comparing the 2 age groups. Most mothers spend 1 hour or less expressing breast milk when infants are 3 (82%) or 6 months old (96%), with a significant difference (P < .05) between the 2 age groups. Mothers of younger infants were no more likely to work fewer days per week than were mothers of older infants. Most women can express breast milk for 3- and 6-month-old infants in less than an hour, distributed in about 2 separate portions, in an employment environment supportive of breastfeeding.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)164-169
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of Human Lactation
Volume20
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - May 2004

Keywords

  • Breast milk expression
  • Breastfeeding
  • Corporate lactation program
  • Employment

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Obstetrics and Gynecology

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