Studies have shown that mothers who returned to the workforce often discontinued breastfeeding; most of them having breastfed their babies for less than the recommended six months. One of the top reasons mothers stop breastfeeding once they start working is due to the lack of facilities to express breast milk at the workplace.
Themed “Breastfeeding and Work – Let’s make It Work”, World Breastfeeding Week runs from August 1 to 7.
In conjunction with World Breastfeeding Week, MyNutriBaby, a community education programme spearheaded by the Nutrition Society of Malaysia and supported by Philips Avent Malaysia are taking measures to raise awareness of the issue by launching a campaign focusing on the importance of supporting breastfeeding mothers at their workplaces.
The campaign’s awareness video is aimed at educating both the public on the difficulties faced by breastfeeding mothers at their workplace as well as the employers and colleagues to be supportive of them.
An online poll on the MyNutriBaby site entitled “Working Mummies’ Wishes for Breastfeeding Month”, will run from August 1-31, where working mothers will also be able to share ideas on how to further improve workplaces to be more conducive for breastfeeding.
Provide a mother her right to breastfeed at work by being a part of the movement. For more information, visit www.mynutribaby.org.my or visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/mynutribaby