How to Start Breastfeeding Successfully for Working Mothers

Abstract

Most mothers are unable to breastfeed as they need to go to work and adjust their lifestyles in order to be consistent with their works. This is more difficult than postpartum mothers who do not have to work because they take care of the child and breastfeed. However, breastfeeding for working mothers can be difficult, there are still numbers of working mothers who are successfully achieved with breastfeeding. Interestingly, what factors have made these working mothers overcome these adversities. This article aims to propose factors affecting attainment with breastfeeding for full time working mothers. Breast milk is the finest nutriment for the newborns. According to World Health Organization, the target of breastfeeding up to 6 months can be made at least 70 percent by 2030. The global six-month single breastfeeding rate is, in fact, only 41 percent. Thailand, in particular, revealed that breastfeeding rate was only 14% which is likely to decline compared to the previous year and it is quite far from the target. These result from factors associated with success of working mothers at some various aspects, including motherhood, infant, family, society, and public health practitioners. This academic article therefore focuses on the factors affecting the success of breastfeeding among full-time working mothers since breast milk is the best nutriment for babies. Hence, it also brings together breastfeeding promotion guidelines associated with the problems and needs of working mothers by providing appropriate advice to mothers working outside the home in the stages of pregnancy, parturition and postpartum period. This will help support full-time postpartum mothers to be able to work and to successfully breastfeed their babies up to 6 months.