Technological advances have empowered breastfeeding mothers’ workforce participation, now it is high time that the ecosystem catches up

August 1-7 is the annual Breastfeeding Week, and it made me reflect upon how breastfeeding impacts a career-oriented woman’s life.

Drawing from my own experiences a decade ago and having interreacted with many new mothers since, I can safely say that the breastfeeding period makes women feel completely disempowered, thanks to all the anxiety and complete disconnection from the real world. In this phase, the real empowerment that I found came from electronic and digital technologies, making me forever grateful to these inventions and businesses that support new mothers to regain control of their lives and transition back to normal social and professional roles!

For one, the electric breast pump is an innovation that has provided crucial support for mothers to rejoin the workforce, and eliminate the need to choose between breastfeeding and building careers. 45% of mothers in metros now use breast pumps, which offer a myriad of benefits that contribute to their empowerment. They are useful for feeding preterm babies, addressing issues like engorgement or low milk supply, and enabling mothers to express and collect breast milk during times they are away from the baby.

Expressing and storing milk for later use also allows husbands, partners and caregivers to share the feeding responsibility. Complementary technologies, such as reliable milk storage products, bottle sanitisation machines, and digital applications, further reduce stress by ensuring hygiene, quality, and spoilage prevention. Icing on the cake, breastfeeding mothers can also think of traveling outstation by pumping extra milk to build a reserve or even utilising specialised services by FedEx and some startups to courier breast milk back home!

Besides the gadgets, I think the mobile phone is a breastfeeding mother’s best and most empowering companion. Access to the internet helps mothers get out of the “motherhood bubble”, helping them stay connected to the outside world. Digital parental support tools are godsent for new mothers. Online communities and forums on platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp facilitate peer group discussions and networking, giving mothers a space to vent concerns, ask questions, and find support. These interactions not only help nursing mothers escape social isolation and helplessness but also help them learn from the experiences of other mothers who successfully transitioned back to work.

Numerous lactation and breastfeeding information apps provide FAQs, answers to common issues, support through webinars and video tutorials, and useful feeding logs and trackers. For working moms using breast pumps, some apps offer guidance on pumping and milk storage, help stimulate let-down by displaying baby pictures or mimicking the sounds of a hungry child, and even locate breastfeeding or pumping-friendly places when traveling.  

However, while technological solutions have advanced and become more accessible, the complementary change in mindsets and the overall ecosystem has been much slower. Breastfeeding is still seen as a "domestic chore" that women need to do in private spaces. Conservative mindsets and patriarchal systems continue to make it challenging for women to breastfeed in public or at the workplace.

There is a dire lack of proper breastfeeding areas, and mothers feel uncomfortable nursing in public spaces due to stares from onlookers, concerns about hygiene, and a lack of privacy. A survey found that the lack of breastfeeding support and facilities at the workplace is the biggest reason new mothers switch from breastfeeding to formula—only 33% of companies provide a dedicated nursing room, and 37% a storage unit for expressed breast milk.Top of Form

Therefore, breastfeeding must become a broader effort, involving all stakeholders that shape the environments for breastfeeding mothers. Here are some suggestions for ecosystem stakeholders to complement the support provided by technology for women:

Government and policymakers - India ranks 79th out of 120 countries in the World Breastfeeding Trends Initiative (WBTi), due to various gaps in policy and programs as well as inadequacies in budget, planning, and coordinated actions. However, Government actions can be the most significant enabler for any mindset change and need to lead the way in creating breastfeeding-friendly public and workspaces.

Currently, the Maternity Benefits Act requires workplaces to provide crèche services and nursing breaks for new mothers but does not mention the need for separate lactation rooms. The Government of India should, therefore, legally mandate reasonable break time and a non-bathroom private space for nursing mothers to express milk, similar to America's Fair Labor Standards Act. Additionally, sensitizing government officials, especially males, is vital – at an interaction with male government officials, I realized that most weren’t even aware of the existence of breast pumps or why women would need to use the nursing rooms if they don't bring babies to work.

All government and public buildings must demonstrate this commitment by having nursing rooms. One such initiative that can replicated is the government of Maharashtra that made “Hirkani’s rooms”, meant for lactating mothers to express and store their breast milk, mandatory at places where women work in large numbers (residential and commercial buildings, police stations, public and semi-public offices, and educational institutions).

For public spaces, there should be policy mandates for constructing private, safe, clean, and comfortable lactation rooms in all public buildings and spaces, similar to the US’s Friendly Airports for Mothers Act of 2017 (FAMA). The Delhi government's draft policy for setting up rooms for feeding and changing diapers in public places, if implemented, could be one such precedent.

Governments must also provide the minimum infrastructure to enable mothers to nurse comfortably in all public spaces, especially those frequented by working women. Some precedents that have been set and can be followed include nursing and baby care rooms available at most Indian airports, 100 railway stations, metro stations like the Chennai Metro, and some bus terminals like Kempegowda Bus Station.

Workplaces - Most workplaces do not provide mothers with comfortable and hygienic spaces to nurse or express milk. The ones that do are often biased, as women report getting taunted by managers and colleagues for taking “too long to pump” or “too frequent breaks.” To be truly enabling for women, all office buildings need dedicated, comfortable breastfeeding/pumping facilities with infrastructure like comfortable chairs, plug points, and milk-storage freezers. Additionally, organizations must conduct sensitization training for all employees to make them aware of mothers’ need to express milk at regular intervals to prevent leakage and that they require around 20 minutes per session. Workplaces can learn from the best practices of companies awarded as Best Companies for Women in India, 86% of which have an exclusive pumping room and 30% have lactation support programs.

Research-backed evidence shows that higher-quality lactation rooms are associated with increased satisfaction with the facilities and perceived support from supervisors and co-workers for expressing milk in the workplace. For example, a factory in Vietnam that provided an on-site feeding room, sufficient lactation breaks, and a supportive breastfeeding culture has seen many business benefits and increased retention rates.

Other stakeholders - Investors and startup ecosystem builders must continue to invest in technologies that empower women to breastfeed while building their careers, and help expand their reach to rural areas and smaller towns. The media needs to raise awareness and shape mindsets to normalize breastfeeding in public spaces. Educational curricula also must include sensitization of boys and girls from an early age.

In conclusion, while technology helps, it cannot substitute for empathy and support from family, friends, co-workers, managers and society at large. Therefore, mindsets must change to complement technological advancements, as support to overcome breastfeeding challenges is a vital determinant of a woman’s ability to re-enter and remain in the workforce post-maternity.

(Shravani Prakash is the founder of Ellenomics)

(Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of YourStory.)