The reconciliation of work and motherhood is progressing, although she still has a long way to go. This is what emerges from ‘The II Study on Conciliation and Breastfeeding’, prepared by the Suavinex company.
According to this report:
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One in ten nursing mothers abandons her career in order to reconcile.
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One in two working mothers affirms that they did not feel the support of their entire work environment to reconcile.
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43.77% of Spanish breastfeeding mothers have problems reconciling breastfeeding with their work situation.
And even so, these figures are below those of 2016.
This study, which includes 2003 mothers, reflects that the conditions to be able to reconcile breastfeeding and work outside the home have improved in the last year: from 50.5% women with problems in 2016 to 43.77% in 2017.
The disadvantages to reconcile seem more present in large national companies in the tertiary sector (finance, tourism, hospitality, transport, health, education), where more than half of working mothers have indicated complications.
With these conclusions, it is clear that there is still a long way to go in the field of conciliation. In fact, only 50.71% of the study participants declared that they felt the support and understanding of their work environment in relation to their breastfeeding, with similar results the previous year.
Abandonment of breastfeeding for work reasons
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38.43% of those surveyed declared that they had not been able to integrate breastfeeding into their work routine.
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61.92% of women have considered giving up breastfeeding.
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One in ten (9.55%) Spanish mothers has abandoned their working career against their initial will.
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58.22% of the study participants did not reach one year of breastfeeding, despite the fact that 85.02% affirmed that they were in favor of prolonged breastfeeding.
Yes to conciliation
There is a positive progression in terms of social awareness about the importance of reconciliation and a cultural change that increasingly leaves behind the idea of giving up one of the facets of a woman’s life.
This is another of the conclusions that can be drawn from this study: the percentage of mothers who decide not to opt for any reconciliation alternative is reduced to practically a third, going from 36% in 2016 to 12.24% in 2017.
But we must continue fighting to defend our rights: up to 40.64% of the mothers surveyed have felt uncomfortable requesting a reduction in working hours.
And the same happens with the 35.78% of mothers who have decided to choose to express milk or with 37.47% of those who use the time that corresponds to them for breastfeeding.
Breastfeeding is the best for our children and the ideal is to be able to continue breastfeeding them , a choice that does not mean, or should not mean, having to abandon our work career.
Photos | iStock
In Babies and More | A handball player breastfeeds her baby on the court, a beautiful and very natural image of conciliation, Breastfeeding rates in Spain still have to improve a lot
