47% of New Moms Consider Changing Careers For This Shocking Reason, Study Says

As Director of Mom and Baby at Aeroflow Breastpumps, my team and I work with thousands of moms. We get to hear the triumphs and challenges that come along with breastfeeding and pumping. The triumphs include inspirational stories from moms who achieved their breastfeeding goals and are fully supported at work. But the challenges include stories from moms who have been forced to pump in their cars or in storage closets. These stories are heartbreaking, and they're all too common. 

It shouldn’t be this way. Multiple studies have shown that breastfeeding provides many benefits to baby and mom, especially moms who can breastfeed for at least six months. We as a society are telling moms it's good to breastfeed, but with more and more breastfeeding moms returning to work, are our words backed up with adequate support?

Does mom know her company’s breastfeeding policy? Has she had the right conversations with her manager? Is there a lactation room available? Is she worried that breastfeeding will in any way hurt her career growth?  

The results show that while we have made great strides in breastfeeding support, we have a long way to go.

Over 75% of moms plan to breastfeed when they return to work, yet less than 50% know their company’s breastfeeding policy, and only 46% said their company has an adequate lactation room. Almost 63% of expectant moms think there is a stigma attached to moms breastfeeding at work, and 47% have considered a job/career change due to their need to breast pump at work. It is concerning that the negative connotations around breastfeeding and pumping in the workplace still exist, especially at this rate. This is simply unacceptable, and we must do better.