In the weeks after your baby is born there is nothing more special than being able to spend time home with your baby; marking resemblances, counting ten fingers and ten toes-maybe ten times a day too- and bonding with your baby as you breastfeed. Then all too soon, it is time to return to the work place.
This is often challenging for breastfeeding moms who want to continue breastfeeding their baby for at least the first six months of life. According to global public health recommendation, only breast milk in a baby’s first six months is the best nourishment he or she can receive. But can exclusive breastfeeding really work for babies of women employed at our workplaces in St. Maarten?
Bonnie Dekker, Interim HR Manager at St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC) can testify that not only breastfeeding can work in the workplace, but it is a rewarding experience for baby, mom and employer too!
On April 2, 2013, Bonnie returned to work after giving birth to her son Benjamin on January 20, 2013. She was happy that she works for an organization that understands what it means to have and take care of a baby. Returning to work at the St. Maarten Medical Center, Bonnie was not worried about being able to continue breastfeeding her baby as an employed woman.
It was not as easy as it seems however. Breastfeeding takes a lot of commitment, and so does the work of an employed mother. Bonnie had to get accustomed to her new situation of combining work and care of her baby. A baby at two and a half months requires feeding at least every three hours and so Bonnie had to get used to working during the day and waking up three times at night to breastfeed Benjamin.
At work, Bonnie would go to the Ob/Gyn ward where they would make Room 10, or another quiet environment, available for her use. She would make use of that area, and often times her office, to express breast milk which she would store for future use. This process, taking about 30 minutes, was done twice during a work day.
Her colleagues were very understanding when Bonnie would lock her office door or go to the ward so she may breastfeed in a quiet and non-disturbing environment. The nurses and midwives would show concern and also give encouragement. Bonnie especially appreciated this, as it sometimes was a challenge and she was worried about not expressing enough milk for her baby.
When a working mother is really busy she may have less milk than other days, and that does not change the responsibility of having to feed the baby with what she has been able to provide.
Benjamin is seven months old and is being introduced to solid foods. He is still breastfeeding; once in the morning and twice at night. Breastfeeding at this stage is less challenging for a working mother and Bonnie is happy that she chose and is able to continue giving her son what is best for him.
She encourages breastfeeding and soon-to-be breastfeeding employed mothers, “Try (breastfeeding) and don’t give up when it’s hard in the beginning.”
As an employee of SMMC, Bonnie too supports the position of the hospital towards exclusive breastfeeding until six months. As such, she felt that her son deserved the privilege of breastfeeding. “The facilities are here!” she says gratefully.
Bonnie stresses, that a breastfeeding-friendly room is very important for the employed breastfeeding mom is the facilities. It does not have to be a fancy room, but it should be quiet and comfortable, “if you are not comfortable, it will not work.”
She goes on to say that all employers on St. Maarten should try to support the working women (most work 40 hours a week), by providing them the time and facilities to do so. A mother’s mind is at ease knowing that she can, through breastfeeding, give her baby the best nutrients. A healthy baby equals a healthy mom and a healthy mom equals a good employee, thus resulting in a satisfied employer.