Breastfeeding in the Workplace: Realities and Aspirations of Working Mothers Breastfeeding is widely recognised as the best feeding practice for infants as it provides complete nutrition essential for optimal growth and development. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) recommend exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months of life and continued breastfeeding up to two years of age alongside appropriate complementary foods. However, achieving this target often becomes challenging for mothers who return to work after maternity leave. The increasing participation of women in the workforce has transformed their roles and responsibilities within families and society. For working mothers, maintaining breastfeeding requires strong commitment and effective time management. According to a study conducted in 2018 by Siti Nur Hidayah Mahdizam and Vivien W.C. Yew, only 41.2% of employed women practised exclusive breastfeeding during the first five months after childbirth, while 38.8% combined breast milk with formula feeding. Maternal education, employment status, favourable socio-economic conditions, and previous breastfeeding experience were found to enhance working women's knowledge of breastfeeding. Nevertheless, work-related constraints often compel mothers to adopt mixed feeding practices. CHALLENGES OF BREASTFEEDING AMONG WORKING MOTHERS Breastfeeding offers numerous benefits to both infants and mothers. However, for working mothers, maintaining breastfeeding after returning to work is not always easy. They often encounter various challenges that may affect their ability to continue exclusive breastfeeding or sustain breastfeeding for the recommended duration. 1. Time Constraints Work demands and busy schedules often make it difficult for mothers to allocate sufficient time for expressing milk or breastfeeding. Meetings, heavy workloads, and long working hours may prevent mothers from expressing breast milk according to the required schedule. 2. Lack of Breastfeeding Facilities at the Workplace Not all workplaces provide comfortable, hygienic, and private lactation rooms for mothers to express breast milk. Some mothers are forced to use unsuitable spaces such as restrooms or storage rooms, which may compromise comfort and hygiene during milk expression. 3. Limited Storage Facilities for Expressed Breast Milk Expressed breast milk requires proper storage to maintain its quality and safety. The absence of refrigerators or appropriate storage facilities at the workplace can become a significant barrier to continued breastfeeding. 4. Insufficient Workplace Support The attitudes of employers and colleagues play a crucial role in breastfeeding success. A lack of understanding regarding the needs of breastfeeding mothers may cause mothers to feel pressured or embarrassed about taking time to express milk during working hours. 5. Physical and Emotional Stress Balancing responsibilities as both an employee and a mother often leads to physical exhaustion and emotional stress. These conditions may negatively affect breast milk production and reduce motivation to continue breastfeeding. 6. Distance Between the Workplace and the Baby Mothers who work far from home or childcare centres face difficulties in directly breastfeeding their infants. They must rely entirely on expressed breast milk, which requires careful planning and management. 7. Lack of Knowledge and Preparation Some mothers have limited access to information regarding proper milk storage techniques, effective expressing methods, and breastfeeding management after returning to work. This lack of knowledge may lead to anxiety and reduced self-confidence. Conclusion Breastfeeding is a valuable investment in the health and well-being of both mothers and infants. Although working mothers face various challenges, effective planning, adequate knowledge, and continuous support from family members, employers, and colleagues can enable them to sustain breastfeeding even after returning to work. Furthermore, creating a breastfeeding-friendly workplace through the provision of lactation facilities, flexible break times, breastfeeding support groups, and supportive organisational policies can significantly improve breastfeeding success among working women. Such efforts not only contribute to the healthy growth and development of infants but also enhance maternal emotional well-being, productivity, and job satisfaction. Therefore, all stakeholders must play their respective roles in fostering a culture that supports breastfeeding. Through sustained commitment and collaboration, the goal of increasing breastfeeding rates among working mothers can be achieved, ultimately contributing to the development of healthier and higher-quality future generations.

References Siti Nur Hidayah Mahdizam, & Vivien W.C. Yew. (2018). Infant Feeding Practices Among Working Women: A Survey. Jurnal Wacana Sarjana, 2(1), 1–10. World Health Organization (WHO) & United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). (2025). Protecting, Promoting and Supporting Breastfeeding in Facilities Providing Maternity and Newborn Services: The Baby-friendly Hospital Initiative Monitoring Manual.

Prepared by: NORHAZLINDA LIDAWATI BINTI MD DALI Maternal and Child Health Services Unit Department of Nursing Management Hospital Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM)

Date of Input: 22/06/2026 | Updated: 22/06/2026 | ahmadfaiq