Breastfeeding, work a 'juggle'

WELLINGTON - Women who want to breastfeed their babies may have trouble juggling it with paid work, according to research.

Suckling in Silence, a thesis by Judith Galtry, a PhD student in women's studies at Victoria University, discovered that women often found breastfeeding and paid work an "untenable combination."

Breastfeeding was often regarded as optional and was easily relegated to the realm of individual choice, Ms Galtry said. It was clearly good for mother and child, and was recommended by health organisations.

New Zealand and the United States were two of the few developed countries without either paid parental leave policies or provision for workplace breastfeeding breaks. Ms Galtry called on the Government and employers to develop such policies.

- NZPA