Communication in the Workplace: Does Communicating Breastfeeding Needs Affect Breastfeeding Duration for Working Mothers

The purpose of this study was to identify if employer interpersonal communication and support are factors that reduce breastfeeding duration. An online, 85-item questionnaire was completed by employed breastfeeding mothers in the state of North Dakota. Of the 502 respondents, responses of a subset of 214 mothers who had concluded breastfeeding were analyzed. Shorter breastfeeding duration was seen in mothers who reported not being confident in combining breastfeeding and working. This was further seen in shorter breastfeeding duration among mothers who did not feel comfortable asking for accommodations or taking breastfeeding breaks. Mothers who were unsure about manager's support of breastfeeding had shorter breastfeeding duration. Many respondents stated that their employer did not provide instrumental support. Over half of the respondents (60%) were unsure or disagreed/strongly disagreed that written policies concerning breastfeeding or pumping were present. Further research is needed to determine additional workplace barriers that reduce breastfeeding duration.