WHO states “with full confidence” that, “breastfeeding reduces child mortality and has health benefits that extend into adulthood”, as it “promotes sensory and cognitive development, and protects the infant against infectious and chronic diseases”.[1] WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding up to six months old, unless there are “compelling reasons” for this not occuring.[2] The Ministry of Health (MOH) also recommends this.[3] In decisions regarding leave, DOL 2007 found 84% of women saw establishing breastfeeding as an important or very important consideration, and 98% said the baby’s health was important or very important. Yet only 61% said current PPL is long enough to “establish my baby’s routine”.[4] Breastfeeding also has trickle-down effects on parents and employers: Since breastfed babies are less likely to become ill, their parents may take less time off for childcare once work has resumed.[5] MOH’s breastfeeding target is to “increase the exclusive and full breastfeeding prevalence rate at six months” to 27% by 2010.[6] In 2008, EEO Trust found very few New Zealand workplaces offered facilities for breastfeeding.[7] This suggests that six months of home care should be provided for.
[1] World Health Organisation, “Breastfeeding.” Accessed 12/10/2009 at http://www.who.int/child_adolescent_health/topics/prevention_care/child/nutrition/breastfeeding/en/index.html
[2] Ibid.
[3] Ministry of Health, 2009. “Duration of Breastfeeding.” Accessed 1/10/2009 at http://www.moh.govt.nz/moh.nsf/indexmh/breastfeeding-questions-duration
[4] DOL 2007, p. 33.
[5] Jones, E. G., & Matheny, R. J., 1993. “Relationship Between Infant Feeding and Exclusion Rate from Child Care Because of Illness”. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 93, pp. 809-811.
[6] Ministry of Health, 2002. “New Zealand’s Breastfeeding Rates – Statistics from Breastfeeding: A Guide to Action.” Accessed 1/10/2009 at http://www.moh.govt.nz/moh.nsf/82f4780aa066f8d7cc2570bb006b5d4d/b2c10ff5e960e1edcc256dc10077c608?OpenDocument
[7] Equal Employment Opportunities Trust, 2008. Work-Life Survey. Accessed 9/9/2009 at http://www.eeotrust.org.nz/research/worklife.cfm, p. 3.