Please respond to post. 300 words min, 1 min scholar source (no older than 5 years), APA. Post: As a health policy professional leader, communicating with lay audiences is an important skill in promoting the health of the community for master prepared registered nurses. Develop a concise position statement reflecting the research findings and recommendations by experts as they relate to workplace support for breast feeding mothers.
Title: Workplace Support for Breastfeeding Mothers: A Crucial Component for Promoting Maternal and Infant Health
Introduction:
Breastfeeding is widely recognized as the optimal form of infant nutrition, providing numerous short and long-term health benefits for both mother and child. As a health policy professional leader, effective communication with lay audiences is essential in disseminating research findings and expert recommendations to promote the health of the community, particularly for master-prepared registered nurses. This position statement aims to summarize the research findings and recommendations regarding workplace support for breastfeeding mothers, emphasizing its significance in supporting maternal and infant health.
Research Findings:
Numerous studies have unequivocally demonstrated the positive impact of workplace support on the initiation, duration, and exclusivity of breastfeeding. Research findings consistently indicate that workplaces that provide supportive policies and resources to breastfeeding mothers experience higher rates of initiation and duration of breastfeeding, leading to improved maternal and infant health outcomes.
One such study conducted by Johnson et al. (2018) examined the impact of workplace support on breastfeeding duration and exclusivity. The study found that mothers who received adequate support from their workplace, such as designated lactation rooms and flexible work schedules, were more likely to breastfeed exclusively and for a longer duration compared to those without such support. These findings highlight the importance of creating a conducive environment that enables working mothers to continue breastfeeding after returning to work.
Furthermore, research has also indicated that workplace support positively influences maternal health outcomes. A study by Brown et al. (2019) demonstrated that breastfeeding mothers who received workplace support reported reduced levels of postpartum depression and improved overall mental health compared to those who did not receive support. This highlights an important intersection between workplace support and maternal mental well-being, underscoring the need for comprehensive support systems.
Expert Recommendations:
Numerous experts and professional organizations have recognized the importance of workplace support for breastfeeding mothers and have provided recommendations to guide policy and practice. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that employers provide supportive policies, such as paid maternity leave, adequate break times for expressing milk, and accessible lactation rooms with necessary amenities (AAP, 2020). These recommendations align with the evidence that workplace support positively influences breastfeeding outcomes by promoting the establishment and maintenance of breastfeeding patterns.
In addition to the AAP, the World Health Organization (WHO) also emphasizes the significance of workplace support. The WHO’s Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding recommends that workplaces establish a supportive environment by implementing lactation breaks, allowing mothers to express milk during working hours, and providing appropriate facilities for storage (WHO, 2018). These expert recommendations highlight the essential role workplaces play in promoting the health and well-being of breastfeeding mothers and their infants.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, workplace support for breastfeeding mothers is pivotal in promoting maternal and infant health. Research consistently demonstrates that workplaces that provide supportive policies and resources experience higher rates of breastfeeding initiation and duration, leading to improved health outcomes. Expert recommendations further reinforce the significance of workplace support, with organizations such as the AAP and WHO providing guidelines for employers to facilitate the establishment and maintenance of breastfeeding patterns. As health policy professional leaders, it is crucial to effectively communicate these research findings and expert recommendations to lay audiences, in order to advocate for comprehensive workplace support and promote the health of the community.