State-Wide Support for Physician-Mothers Who are Breastfeeding

摘要

Despite the significant health andcost benefits of breastfeeding at both theindividual and societal levels, there is a substantialgap between breastfeeding recommendationsand practices among mothersin the United States, even those motherswho are themselves medical students andphysicians. Among the major barriers tobreastfeeding confronted by physician- andfuture physician-mothers are short parentalleaves, fast-paced and time-intensive jobs,and historically little workplace support forpumping breast milk, including both timeand private, clean space. Here we describeongoing statewide collaborative efforts toimprove workplace support for physicianmothersin Rhode Island.