State of Breastfeeding Survey highlights critical need for
improved workplace and public support
BURLINGTON, Vt., July 29,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- In advance of National
Breastfeeding Month in August, Mamava and Medela are
sharing the results of the annual State of Breastfeeding
Survey. The industry-leading brands surveyed nearly 7,000
parents to learn more about breastfeeding journeys, challenges and
support systems. Survey findings emphasize a critical need for
increased access to breastfeeding support and infrastructure in
workplaces and public spaces.
According to the CDC, breastfeeding provides many health
benefits for both babies and mothers. Despite federal and
professional guidelines that recommend exclusive breastfeeding for
the first six months of an infant's life, 60% of mothers do
not breastfeed as long as they intend to. Key takeaways from the
2024 State of Breastfeeding Survey include:
- 52% of parents identified finding places to pump or
nurse on the go as their top breastfeeding challenge, closely
followed by 47% citing insufficient time for nursing/pumping
breaks
- 43% of parents remain unaware or unclear about the PUMP
Act and its legal requirements for workplace lactation support
- One in three parents lack reliable access to a dedicated
lactation space at work, despite federal laws aimed at improving
workplace accommodations
- One in three parents feel that public places are not
adequately supportive or inclusive of breastfeeding needs
"Our survey results expose the reality that our society must do
more to provide breastfeeding parents with the essential support
and infrastructure they need," said Sascha
Mayer, Mamava Co-Founder and Chief Experience Officer.
"Despite federal protections established by the PUMP Act, even the
most committed breastfeeding parents face significant barriers.
It's clear we need to create more supportive workplaces and public
spaces to ensure that every breastfeeding parent has the
opportunity to feed their children in a private, dignified and
comfortable environment."
The State of Breastfeeding Survey was conducted in May 2024, collecting responses from 6,690 U.S.
parents who are currently nursing or have breastfed within the last
two years. The majority of survey respondents are currently in the
workforce, with 63% working full-time and 18% working part-time.
This is consistent with data from the U.S. Department of Health
showing that 6 in 10 new mothers are in the workforce, reinforcing
the need for federal legislation like the Providing Urgent Maternal
Protections for Nursing Mothers Act (PUMP Act). Signed into law in
2022, this federal labor law protects breastfeeding employees with
the right to a lactation space and reasonable break time to
pump.
For more information on the 2024 State of Breastfeeding Survey
or how to make a space more welcoming for breastfeeding parents,
visit mamava.com. Wondering how your workplace measures up when it
comes to breastfeeding support? Take Mamava's quiz!
About Mamava:
The creator of freestanding lactation
pods, Mamava is dedicated to transforming the culture of
breastfeeding with private, dignified and comfortable space to pump
or nurse. Women-founded in 2013 and a proud B Corp, Mamava designs,
engineers and assembles lactation pods at its manufacturing
facilities in Vermont. Find Mamava
lactation pods at close to 5,000 airports, hospitals, stadiums,
schools, small businesses, Fortune 500 companies, and other
locations across the U.S. The free Mamava app helps breastfeeding
parents find thousands of public lactation spaces (available on
iOS and Android). To learn more about Mamava's full product
line and lactation support resources, visit mamava.com and
follow Mamava on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and
LinkedIn.
MEDIA CONTACT
Morgan
Whitehouse
380970@email4pr.com
802-373-4686
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SOURCE Mamava