Bfing mothers take less time off work

[Bumperlicious]

Is this true? Someone on another thread mentioned research to support this. Can anyone link for me? I know I should google but I'm on my iPhone and breastfeeding & still have baby brain!

I want to send a request to my company for financial support for the local bfing groups & think this will be a winning argument.

[Ineedsomesleep]

Bumping for you as I'd be interested in this too.

[DancingThroughLife]

I think it's because the baby is less likely to get ill, so you are less likely to need time off to care for him/her.

NHS leaflet about BF mothers and work here

HTH

FWIW, I had this chat with my boss ready for when I return to work and it basically hit a stone wall. Probably because all the other new mums at work are FF. I'm going to stick with it though, I feel more strongly about it than I expected to.

[EdgarAirbombPoe]

well, as the rate of GP appts for BF kids is fewer, then presumably, their parents need to take less time off to attend those APPTS.

Stands to reason.

[Bumperlicious]

Thanks both, I understand the logic, just wondering about the reality of it. A poster on another thread mentioned some research. Will google myself when I have a free hand.

[blueshoes]

Maybe BF mothers have more back up childcare?

[MoonFaceMamaaaaargh]

WHy would bf mothers have more back up childcare?

[AlpinePony]

[Ineedsomesleep]

Blueshoes, I can give you loads of examples of bfing mothers having no backup childcare if you like, including my friend who is a single mother....

[Guitargirl]

This is hilarious - love the back-up childcare suggestion...I bf both mine until 20 months, no back-up childcare. I have not (so far) had to take any time off work for ill children (eldest is nearly 4). But DD did get swine flu last year when I was on mat leave, if I had been at work then I would definitely have had to take time off as she was very poorly.

[KaraStarbuckThrace]

Ditto - i worked full time when DS from 9mo - about 13mo when I quit to work from home.

I had no back up child care, DH worked even further away from the nursery than I did.

He was only ever off nursery once when he caught CPox (which I haven't ever had).

[Caz10]

Hee hee wonder how your boobs get you back-up childcare?!

Keeping this bumped as interested. Anecdotally, DD is healthy as a horse - still feeding her at 2.11yrs ( from you all on that please!) and I went back FT when she was 9mths. Friend stopped bf when she returned to FT work at 9mths and her dd promptly caught everything going.

But I know my survey of 2 is far from helpful!

I got very poor support at work re expressing and gave it up after a month, dd was mix fed from that point, but bf loads at night.

What are you hoping your work will fund Bumper, sounds good?!

[blueshoes]

You are all assuming that bf-ed babies get sick less often and therefore their mothers take less time off work.

Well, there could be other unrelated factors at play rather than the one we all want to pat ourselves on the back with.

Damn lies and statistics. I suspect the increase in 'healthiness' of bf-ed babies is so small as not to manifest to any noticeable degree in any casual study of working mothers.

[Ineedsomesleep]

Love your comments Blueshoes, now can you point me in the direction of the research to back up your theories?

[MrsVincentPrice]

Could also be better educated mothers (because that's how the numbers run) in more demanding jobs who are therefore more well motivated to turn up when they or their child is poorly - if you're in a deadend job then you're going to be more likely to throw a sicky, and you certainly won't be in a position to hire an emergency nanny if your DC wake up spotty (as I've been known to do).
Yes I know that not all bf mothers are filthy rich city lawyers, but the last time I checked there was a strong class/age/education divide.
Just a theory though - also very plausible that bf babies are less likely to come down with colds and stomach bugs.

[pointydog]

Agree with blueshoes

[MoonFaceMamaaaaargh]

mrs vincent in the crap jobs i have had there has been no sick pay without a doc's note (forget getting an appointment while you're actually ill) and then only statutory.

When working in those jobs i have had no choice but to go in to work even when ill. Poor pay means no savings to fall back on. No doubt many women find themselves desperatly seeking care for sick children as they can not afford to take time off to look after them.

I would imagine high flying jobs come with perks such as still getting paid if you can't go in, or at least the option of working it another time.

Tangent i know but grist for t'mill.

Blueshoes (and pointydog) have a look at the "seeing thru the bf propaganda" thread for foxytocin's posts re the relative health of bf and ff children. Tbh it's scandelous.

[Ineedsomesleep]

Yeah, my bfing cousin who lives in a council house and works part-time in a petrol station is always getting the nanny in.