A New Mother’s Must-Read List Is Incomplete Without The SHEROES Report On Breastfeeding

Here in India, while breastfeeding still proves to be popular among mothers, we have found that many mothers cite inaccessibility to adequate breastfeeding facilities both in public and at the workplace as reasons that they choose not to go out, continue working, and/or change the way they live their lives in public. 


SHEROES and Babygogo supported by Medela jointly conducted a survey to get an idea of the comfort levels of mothers breastfeeding in public and at work in India. 


Over 3500 women participated in the breastfeeding survey from across sectors.  Most were from India, with a few respondents from the UAE and Singapore. Out of these respondents a majority of them were working women from the corporate sector, and the rest were stay at home moms. 


The results of this survey indicate that women are changing their normal behaviors post pregnancy to accommodate breastfeeding - some going to the extent of their public appearances. Many left work to take care of their babies - one wonders if provision of safe and comfortable environments to bring babies to work as well as adequate breastfeeding provisions could help more women stay working post the delivery. Only 20 percent of the respondents indicated their workplaces had provisions to breastfeed.

FEW COMMENTS FROM THE GOOD AND BAD EXPERIENCE

Here is a selection of comments that show the range of experiences women have had.

“Shameless.. feeds in front of another men.”

“People keep staring even though they know that they should not”

“Men do look at me and sometimes women also”

And the worst of them all - “Give us some too”

“I feel proud of any mom feeding her baby... I support and help them all.”

“I haven't faced nor seen such instances except reading about it a lot. When the baby is hungry, mother’s first priority is to feed, irrelevant of place and situations. There is nothing to make faces about it as we being adults eat when we are hungry.”

“In the hospital I breastfed another baby along with mine as his mom didn’t have enough milk supply that time...”

Some Powerful Quotes Doing The Rounds

Unicef says, global rates of breastfeeding have remained relatively stagnant in the developing world, growing from 32% in 1995 to 39% in 2010. #MakingItWork #Breastfeeding 


Though breastfeeding is the most natural thing to do for a new mother, she has to face several challenges, especially when she is travelling out for work. – Emilie Moullard #MakingItWork #Breastfeeding 


Medela and SHEROES partnership will play an important role in educating and empowering both mothers and corporates to make back to work successful. . – Emilie Moullard #MakingItWork #Breastfeeding 


Most cited staring and rude comments as the primary reason to avoid breastfeeding in public. #MakingItWork #Breastfeeding 


Research says breast fed babies have 4 point higher IQ than the top fed ones #MakingItWork #Breastfeeding

The workplace of the future is inclusive and more open to diverse sets of people and making space for them is a key business imperative says Sairee Chahal, founder SHEROES.

Outcome Impact

SHEROES  is launching the report on Breastfeeding today on 1st March, conducted in collaboration with Babygogo, to assess the ground reality. How we publicly shame the lactating mothers, additionally by not providing amenities for a safe, secure and comfortable environment for the mothers to breastfeed their babies. The report is supported by Medela - a provider of the most technologically advanced, superior-quality breastpumps and breastfeeding accessories to nursing mothers around the world.