What Is a Feeding Parent?

A mother breastfeeds her infant

Would a rose, called by any other name, smell less sweet? Maybe. If word choice is powerful enough to shape people and culture, then how we refer to one another makes an important impact. So what do we call those who are raising the youngest members of our community?

feeding a baby is hard

Let’s get something straight: whether you are nursing, pumping, breastfeeding, chestfeeding, exclusively pumping, formula feeding or any and all of the above, it’s not easy.

Firstly, it takes about as much time and effort as a full time job. On average, it takes about 1,800 hours per year; that’s a 36-hour work week with only two weeks of vacation. Secondly, it’s overwhelming. Eighty percent of the parents who attempt it find it harder than they thought and two out of five quit before day 365. Also, feeding a baby is isolating, with 84% of feeding parents reporting that they feel alone.

Because baby feeding is such a challenge, we consider breastfeeders to be modern-day warriors. While it’s a full-time commitment, this is a job that doesn’t come with a paycheck nor a team of coworkers. And with almost three of five women in the workforce, it’s most likely the case that breastfeeding isn’t her only job.

We think breastfeeding moms have true grit. That’s why pumpspotting is 100% committed to supporting these warriors in the pursuit of their breastfeeding goals, whatever those goals may be. There is no goal too large or small. If it’s worth her effort, it’s worth our undying support and unfailing encouragement.

Dad works while holding his sleeping daughter

Breastfeeding, chestfeeding, formula-feeding, oh my!

It can feel complicated, however, to talk about breastfeeding support. At the same time that we’re working toward normalizing breastfeeding in our culture, we’re also committed to the inclusion of parents whose gender identities might not be feminine. And parents who are exclusive pumpers, who prefer to call it nursing. And partners of pumpers and adoptive parents and gay parents and single parents, too. Creating space that is safe and non-judgemental for all feeding parents: that’s our commitment. How do we do it? We hold space to hear what feeding parents need as well as checking the language that we use. And we’re not the only ones.

In February 2021, two hospitals in England offered guidance to support transgender and nonbinary parents by incorporating language like “chestfeeding” and “birthing parents.” Interestingly, the move elicited a range of reactions from controversial headlines to praise for their leadership. Thankfully, the National Health Service (NHS) in England makes their intentions clear as they emphasize that the inclusive language is to be added to the existing vernacular of its practitioners. We agree with NHS: Whatever a parent’s identity, that’s how we ought to address and refer to them.

Perhaps the clearest way to define a “feeding parent” is by the children they are raising: any young one whose diet includes breastmilk or formula.

While there are still gains to be made as we advance toward normalizing breastfeeding for the warrior mothers who are on that journey, we also want to acknowledge, include and celebrate those who do not identify as mothers or breastfeeders.

How to support feeding parents in the workplace

With Millennials and Gen Xers raising children, and Baby Boomers caring for aging parents, stake your claim as a family-friendly employer. Establish flexible working arrangements: encourage asynchronous work and embrace four-day work weeks. Include flexible work arrangements in your company policies, to include personal leave and reentry for those who are returning from leave. Introduce support programs for parents and for employees who take care of elderly parents, breastfeed or are raising young children. You’ll be generating loyalty and goodwill, reducing costly turnover and minimizing the risk of lawsuits.

For those who are breastfeeding, accommodation is not only mandated by law, but also vital to employer talent strategy. The business case for breastfeeding support includes reduced turnover, sick leave, and health care claims for both baby and mom, while increasing retention and productivity.

Provide workplace policy to support employees, set the tone with leadership, and emphasize the importance of recruitment and retention. The most successful employers run internal fire drills to ensure that their breastfeeding support program is sound.

Learn more

It’s powerful to support your working parents. You can increase retention, support recruitment and invest in your employer brand.

Whether you need a breastfeeding policy, lactation facilities audits, or the pumpspotting app to to manage, support and implement your breastfeeding support program, we’re here to help.