3 Reasons Family-Forming Benefits Need to Include Breastfeeding Support
Let’s face it, it’s not always easy for couples to get pregnant. In the U.S. 1 in 8 couples have trouble conceiving or carrying a pregnancy to term. That number skyrockets when LGBTQ+ and single intending parents are considered. But still, many employers don’t offer insurance benefits to help cover fertility treatments.
But this is changing. With so many companies focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, and so many working parents driving the Great Resignation, employers are at great risk of losing talent if they do not invest in family-forming benefits.
More than ever, employers must instill a culture of support - from the moment an employee decides to get pregnant, through maternity leave, and throughout their breastfeeding and pumping journey as they return to work.
Read on for three reasons why family-forming benefits need to include breastfeeding support in the workforce.
Why do family-forming benefits need to include breastfeeding support?
The journey doesn’t end with conception
Fertility and family-forming benefits must be inclusive. Inclusive of all types of families, but also inclusive of the whole journey. The truth is, many employees decide whether they will stay or leave their employer well before they ever get pregnant. And how an employer treats a parent as they are trying to conceive, during pregnancy, and after the birth of their baby makes all the difference in their ability to retain her.
Infertility can be a long road full of ups and downs that can have a profound effect on an employee’s mental health, productivity, and focus. Finally becoming pregnant after that may feel like a victory, but returning to work after maternity leave can still be a challenge regardless. Logistically navigating childcare, pumping, and new schedules can be overwhelming. Not to mention the emotional aspect of being away from your baby and the effects of isolation that can be damaging to productivity and wellbeing.
When building your family-forming benefits, consider the importance of support and connection as mom returns to work. When you remove the physical, logistical, and isolation barriers for pumping mothers, it helps parents feel seen and supported. And as an employer, it helps reduce risk and health care claims, increase employee retention, and be seen as a working parent champion.
2. There can be breastfeeding issues associated with infertility
Mothers who conceive using advanced fertility treatments may breastfeed for shorter durations than mothers who conceive spontaneously. This is partially due to the fact that there is a higher chance babies are born preterm or born as multiples. Other studies show that IVF can be associated with “reduced confidence” which can pose additional emotional and mental obstacles for parents.
Parents returning from maternity leave who struggle with baby-feeding and pumping are in a time of vulnerability and uncertainty. Connecting parents has a positive impact, whether sharing feelings around lack of sleep, juggling work and home life, babies who won’t latch, or tips for pumping at work. Employers who provide lactation support as a family-forming benefit help reduce working parent isolation through access to community and 24/7 IBCLC lactation support, help increase employee productivity, and have employees that are less likely to leave their job.
3. Employees are looking ahead to the whole life-cycle when decided to stay or leave
Employees who are of new-parent age are a flight risk for organizations, with 83% of millennials admitting they would change jobs for better benefits and nearly half of baby-feeding parents considering a job change.
Employers that make parenthood a part of the conversation at work - from fertility to maternity leave to lactation support and beyond - and most importantly, a part of their family-forming benefits package, will see the highest gains when it comes to attracting and retaining working parents.
Curious about the business benefits of workplace lactation support?
pumpspotting workplace lactation support is turnkey and extremely affordable for companies of any size. Standing up for working parents and including lactation support as part of your return-to-work package shows your employees and the industry that you are in that you are a champion for working parents and care about their needs. This act alone can do wonders for your bottom line.
Curious about the business benefit of lactation support? Download this guide for an inside look at how removing the biggest barriers for pumping parents in the workplace can have a positive effect on your company’s retention, absenteeism, productivity, risk levels, and costs.
pumpspotting is a lactation support solution for companies of all sizes to attract talent and retain employees. Our mobile app supports parents in navigating the day-to-day of feeding through connection to a community of parents and lactation experts, access to comfy places to nurse and pump, and non-judgmental encouragement. It also serves as the central hub of breastfeeding support for employers, removing barriers inside the workplace and reducing costs and productivity losses associated with turnover, absenteeism, and non-compliance. Learn more here and join us!