The ROI of Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding may sound easy—all it takes is a baby and a breast!—but moms and parents need a lot of support to continue breastfeeding, especially when they return to work. The benefits of breastfeeding are clear, so investing as individuals and organizations in supporting lactation at work delivers returns.

Breastfeeding benefits babies and mothers

• The American Academy of Pediatrics and the World Health Organization recommend exclusive breastfeeding for at least six months, and longer when possible, for the important health benefits for babies and mothers. Breastfed babies have a reduced risk of asthma, obesity, type 1 diabetes, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
• Breastfeeding can reduce a mother's risk of breast and ovarian cancer, type 2 diabetes, and high blood pressure.

Breastfeeding benefits businesses

• Providing the workplace lactation spaces breastfeeding employees need reduces employee turnover, increases productivity, reduces absenteeism, and lowers healthcare costs associated with improved maternal and child health outcomes.
• Studies have shown that for every dollar spent on wellness support programs, including lactation accommodations, employers can expect a return of $2 to $3—perhaps because thoughtfully designed lactation spaces can help reduce stress for breastfeeding employees, allowing them to maintain work focus.
• Providing a dedicated workplace lactation space reflects an organization’s commitment to employee health by letting employees continue their breastfeeding journey as long as they choose. Research has found that providing workplace lactation accommodations improves retention, especially valuable when one factors in that it can cost, on average, three to four times an employee’s annual salary to find and train a replacement if they leave after having a baby.
• Supporting breastfeeding employees is one specific way a company can implement family-friendly policies, which can enhance its reputation and attract top talent. By prioritizing employee well-being and work-life balance, employers also build a loyal workforce.
• Workplace lactation accommodations and support demonstrate a dedication to gender equality and employee satisfaction, which can positively impact a company's ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) and NPS (Net Promoter Score).

Breastfeeding benefits society

• By improving infant and maternal health outcomes, breastfeeding reduces public health spending, hospitalizations, and absenteeism. In fact, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends breastfeeding as the number one preventative intervention to save the lives of babies and mothers around the world. Globally, breastfeeding could help prevent 13% of deaths among children under five years old.
• While 83% of babies in the U.S. start out receiving some breast milk, by six months only 25% receive it exclusively. If 90% of U.S. parents breastfeed exclusively for six months, the U.S. would save $13 billion annually from reduced direct and indirect medical costs, as well as the cost of premature death.

The federal PUMP Act, along with many state laws, requires employers to provide break time and a private, non-bathroom lactation space to express milk at work. But beyond complying with the law, improving workplace support for breastfeeding parents is an opportunity for employers to enhance their lactation infrastructure while also developing an inclusive culture that benefits both employees and the bottom line. Ultimately, helping parents breastfeed has benefits for families, employers, and public health—a breastfeeding trifecta!