WSU study finds remote work can still hinder breastfeeding

A Washington State University study says working from home does not automatically make breastfeeding easier, because workload intensity, blurred boundaries and weak workplace support can undermine exclusive breastfeeding. The findings, published in the Western Journal of Nursing Research, compared 81 new mothers across three work setups over six months.

Why it matters: - The study challenges the assumption that remote work is always better for new mothers who want to breastfeed. - The findings suggest employers need to support breastfeeding employees with more than flexibility, including clear boundaries and structured backing. - Exclusive breastfeeding remains far below public health goals, with CDC data showing a 27% rate at six months in the U.S.

What happened: - Washington State University researchers tracked 81 new mothers through an online survey from 4 to 24 weeks after birth. - The cohort ran from June 2022 through August 2023, covering the transition from the COVID-19 pandemic to its formal end. - The study compared stay-at-home mothers, mothers working from home, and mothers returning to work outside the home. - The research was published in the Western Journal of Nursing Research. - The release coincides with World Breastfeeding Week, observed Aug. 1-7.

The details: - Mothers who worked outside the home had the highest probability of exclusive breastfeeding through 24 weeks at 70%. - Mothers working from home followed at 60%. - Stay-at-home mothers had the lowest probability at 37%. - Stay-at-home mothers also recorded the lowest breastfeeding relationship scores, which measure mother-infant responsiveness, perceived milk supply adequacy and related factors. - Remote mothers initially reported more flexibility and emotional stability. - Many remote mothers still struggled to maintain exclusive breastfeeding by 24 weeks. - The study found that work engagement, workload intensity and cognitive demands made pumping or breastfeeding harder for remote mothers. - Weak workplace support made those barriers more severe. - The research also found that physical proximity to an infant helped, but proximity alone was not enough to sustain breastfeeding. - Current global guidelines recommend exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months and continued breastfeeding with solid foods for two years or longer.

Between the lines: - The results point to a hidden tradeoff in remote work: home access can help, but constant overlap between paid work and caregiving can create a second full-time load. - Wood said the biggest factor was work engagement, not where the work happened. - The study also complicates the common view that stay-at-home mothers have the easiest path to breastfeeding success, because unpaid caregiving and household labor can lack boundaries and formal support. - The findings suggest breastfeeding policy should focus on job structure, not just location.

What's next: - Employers may need to expand lactation support for workers in all settings, including remote and hybrid roles. - The study adds evidence that workplace policies should address scheduling, workload and practical breastfeeding support, not only leave time. - Future attention will likely focus on how to protect breastfeeding when paid work and caregiving happen in the same space.

The bottom line: - Working from home can help breastfeeding, but it does not guarantee success without strong support and manageable workloads.