World Breastfeeding Week

1st – 7th of August marks World Breastfeeding Week, a worldwide event and campaign to raise awareness on protecting, promoting, and supporting breastfeeding organized by the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA). This year the campaign highlights that worldwide, workplace challenges remain the most common reason for women never to breastfeed or stop breastfeeding earlier than recommended. 

Despite having well-established legal protection for maternity leave compared to other developed nations, the UK is still one of the countries with the lowest breastfeeding rates worldwide. And yet, most mothers start breastfeeding after their baby’s birth, with nationwide average initiation rates of over 80%. These figures then drop drastically to just 25% of all babies being breastfed at 6 months, which is the age until the WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding. But according to Prof. Amy Brown, at least 80% of mothers who stop breastfeeding in the first six weeks are not ready to do so.

Breastfeeding looks and sounds easy and natural, but there can be many challenges that can lead a mother to quit early. However, numerous studies have shown that breastfeeding support given to mothers at the right time can help them to overcome hurdles and succeed in breastfeeding their children for as long as they want to. 

So how can employers help? Whatever their employees’ choices or wishes, employers can offer them reliable, evidence-based resources to find information and support on the topic whenever needed. One option is to offer them a LactApp Plus subscription for their Android or iPhone. LactApp is the first mobile app that answers new mothers’ questions about breastfeeding and maternity in a personalized way, powered by AI. And what’s in for employers? Studies show that offering lactation support results in higher employee loyalty and satisfaction rates and reduced employee absence days. 73% of LactApp users have stated that using the App has prolonged their breastfeeding journey, and 58% could avoid a medical appointment thanks to clarifying their doubts in the LactApp.

So far, over 11,000 premium subscriptions have already been sold; the app has a Net Promoter Score of 90, and ORCHA, the independent British organization for the Review of Care and Health Apps, has scored it as the best App in the topic of lactation with a base score of 82%.

If you would like to find out more about how LactApp can help your employees in their maternity journey, contact Christi at christiane@lactapp.com.