The close

emotional bond between a nursing mother and her infant is

particularly important, especially for the mother who

must return to work. These mothers can express their milk

at work and continue to provide the best nutrition for

their infants even when they are separated.

Breastfeeding

has benefits to an employer, since mothers who breastfeed

have less absenteeism (27 percent) and return to work

sooner than mothers who formula-feed. Employers like Home

Depot, Aetna, Amoco and Fulton County provide a

breastfeeding room and breast pumps when mothers return

to work.

A study

done for Cigna revealed a savings to the company of

$240,000 annually in health care expenses for

breastfeeding mothers and their children. An average

family will spend $900-4,000 in the first year to buy

formula. This cost does not include the extra doctor

visits, medications and time missed at work.

For

taxpayers, breastfeeding has benefits because breastfed

children are less sick and that means less Medicaid money

will be spent on doctor visits.

Our federal

WIC (Women, Infants and Children) supplemental food

program, funded by taxpayers, is the world's largest

purchaser of infant formula, spending $500 million per

year that could be spent elsewhere.

Most

mothers are aware of the benefits of breastfeeding but do

not always find support. Most hospitals have a lactation

specialist on staff to assist mothers after delivery.

After

discharge from the hospital, mothers can find help

through La Leche League or BOND (Babies One Natural

Diets). These are local, mother-to-mother support groups.

Most of the WIC programs have a person to assist with

breastfeeding problems. Private lactation consultants,

breastfeeding classes or pediatricians can also help with

breastfeeding problems.

The Healthy

Mothers-Healthy Babies Coalition of Georgia has a

"Power Line" hotline for mothers who need more

information on issues relating to breastfeeding. The

number is 770-451-5501.