Breastfeeding Moms Milked for Time

Like many mothers working outside the home while breastfeeding, Dong Yu has been facing new challenges since returning to work about two months ago.
The 31-year-old's work with publications for the European Union Chamber of Commerce in Beijing keeps her busy. So, like many mothers in her situation, Dong extracts her milk at work and stores it for when she can't feed her babies herself. Every day, she brings two bags to the office.
"I have a small handbag for my personal use and then a much larger one for the breast pump and other equipment," she says.
The Labor Law requires employers to give mothers of children younger than 1-year-old an extra hour per day for breastfeeding. But new moms must still find suitable times and places for pumping and are also burdened with the equipment.
Dong says dealing with the inconvenience is worth it. She feels proud to fulfill what she considers a mother's duty and enjoys her family's support.
"They understand how good breast milk is for the baby," she says.
A growing number of mothers believe in breastfeeding's benefits because of official public advocacy campaigns and their own independent research.
The latest Beijing health bureau figures show 91.07 percent of newborns in the capital are breastfed for their first six months.
Last week's World Breastfeeding Week focused on the theme, "Breastfeeding: Just 10 Steps. The Baby-Friendly Way".
"Unlike rural mothers, urban mothers' workloads and life pressures discourage them from breastfeeding for longer than six months," says Ding Bing, China's coordinator for the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) and staff member of the Chinese Association of Health Education And Promotion.
Ren Dan, a 33-year-old technician in Guangdong's provincial capital Guangzhou, has continued breastfeeding her 20-month old son, Xiaobao.
"Its real benefits are conveying and confirming the messages of love to the little one," she says. "That's an invaluable treasure for the baby."
Ren returned to work when Xiaobao turned 5 months old. She brings to the office nursing bottles and storage devices, such as boxes of ice cubes, and leaves several times a day for pumping, she says.
She committed to breastfeeding while pregnant. The soon-to-be mother did extensive research, and massages and exfoliates her nipples as advised.
Through persistence, she was able to overcome her milk supply shortage caused by inadequate care, and her toddler is growing stronger, Ren says. He's gaining weight healthily and has good teeth.
Ren and Dong agree finding a private space for feeding or pumping is often inconvenient, and they sometimes make do with restrooms.
Ding believes new mothers' breastfeeding difficulties stem from their lack of confidence and support.
"The secret," Ren says, "is believing in yourself."