THE EDITOR, Madam: I AM happy to note the new provisions in the Maternity Protection Convention 1952. As a mother of a healthy and happy two-year-old, who has been that way since birth, I attribute a lot of that to her having been breastfed even after I returned to work after my maternity leave.
I was very fortunate to be in an office environment where I was unofficially allowed to take periodic breaks within the day to pump milk which I then took home for my daughter. During the time I lived close to the office, I also went home to nurse at lunchtime. I was thus able to breastfeed exclusively for five months and continued on to nurse for a period of 15 months in total. My daughter was hardly ever sick and as a result I spent considerably less time than other mothers in the waiting room at the paediatrician. This was naturally to the company's benefit.
Please note that there was no official place for pumping milk set up in the company. However, the managers were evolved and knowledgeable enough about the benefits of breastfeeding that they were happy to accommodate my needs for privacy and so I was never short of an office in which to pump. An important thing for companies to note is that often there are offices that are unoccupied due to meetings or to someone being on leave. These rooms can be used as pumping stations (or rooms to breastfeed) if there is no official room for that purpose. Such was the situation many times at the company at which I worked.
All employers should strive to make some area with a relative amount of privacy available for the expressing of milk or breastfeeding. The time taken to do so will translate into less time in the doctor's office and certainly much more devoted and loyal employees.
On the subject of longer maternity leave, I will say only this - obviously it is a cost/benefit issue which will no doubt be heavily discussed. I believe, however, that the 12 weeks now in effect is painfully short and we would do well to really see if we can accept the 14-week revision.
Also, your Staff Reporter Patricia Watson made an excellent point in saying that we need also to address the issue of paternity leave if we expect our men to be responsible. In some countries of Europe, fathers are allowed up to 12 months of PAID paternity leave. This, of course, allows for much more interaction with fathers and children and enables greater levels of responsibility which can only benefit the family and therefore society.
I urge all parents, especially expectant and new parents, to let their feelings be known on this very important issue so the relevant authorities can take our views into account.
I am etc.,
SUZANNE SUKHRAM
E-mail: sasukhram@yahoo.com
Kingston 19
Via Go-Jamaica
