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[MUSIC PLAYING]
-More and more women are making the decision
to continue breastfeeding when they return to the workforce.
Marama has six kids, works three days a week
at the office and two days at home,
and she breastfeeds her youngest daughter, Taina,
who is eight months old.
-I went back to work when she was
very young, about eight weeks old.
And lots of decisions.
Of course, there's always the financial reason.
When I'm at work in my office or away from her,
I just have to express, and it's normally twice a day,
express milk for her.
And that's stored, and then she can
have that when she goes to care.
-We've had many, many women working here who have either
had their babies in here from time to time
or just withdraw a couple of times a day to express.
And our fridge is often full of little, zipped up packs,
and you know that that's breast milk that's
going to be taken home.
-Here I have a nice little, quiet room
that's private and lockable.
And I can express, and that's fine.
But I've sat in work cars in the car park, in between meetings.
You just do what you have to when
you have to to keep it going.
-Some places of employment have written breastfeeding plans.
If your one doesn't, ask your employer
about breastfeeding breaks and flexible working arrangements.
Employers must provide women with breaks to breastfeed
or express where reasonable and appropriate.
Start planning early.
A good time to approach your employer
is when you talk about paid parental leave.
-There has to be communication with whoever
I'm responsible to, my manager.
You do have to be quite clear about what your needs are.
-Early childhood centers can also
support your breastfeeding.
-Thank you.
You're such a good help.
-Manama provides expressed milk for Taina
to have while she's there three days a week.
Breastfeeding helps keep the bond between working mothers
and their babies strong.
-This breastfeeding is one way of trying
to make it up to you a little bit.
How are you, darling?
Just the eye contact with her is really important for me
as well.
I want to be the most important person in her life.
I want her to trust that I can give her what she needs,
and so continuing to breastfeed is, for me, I
hope, a way of giving her that.
-Returning to work after having a baby
is always a juggle, especially when
both parents work full-time.
However, there are many ways working women
can continue to breastfeed.
-I never thought of giving up breastfeeding
to return to work.
I always had in my mind that I wanted
to be able to do both breastfeeding and work.
And I think it's really important
that women can have that opportunity.
-Hey, hon?
I might have to get to grab him shortly
so I can finish getting ready.
OK.
-Marcia works at a busy South Auckland health clinic
and her son Rex will come in with her until he's
six months old.
-I don't think women should have to give up
breastfeeding to go back to work.
-Hey, how's it going?
-It's not just because Marcia is a GP.
We've done it with other women as well.
It puts such a totally different dynamic on your work place.
I mean, in the morning, it's a scramble on who gets him.
-I start work at 10 o' clock in the morning,
and I have patients scheduled in with me from 10 o' clock
onwards.
So usually I get to work a bit early, about 9:30,
quarter to 10 so I can settle him in.
Give him a quick feed if he needs a top up from breakfast.
Which he often does, and then I just start working and--
-We don't book her solidly because he
does demand feeding, it's really when he's ready,
he gets fed.
-It's really cool.
The girls all really enjoy having him around.
It's been really awesome having him here.
-Well, before that patient gets here, I'll throw him on.
We'll give you a quick top up, Danny.
Look at you munching out on your hand.
-It makes sense to us, as an organization,
to have the best employees and to be able to retain them.
And if people are getting that satisfaction at home,
as far as their personal lives are concerned, then
that benefits us as an employer.
-Bringing your baby to work doesn't
have to mean that you're not working.
You can still be very, very productive.
It just means everyone that's around
has to be sort of on board with that kaupapa I guess
to make it work, then there's no reason
why it couldn't be done elsewhere.
-Rex is now six months old, and although Marcia
will continue to breastfeed him until he is at least a year
old, his time with her at work is coming to an end.
Today, Marcia's work colleagues are throwing him a party
to celebrate their time with him.
-Oh, it's kind of mixed emotions.
Part of me feels happy that he can now
have some time away from me and spend some more
time with his dad.
And then there's another part of me that sad,
you know, one step away from him being my little baby.
-My husband and my mother were saying, ugh,
put her on a bottle.
For crying out loud.
Look at you.
Put her on a bottle.
But I knew I would get there.
And that it would be worth it.
-It was hard at the beginning, but it
gets easier as you go along.
-It's really nice.
It's just so easy now.
-I do enjoy breastfeeding.
I really thought that I wouldn't.
But it helps you to bond with your baby.
-I never considered not breastfeeding.
It's always just been something that I've done.
-I'm really glad that I breastfeed the babies,
and my husband really envy me.
-Just knowing that you're nurturing
the baby in a really good way.
-Stick it out. Get the support you
need to make it work because it is the best
things for your baby and for you.