Whilst breastfeeding has always evoked a lot of discussion and wide-ranging views, very few, if any dispute that breastmilk provides vital nutrients and antibodies that strengthen the infant's immune system, protecting them from various illnesses and infections. Being easily digestible, breastmilk also reduces the chances of digestive issues for the baby.

However, for all its benefits, sadly many mothers struggle with the breastfeeding process, through issues such as poor ‘latch’, low supply, breast pain, breast thrush and mastitis often impacting a mum’s ability to breastfeed for an extended period.

Another reason for stopping breastfeeding is the need for mums to return to work. In fact, in Australia, only 35% of babies are exclusively breastfed until the age of six months, with ‘returning to work’ cited as the most common reason.

The theme for this year’s World Breastfeeding Week (August 1-7) is “Enabling Breastfeeding – Making a difference for working parents” with this week-long event focussing on creating a supportive workplace for working parents to "enable breastfeeding" rather than requiring to stop in order to return to their place of work.

There are many ways that companies can support mothers as they return to work while continuing to breastfeed such as providing lactation rooms, implementing flexible work arrangements, offering education programs, ensuring appropriate breaks, and offering extended paid parental leave.

Since 2012, Qiara's family of probiotics isolated from breastmilk, has been providing support to over 40,000 mums every year to help them to keep breastfeeding when they might have otherwise given up. By taking Qiara, mums also improve their own gut health while simultaneously improving their baby’s gut health through their breastmilk.

The secret behind Qiara is that it contains a unique single-strain probiotic, Lactobacillus fermentum CECT5716, which is proven to be particularly beneficial in restoring breastmilk flora and good gut bacteria following antibiotics, particularly important for C-section or GBS positive mothers and their babies. It also aids the improvement to a healthy digestive system function and good bacteria growth, enhancing the general health and wellbeing of mothers and their infants during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Learn more at www.Qiara.com.au 

Read more: WorldBreastfeedingWeek.org 

1. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/6373415_A_descriptive_study_of_mastitis_in_Australian_breastfeeding_women_Incidence_and_determinants 

2. https://www.wgea.gov.au/newsroom/parental-leave-scorecard