Breastfeeding and work: between maternal roles and professional responsibility

Introduction: A mother\"s job has been appointed as one of the factors that influence the beginning, the duration and the intensity of breastfeeding and many aspects related to her work can affect this practice. However, we realized that a great difficulty to achieve better standards of breastfeeding among working mothers is not found in the lack of knowledge about the importance of breastfeeding, let alone in the inexistence of programs and laws that promote, protect and encourage it. It is therefore found in the lack of adhesion of the companies that implement appropriate current actions for its employees who return from maternity leave, or even those who go back to work earlier than expected due to not having a formal labor relationship. Objective: To understand the relationship of working mothers and companies regarding breastfeeding and the return to their jobs. Method: A qualitative study which takes place in an agribusiness company in the region of Ribeirao Preto, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, which adopts promotion policies, protection and encouragement to breastfeeding, such as: maternity leave, paternity leave, breastfeeding room, flexible hours and daycare, among others. The participants of this study were women who went through the process of breastfeeding in the years of 2014, 2015 and 2016, and other employers who worked in the same sectors. The data was collected through semi structured interviews recorded after signing the WICF. The method used to analyze this data was the Interpretation of Senses in light of Dialectic Historical Materialism, of the concept of gender and the policies supporting motherhood. Results: 16 subjects took part in our study being 10 women, 5 employers and 1 manager. Three themed categories were identified: Maternity and Supportive Programs in the Workplace, Fragmentation of Thought: the maternal needs, daily overloads and professional postures and Breastfeeding under the Business Prism. Conclusion: Many are the identified dilemmas which mothers suffer when they have the desire of maintaining the practice of breastfeeding and feeling safe in their professions and far from prejudicial and incriminating looks. In order for the woman to deal with her maternal functions and her professional responsibilities in a consonant way, aside from a supporting network of family members and capable health professional, the woman needs to desire and relinquish herself. We highlight that regarding the company, the simple existence of supportive programs in the workplace doesn\"t represent the legitimate support of employers. It also demonstrates that these programs are not only necessary, but that the understanding and awareness of the employers towards the many social roles of the woman in modern society are also needed (AU)