60% of mothers return to work within six months of delivery, reveals study

‘Govt. creches unequipped to admit children under 1 year’

A study on breastfeeding knowledge and practices of working mothers in the informal economy in New Delhi has shown that six months of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) was difficult as 38% of mothers returned to work under three months of delivery and 60% within six months of delivery, leading to early weaning. The study conducted by researchers from the Indian Institute for Human Settlements interviewed 150 mothers, including domestic workers, vendors, home-based and “barter” working mothers, out of which 79% were breastfeeding.