New mothers are considering a relatively new factor in the bottle vs. breast debate -- the economy. In fact, 88 percent of new moms are weighing the budget benefits of breastfeeding right alongside the health benefits, a recent survey shows.

“My husband figures we have saved around $1,200 in the past year using breast milk rather than formula,” says Cristin Diekmann, a new mother from California. “Plus, the health benefits of breast milk so outweigh formula that for me it seemed wrong to not give my child the best start possible.”

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that babies be breastfed exclusively for the first six months, and then continue to be nursed at least for the first year. While many moms are aware of the health benefits, they may not realize breastfeeding can cut a significant amount of money from their monthly budget.  

With the recession making it necessary for most families to cut expenses, breastfeeding can be a healthful way to keep feeding costs down for the newest member of the family.

Depending on the cost of formula, a newborn baby can consume from $43.86 to $194.22 in formula just in the first month, according to Kelly Mom, a popular online breastfeeding resource. By six months, the cost for formula can add up to be $375.34 to $1,662.22. Over one year, a family with one infant could save between $714.42 to $3,163.86 by feeding breast milk rather than incurring the cost of formula. And, in the long run, breastfeeding also helps save on healthcare costs, as breastfed infants typically need fewer healthcare visits, prescriptions and hospitalizations.

And while breastfeeding may pose some challenges for working moms, those surveyed agreed that even with the investment in a high-tech, high-quality breast pump, the health and cost benefits of breastfeeding far outweigh any challenges.

“When doing the math regarding formula cost I realized that I could buy a pump for less than the cost of four months worth of formula,” says Nebraska mom Cassidy Peterson. “I have nursed two boys for a total of 30 months with just the same Medela pump. It was very economical for my family. I work full time and suffer from low milk supply. With pumping, my children never had to have formula and we were able to get by with the same pump for both boys. I hope to have another baby and plan to use the pump again.”

“Breastfeeding truly does pay off for moms and babies both in health benefits and cost savings,” says Irene Zoppi, a registered nurse, licensed lactation consultant and clinical education specialist with Medela Inc. “For moms purchasing a breast pump to aid in providing breast milk to their child, the initial investment may cause a bit of sticker shock. However, when compared to the annual expense of formula, the cost is justified. In addition, there are also rental options through the Breastfeeding National Network for those who do not wish to incur that initial investment.”

Breastfeeding Moms Need Workplace Support
Although many organizations, including the federal government, tout breastfeeding babies during the first six months of life as the healthiest choice new mothers can make for their child, a 2007 survey by the not-for-profit National Women's Health Resource Center and Medela Inc. revealed 32 percent of new mothers give up breastfeeding less than seven weeks after returning to work because of significant barriers. This is particularly true of women in retail settings, younger moms and those with lower paying jobs.

Many work environments are falling short of supporting women and providing the resources they need to succeed at breastfeeding while working. The biggest barriers include no privacy, inflexible schedules, lack of refrigeration to store breast milk and insufficient or lack of company policies to allow them to take an adequate number of breaks to pump. In fact, while 60 percent of the survey respondents believe that the perception of breastfeeding in the workplace has grown more positive in recent years, 35 percent feel that there has been no change, and 5 percent consider it to have grown more negative.

Disparities Among Work Environments
The survey shows mothers working in retail or service environments were least likely to breastfeed for six months or more after returning to work. Only 23 percent were able to do so compared to 42 percent of those who work from home or own a business, and 31 percent who work in other environments including office or classroom, factory or non-office and health care.

“The federal government’s Healthy People 2010 initiative’s breastfeeding goal is a 50 percent breastfeeding rate at 6 months. Corporate America plays a big role in helping to achieve this goal, but sadly there are inconsistencies as new mothers at company headquarters are getting more support whereas those on the shop floor are not. In our survey, new moms told us their biggest barrier is the lack of a private, pumping-friendly environment and for some that means having to pump in a closet or bathroom stall,” explains Zoppi, Medela's clinical breastfeeding education specialist.

Economic & Age Disparities
The survey revealed that more than half (51 percent) of working mothers aged 18 to 24 years give up breastfeeding by seven weeks after returning to work compared to 26 percent of working mothers aged 32 to 38 years and 32 percent of moms overall. Having less tenure and typically at lower income levels than their older counterparts in the workplace, younger moms said they found it particularly difficult to discuss their breastfeeding needs with their employers and request their support.

“In our survey, new working moms send a clear message to employers about the most important attributes of a supportive work environment. These are, in order, a flexible schedule for pumping breaks as needed, providing electricity for pumping, and an office with a door to close for privacy,” cites Elizabeth Battaglino Cahill, a practicing maternal fetal medicine nurse and vice president of the NWHRC.

To help women understand the benefits of breastfeeding, overcome the challenges of breastfeeding, and learn important tips for breastfeeding success, NWHRC and Medela have created a free tip card. It also includes helpful hints for new moms to effectively transition back into the workplace. Tips include:

• Talk to your human resources director about your corporate policy on breastfeeding before leaving for maternity leave.
• Ask your employer for a private, safe room for pumping.
• Purchase a pump that will work with your work environment. For instance, most leading electric pumps also offer a battery option which might offer greater flexibility.
• Seek out other working mothers who might provide support.

To learn more about the cost and health benefits of breastfeeding, or to order your free tip card, visit www.medela.com.