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Breastfeeding and the return to work after childbirth of new mothers: Evidence from a baby formula scare

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: We use a baby formula “food scare” in Israel in 2003 as a plausible natural experiment to study the causal relationship between breastfeeding and mothers’ return to work after childbirth. Analysis of administrative data covering the universe of births in the country shows that first‐time mothers who gave birth shortly after the scare delayed their return to work. Their average months worked in the first 6 months after childbirth fell by about 11% relative to their counterparts in the previous year. Data from a major medical equipment lender in Israel indicates an increased likelihood of borrowing milk pumps, suggesting that the delay in returning to work was driven by an increase in breastfeeding. The results indicate that despite developments in technology and policy changes in recent decades, mothers still trade off work for the breastfeeding of their children.

Source: Journal of Policy Analysis and Management

DOI: 10.1002/pam.70003

Authors: Limor Hatsor, Ity Shurtz

Institutions: Jerusalem College of Technology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev

Language: English

Topic: Work-Family Balance Challenges

Subfield: Sociology and Political Science

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Decent work and economic growth, Good health and well-being, Zero hunger

Open Access status: green

Funder: National Insurance Institute of Israel