Table 4.

Work characteristics that harm BF.

Characteristics of jobs that hinder BF. Midwives indicate that women find it difficult to maintain EBF due to the lack of support at work in reconciling it with family life, related to the characteristics of the position they occupy.	“...women with important positions do not even have half an hour of rest, but must always be available. This is causing them a lot of anxiety in returning to work, so they decide to bottle-feed.” (E15)
Early return to work is detrimental to BF. Midwives perceive that insecure working conditions determine an early return, hindering EBF and upbringing.	“…The population that I attended had very difficult work contracts, if they did not come back within 6 weeks, they no longer had a job. The commitment to their job and job insecurity, had a great influence on that too...” (E3)
The inability to express milk at work leads to stopping EBF. The informants point out that the inability to express milk during the working day causes discomfort and problems that force women to abandon BF.	“...especially the main problem is that not all jobs allow you to go and express your milk. Some mothers have told me: ′Look, I have to stop this because throughout the day I could not go at any time to express milk and my breasts hurt, I could not stand it.” (E14)
Expressing milk at work, but in inadequate conditions. Midwives indicate that women manage to express milk at work in order to continue their BF, but in inadequate conditions, using their resting time for it, as in many jobs it is not even contemplated. They do not even have a dedicated space for it, and milk is usually expressed in bathrooms or remote places, where women feel uncomfortable.	“...There are women who use the half hour they have for breakfast to express milk or there are times when they feel strange or are embarrassed. Sometimes they cry in the bathroom.” (E17)