Table 5.

Motivations and strategies to reconcile work and family life.

Maternal motivation is a protective factor to continue breastfeeding after returning to work. The informants point out that the return to work is a moment of important crisis in EBF. Many women highlight that the degree of involvement and motivation for EBF is more important than the return to work itself.	“...in the end, those who really believe in breastfeeding, the fact that they work or not, is not decisive.” (E15)
Working woman and mother, conflict of interest. Midwives emphasise that the return to work with a small baby implies a conflict of interest for women, where in one way or another it is a resignation, either at a professional level or at the level of more present parenting.	“Well, many times you give up breastfeeding or maternity or a more present upbringing you would like, the neuropsychology supports it or you have to leave your job a bit. Sometimes they are forced to leave even their job or a job promotion…” (E1)
Women seek ways to reconcile EBF and work at the cost of pay cuts. Midwives find that women are looking for a way to reconcile EBF but many times that implies a reduction in income or an increase in expenses if they decide to take the baby to a nursery.	“And if I reduce the working hours, on the days that I do have to work, I have to pay for childcare, then I earn less and on top of that I am paying for care...” (E3)
Need to plan ahead and get used to it previously. Midwives perceive that women are very concerned with going back to work and the care of their child in their absence, so many prepare for that moment. Women decide to plan and start bottle-feeding or anticipate the introduction of complementary foods so someone else can feed their child while they are at work.	“… If my child is going to stay with my mother or is going to go to kindergarten, I start giving him a bottle when he′s two months old so he can get used to it, it is like planning ahead…” (E8)