Bernice J. Hicks 
Workers at the Tan Bien rubber factory are pleased with the opening of a breastfeeding room at their workplace in Kampong Thom province.
Hum Math, 37, said she could now breastfeed her 4-month-old daughter at work.
“I have one hour during my shift to do it and the feeding times are twice during my working day. I will do it once before the lunch break and the other around 3 p.m. My grandmother will bring my child to my workplace for me to feed her.
“I am extremely grateful to my management for opening this lactation room,” she said Tuesday.
Uy Thea, who is now 9 months pregnant, said she planned to feed her child with formula only because she planned to return to work after giving birth and therefore would not be there to breastfeed his baby.
“Now that my factory has opened a breastfeeding room, I will be able to continue breastfeeding my baby even after my 3-month maternity leave.”
“My employers are very caring. They made the lactation room very comfortable and breastfeeding friendly and they even encouraged me to breastfeed my child instead of using powdered formula.
“Breast milk is the best for newborns because it has all the nutrients babies need, it’s better than formula,” she said.
Kun Chanthorn will return to work at the factory after her 3-month maternity leave and said, “I was so happy after hearing about the new breastfeeding room because I can continue breastfeeding my baby.”
“I don’t want my baby to drink milk cartons. It’s not healthy and it’s also expensive, 1,500 riels a box. When I was pregnant, I thought I had no choice but to feed my baby the milk carton, but now breastfeeding is my only choice.
“I can also see and hold my child twice during my working hours. I am delighted,” she said, expressing her gratitude to her employers.
Pann Srey Yorn, 28, has been breastfeeding her 5-month-old daughter since birth.
Yorn collects and cools her breast milk for her child to drink when she is at work.
“Breast milk is good and I see my child’s development from it. She is strong physically and grows according to her age. She’s barely sick. I will continue to breastfeed her until she is 2 years old before I start using semi-solid foods.
“All mothers should breastfeed their babies,” she said.
State Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Prak Sophornary, said on Tuesday during the inauguration of the lactation room in Santuk district, Kampong Thom province, that mothers are encouraged to breastfeed their babies.
“We need to change the mindset of new mothers and encourage them to use breast milk instead of formula. Breast milk has value and should be valued.
“I encourage all workplaces, not just factories, to set up breastfeeding rooms to allow female staff and employees to breastfeed their babies while at work,” he said. she declared.
Kampong Thom Deputy Governor Touch Sokha said more factories should open a breastfeeding room at their workplaces and provincial authorities would ensure more are open.
Tan Bien rubber factory manager Lim Thanh Phu said the factory had 1,408 workers and 22 of the 542 women were pregnant.
“I know that breast milk has valuable nutritional value for children and I support the installation of lactation rooms in factories,” he said.
- Keywords: Breastfeeding, Tan Bien Rubber Factory
