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

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  • Limor Hatsor
  • Ity Shurtz

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.

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  • Limor Hatsor & Ity Shurtz, 2025. "Breastfeeding and the return to work after childbirth of new mothers: Evidence from a baby formula scare," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 44(3), pages 943-963, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:jpamgt:v:44:y:2025:i:3:p:943-963
    DOI: 10.1002/pam.70003
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    2. Aftab, Fari & Della Giusta, Marina & Jewell, Sarah & Rawlings, Samantha, 2026. "The Trade-off Between Breastfeeding and Returning to Work: The Role of Workplace Constraints," IZA Discussion Papers 18427, IZA Network @ LISER.

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