Breast milk is widely acknowledged as the ideal food for infants, providing all the relevant nutrition needed for growth, immunity, and development. Breastfeeding is easier for infants to digest, and reduces the risks of ear and respiratory infections, allergies and diarrhea. Furthermore, breastfeeding greatly improves the health of the mother: Postpartum bleeding is reduced, weight gained during pregnancy is easily shed, and the risks of menopausal breast cancer and osteoporosis are decreased.

Yet despite these benefits, breastfeeding -- particularly within the African-American community -- remains at a low rate. Studies show that the lower the education and income levels, the less likely a mother is to breastfeed. Social acceptance and the perception of breastfeeding mothers is a major factor in the breastfeeding decision process. Many women feel uncomfortable breastfeeding their infants, particularly in public. Add to this the reality of a full-time job, and breastfeeding for many women becomes an insurmountable challenge.

For Elisa Hartstein, president and co-founder of Expressiva Nursingwear, the reality of a simple and every-day task like getting dressed for work became a tactical and strategic mission: Clothing had to be washable, easy to facilitate nursing, able to hide "leaks", and appear professional. Despite combing local shopping malls for suitable clothing, Elisa came up empty-handed. "There was just nothing out there that was suitable for work. I soon grew tired of having to get undressed to breastfeed," says Elisa. "I had to either stop breastfeeding, or stop working. Neither was an option."

Instead, Elisa decided to take matters into her own hands and, along with co-founder Ed Hyken, launched Expressiva Nursingwear, a designer of contemporary clothing created to enable mothers to pump or nurse discreetly and comfortably.

Other new initiatives, such as the introduction of Mother's Lounges at local companies, are encouraging working mothers to continue breastfeeding. "By giving women working the opportunity and location to express and store their milk during the workday, women are able to balance their work and family priorities," says Elisa. "With the introduction of a Mothers Lounge, medical expenses and absenteeism decrease, productivity increases, and overall, female employees are much happier."

"As long as women have to be embarrassed to breastfeed in public or express milk at work, our ability to increase breastfeeding rates will be limited," says Renata Forste, MD, lead author of the Pediatrics study. However, with progressive companies addressing the needs of breastfeeding working mothers, the call for improving the health and well being of infants is -- at least in part -- being answered.