World Breastfeeding Week

World Breastfeeding Week, now in its 22^nd year, takes place the first week of August.  This is a time when the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) and Livingston County Health Center joins with mothers and families, health organizations, breastfeeding coalitions, and countries around the world to provide education and promote the numerous health benefits of breastfeeding for infants, families, and society as a whole. It is celebrated in more than 170 countries worldwide.

This year's theme is “Breastfeeding and Work - Let's Make it Work.” Balancing work and family life, including breastfeeding, is increasingly necessary for women’s rights and a strong, healthy and vibrant workforce—and better society. According to Lactation Matters, the official blog of International Lactation Consultant Association, “today’s global economic and labor conditions are changing rapidly, with some positives but many negative implications on women’s health and livelihoods, as well as that of their children and families. By supporting breastfeeding in the workplace, all sectors of society will benefit. Benefits include productivity, family income and job security, women’s and children’s health and well-being, employers’ long-term profits and a nation’s socio-economic health and stability!”

Helping to encourage businesses to support breastfeeding, was the passing of The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (“Affordable Care Act”) amended section 7 of the Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”) that requires employers to provide reasonable break times for an employee to express breast milk for her nursing child for one year after the child’s birth, each time such employee has the need to express the milk. Employers are also required to provide a place, other than a bathroom, that is shielded from view and free from intrusion from coworkers and the public, which may be used by an employee to express breast milk.

 

Technically speaking, the needs of breastfeeding employees can be met through simple changes, and implemented inexpensively.  It is a known fact, that employers who provide lactation support to help mothers continue breastfeeding after returning to work reap benefits that impact the business’s bottom line, a few of which are:  cost savings, reduced absenteeism, lower health care costs, improved employee productivity and retention, and a family friendly worksite image for attracting new employees!

The last few years, in the Chillicothe/Livingston County area, the Livingston County Health Center, led by Breastfeeding Peer Counselor, Rachel Snider, assisted at least 7 local businesses to receive a Missouri State designated “Breastfeeding Friendly Workplace Award.”  These businesses met goals set by the Missouri Department of Health showing that they provide excellent support for their breastfeeding employees, by providing: 1) a private place to express milk that is not a bathroom, 2) a flexible work schedule that allows time for expressing milk, and most importantly 3) a supportive staff and supervisor.   Along with these awarded businesses, we have seen at least 8 other businesses participate in becoming designated as a “Breastfeeding Welcomed Here Business.”  These businesses confirm that they have a welcoming and friendly attitude toward mothers who come into their business or store and need to nurse their baby/child.  They also state that they are willing to provide a quiet, private area where the mother can nurse her child.  For a list of these local businesses or if you are a business wanting more information on participating,  check out the Livingston County Health Center’s website at www.livcohealthcenter.com and follow the tab under “breastfeeding.”

Breastfeeding provides the ideal nutrition for infants and contributes to their healthy growth and development. Babies who are breastfed have fewer illnesses, mothers have fewer sick days to care for their infants, and companies benefit from decreased employee turnover and lower health care costs.  This year’s theme “Let’s Make it Work” involves EVERYONE. When working moms can continue breastfeeding, everybody wins!

For more information about the Livingston County Health Center’s breastfeeding support services call 660-646-5506.