When working moms can continue breastfeeding, everybody wins. Babies 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.

Have questions about the new law? Find answers at the US Department of Labor's information page and the United States Breastfeeding Committee's information page.

The US Department of Health and Human Services has assembled a comprehensive collection of educational materials designed to encourage employers to support employee breastfeeding. You can download the material and order a complete kit on the HHS website.

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The Massachusetts Breastfeeding Coalition hosted a panel discussion on that question in September 2007. Moderated by Judy Casey, director of the Sloan Work and Family Network, the panel featured Naomi Bar-Yam, Kirsten Berggren, and Carla Moquin.

For an inspiring introduction to lactation and the workplace, view the panel discussion here online.

For nursing families: Learn strategies for making the transition back to work

For employers: Find information on benefits for your business and learn how to set up a lactation support program

For healthcare professionals: Simple steps to help your patients combine working and breastfeeding

For advocates: Learn how you can support mothers in the workplace through policy and legislation

For nursing families

You can keep breastfeeding when you return to work. To get off to the right start, or address new challenges, use these web resources:

• Workandpump.com
  Kirsten Berggren offers strategies for working without weaning on her web site
• Babiesatwork.org
  Carla Moquin has extensively researched how trailblazing companies are allowing mothers to bring their babies to work.
• Working and breastfeeding
  Tips from the Texas Department of State Health Services, also available in Spanish
• Employed / Working Mothers' Breastfeeding Resources
  Tips for making the transition, collecting and storing milk, and making sure your baby is getting enough.
• Working and Breastfeeding
  Articles from La Leche League's New Beginnings on working and breastfeeding.

For nursing families | For employers | For healthcare professionals | For advocates

For employers

Why support nursing moms in your workplace? Because it's worth it. With a few months of flexibility, your business reaps tremendous rewards:

• Fewer sick days for moms:
  • Formula feeding moms have three times as many one-day absences from work to care for sick children in the first year of life than do breastfeeding moms. Cohen, Mrtek, and Mrtek (1995)
  • It is estimated that, for every 1000 formula feeding babies, their mothers would miss a total of one full year of employment in excess of breastfeeding mothers, because their children are sick so much more often, Ball and Wright (1999)
• Return on your investment
  • Aetna found a $2.8 return for every $1 invested to support lactation
  • Sanvita, a worksite lactation support company, has found that companies have obtained $1.50 to $4.50 for each dollar invested.
• Lower health care costs
  • Infants who receive only their mothers' milk for the first three months of life incur $331 less in health care costs over the first year of life.
• Lower staff turnover
  • Employers find that lactation support leads to improved staff productivity and loyalty, helping you retain talented employees.
• Positive image of a family friendly employer

• Investing in Maternal and Child Health: An Employer's Toolkit
  Information from the National Business Group on Health
• Breastfeeding: The Best Investment
  A summary from California WIC
• Support for breastfeeding in the workplace
  Evidence from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Breastfeeding and workplace supports
  An interview published in The Network News: A work-family news publication from the Sloan Work and Family Research Network

Toolkits for implementing lactation support in your workplace

• Lactation Support Program
  A toolkit with model policies from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Breastfeeding Programs and Support at the Workplace
  Implementation information for the Department of Health and Human Services.
• Oregon Working and Breastfeeding
  Includes an employer packet with guidelines on establishing workplace lactation support
• Texas Mother-Friendly Worksite Program
• California Breastfeeding Program
  Extensive resources, including sample policies, fliers, and frequently asked questions.
• Developing Worksite Wellness Programs: The Lactation Support Model
  Audio from a CDC teleconference on implementing lactation support in your workplace

For nursing families | For employers | For healthcare professionals | For advocates

For healthcare professionals

Review resources in the section for nursing families and provide copies for mothers at prenatal or early postpartum visits. It may also be helpful to write a letter for new mothers to take to their employer, describing the importance of breastfeeding.

• Sample letter from the Massachusetts Breastfeeding Coalition (PDF format or Word document)
• Sample letter from the Texas Department of State Health Services

For nursing families | For employers | For healthcare professionals | For advocates

For advocates

Talking points on legislation

The Breastfeeding Promotion Act (HR 2236)

Directories of state breastfeeding laws

• National Conference of state legislatures
• La Leche League: Breastfeeding and the law

Write to your legislator or local officials, anywhere in the US, using capwiz advocacy page of Children's Hospital Boston.

And join our mailing list to participate in planning and advocacy efforts.

For nursing families | For employers | For healthcare professionals | For advocates