Despite the substantial and enduring benefits of breastfeeding, actual rates of breastfeeding are disappointingly low. Although there are laws protecting breastfeeding in public and at work, one of the main barriers to breastfeeding is maternal employment. This website can serve as a guide to working and breastfeeding.

Benefits of Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding enhances cognitive function and provides ideal nutrition and immunological protection. Breastfed infants have less infections and illnesses. In the U.S., breastfed infants have a 20% lower infant mortality rate than formula fed infants. People who were breastfed have higher I.Q. and lower rates of numerous diseases. Mothers who breastfeed lose weight quicker, have less negative affect, lower rates of PPD and lower risk of breast and ovarian cancer. Breastfeeding also facilitates the mother-infant relationship by providing an ideal context for bonding.

Plan Ahead for Returning to Work

Before returning to work, develop a plan for breastfeeding and working, practice pumping, build stores of milk, and introduce a bottle to the baby. Just as infants learn to latch to the nipple, they will learn to latch to a bottle. The key to working and breastfeeding is to express breastmilk often enought to maintain the milk supply (about as often as the baby would breastfeed). Breastmilk can be expressed by the baby or a pump. If you cannot arrange for the baby to breastfeed during the workday, use a pump to express breastmilk. After pumping, breastmilk can be stored for the baby to drink at a later time. During the work day, the baby can drink breastmilk that has been previously expressed.

Letter To Employer

Prepare for breastfeeding and working before the baby is born. Talk with your employer and coworkers to inform them about your plans and gain their support. Inform your employer about the benefits of breastfeeding to the company which include: reduced absenteeism and healthcare costs, increased employee retention rates after maternity leave, and improved employee productivity, morale, and loyalty. Give your employer this letter which provides information about your breastfeeding needs and the benefits of breastfeeding to your baby, you, and your company!

(click on image of letter to enlarge and print)

Breastfeeding Law in California

Right to Breastfeed in Public:
a mother may breastfeed her child in any location where the mother and the child are otherwise authorized to be present

Lactation Accommodation for all California Employees
1030. Every employer shall provide a reasonable amount of break time to accommodate an employee desiring to express breast milk for the employee's infant child. The break time shall, if possible, run concurrently with any break time already provided to the employee. Break time for an employee that does not run concurrently with the rest time authorized for the employee by the applicable wage order of the Industrial Welfare Commission shall be unpaid.
1031. The employer shall make reasonable efforts to provide the employee with the use of a room or other location, other than a toilet stall, in close proximity to the employee's work area, for the employee to express milk in private. The room or location may include the place where the employee normally works if it otherwise meets the requirements of this section.
1032. An employer is not required to provide break time under this chapter if to do so would seriously disrupt the operations of the employer.
1033. (a) An employer who violates any provision of this chapter shall be subject to a civil penalty in the amount of one hundred dollars ($100) for each violation.

From: California Breastfeeding Laws (Government Website)
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