Companies that have adopted breast-feeding support programs have noted:
Source: United States Breastfeeding Committee
PLATTSBURGH — Raising a newborn while attempting to stay at work can become a difficult juggling act for a mother determined to breast-feed her baby.
Although the new mom can't expect to bring her child to work with her, she still needs time during the day to pump breast milk that can be used during the hours she is away from home.
New York state law supports that need with the Nursing Mothers in the Workplace Act of 2007, which requires employers to allow breast-feeding mothers reasonable, unpaid break times to express milk and to make a reasonable attempt to provide a private location to do so.
Clinton County officials recently opened a private facility for new moms as a breast-pumping area that's adjacent to the employee break room on the basement level of the County Government Building.
"The county has been proactive in meeting the requirements of this law," said Sue Trombley, breast-feeding coordinator for the Clinton County Health Department's Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program.
"They treat their employees well. We're fortunate to have such a comfortable and attractive facility."
COMFY QUILT
The room includes a sink and cabinet area, a spacious padded chair and a breast-feeding pump that can be shared.
"Each woman brings her own (breast-feeding) kit, but the pump itself is designed so it can be shared," Trombley said.
The room has not yet been utilized, but a few county employees are currently expecting and could take advantage of the facility when they return to work after their maternity leave, she added.
"The county understands the value of programs like this," said County Administrator Michael Zurlo. "We want our mothers to be at work and be contributors to the county. As such, we need to provide them the opportunity for that to happen."
Offering the facility promotes increased employee productivity and improved morale among employees, he added, citing as well the family-friendly image such gestures provide to the community at large.
The room also includes an attractive and homey quilt on display, courtesy of the Ladies of the Lake quilting group.
"We thought this would be a nice project for us," said Sue Minnie of the local quilting club. "It was a chance for us to do something bright and colorful for the breast-feeding moms."
UNION CONTRIBUTED
Eight women from the club worked together on the quilt, which features a variety of animals displaying all 26 letters of the alphabet. The quilters spent about 12 hours total putting the patchwork quilt together.
A series of teddy bears and hearts serve as backdrops to the Alpha Buddies, as the characters are named.
"I think it's really nice that we can do something to cheer up the room," said Carolyn Tyndall of the Ladies of the Lake. "It's a nice way to support these working mothers."
The quilt hangs from a wall directly behind the pumping station, so women can enjoy the images while expressing milk.
It takes an average of 20 minutes for each breast-pumping session, Trombley noted.
The county's union, Local 884 CSEA, donated $80 toward the purchase of the pattern used for the quilt.
The county also purchased some breast-feeding kits for employees. Individual pumps are available at area retail outlets for women who want to breast-feed and continue working, she added.
According to the U.S. Breastfeeding Committee, employers can save $3 for every $1 invested in breast-feeding support. Also, statistics show that infants and children who are breast-fed are ill less often, resulting in lower health-care costs and reduced employee absenteeism.
E-mail Jeff Meyers at: jmeyers@pressrepublican.com
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