National Women's Health Week~Support Breastfeeding

As the nation celebrates National Women's Health Week, it’s a perfect time to remind mothers, families and employers about the important role breastfeeding can play in the health of mother and child. Mothers who breastfeed according to medical recommendations (six months exclusive breastfeeding and continued breastfeeding through at least the first year of life) protect their child from illnesses and reduce their own risk of conditions such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and breast and ovarian cancer.


While 75 percent of new moms in the United States start breastfeeding their babies, few continue after they return to work. Many worksites lack a private location and adequate facilities for pumping and storing breastmilk, and mothers worry about the attitudes of their supervisors and co-workers if they ask for the small amount of break time they need to pump breastmilk during the workday.

That’s why the Texas Department of State Health Services encourages all Texas employers to consider developing a written worksite breastfeeding support policy and to pursue designation as a Texas Mother-Friendly Worksite. The agency also has launched http://www.texasmotherfriendly.org/ as a resource for parents and employers.

I took the pledge because I am a breastfeeding momma!! And proud of it.  I am so glad that my employer is supporting me and my decision to breastfeed my baby Gia.  I use a conference room to pump.  I have my schedule for pumping and I try to stay within those times.  My co-workers also know where I am and what I am doing.  So no-one is going crazy looking for me, and they all support me and my decision as well.  I pump and put my milk in the refrigerator.  I have heard of the hard times others are having with this issue, especially those who work for employers with less than 50 employees where the law does not require them to provide a place for us.  We do not need much space, just some place private.  We do not ask for much.  And pumping is so quick and easy to do. 

***Disclosure-No compensation was received.  Informational post only.