Suggestions for making the workplace BF friendly

[Masel]

I got myself on to the new Wellness Committee at work. We are supposed to attend the first meeting with ideas to improve the health of co-workers. I want to suggest way to make this office breastfeeding friendly. My first suggestion is that they include in our employee handbook support for BF families.

Next I want to make the lounge attached to the second floor ladies room into the designated BF room. An office would be better and less bathroomy but we are pressed for space. I would need some sort of screen to block the view when the door is open. I might suggest a port so that a laptop can be plugged and someone could possibly get a little work done but that is last on my list. There is already an outlet and a couple of compfy chairs. What else should I ask for?

When I was trying to induce lactation before my adopted DD was born the HR director was stumped as to how I could try to pump at work. The two women who had had kids in the last few years had offices with doors and could pump there (if they pumped at all.) My cube is completely out in the open. There are about 12 women of childbearing age on staff (though I know quite a few of them are done family building.)

I would like some hard data on the health of children who are BF. Mostly I want to show that women who BF miss a lot less work due to their kids being sick. Since a few folks are know I'm trying to concieve right now I also need to not sound too self-serving. I guess I'm over thinking this. Even having a support policy in place would be helpful and wouldn't cost my company anything up front.

I'm sure this has come up around here before but my searching got a lot of rants but not the data and experience I'm looking for. Any help would be appreciated.

[CEVmommy]

I wrote a proposal for a lactation room at my workplace a few years ago. Some of the ideas and resources in there might be useful to you. My lactation room proposal was "approved", however we still don't actually have it... (submitted Oct 2006, approved March 2007, still waiting here a year and a half later...) I'm hoping that it will actually be implemented by the time I need it for my next baby though next year.

VA Lactation Room Proposal

[Otterella]

One important thing is to make sure all employees are aware of your state's laws regarding NIP & workplace pumping. I think a lot of the unfriendliness in the workplace comes from a lack of awareness. So anything that increases awareness will make a big difference.

-Post a sign in the bathrooms and break rooms notifying women that they have the right to pump where they feel comfortable, or of the location of a clean and comfortable room reserved for pumping.

-Send out a memo to all managers and HR personnel reminding them that they should not only refrain criticizing, preventing, or discouraging women from pumping, but actively encourage it, since it means those employees will be out far less often taking care of sick children. Also remind them that they should never send a woman to the bathroom to pump.

-Create an informational packet for women that can be given to them by their managers when they notify them of a pregnancy, including state law and office policy (a BF-friendly policy, of course) regarding pumping, consumer reviews on pumps and breastfeeding-friendly bottles, lactation consultants in the area, LLL groups, and above all, NO FORMULA ADVERTISING!

These would all be very low-cost ways to make a BIG difference.

[_betsy_]

Have an employee health fair, and invite the LLL to have a table.

Print up copies of the 101 reasons to BF, and give it to managers and leave some in the lactation room.

Kellymom.com has some suggestions for approaching hte workplace about lactation accommodations, that may help you.

[ShadowLark]

This is anecdotal and I'm a SAHM, but I will say this. My son, who weaned at 3 months old (long story, and it sucks!) is now 2. Over the past year, he's had about 8 or 9 colds (even with occasional pumped milk because I'm nursing his sister). Had he been in day care, I would have had to stay home a LOT, and that's just for colds. He's also had Hand Foot and Mouth disease - that would have been a week off, because of how long the fever lasted.
His sister, at 11 1/2 months old, has had about the same amount of colds. The difference is, she soars right through them with barely any symptoms (except a runny nose). She never caught the HFM, despite sharing water bottles with me and her brother, not to mention all the toys they both put in their mouths constantly. I don't think I would have had to stay home with her even once.
Brendon has also had two ear infections (one at 2 months, one at 5 months), Hypatia never had one yet.
Like I said, anecdotal - but I'm convinced. Honestly, the only good thing that came from the disaster of Brendon being weaned so young is his sister. And maybe my knowledge - if there's one thing I'm good at, it's learning from my mistakes.

[dirtgirl]

HRSA actually has a few fancy brochures, one of which is called "The Business Case for Breastfeeding". You can go to the HRSA website to order them (They are free): http://ask.hrsa.gov/detail.cfm?PubID=MCH00251

[mamajake]

Originally Posted by dirtgirl

HRSA actually has a few fancy brochures, one of which is called "The Business Case for Breastfeeding". You can go to the HRSA website to order them (They are free): http://ask.hrsa.gov/detail.cfm?PubID=MCH00251

I second this. And [shameless self-promotion alert] http://mothering.com/articles/new_ba...ng-9-to-5.html