As some of you may know, this week (August 1 - 7) is World Breastfeeding Week which is to help mothers all over the USA know their rights in the workplace when it comes to pumping and nursing their child.
Yes, YOU have the right to get breaks to pump your milk at work if the job has 50 or more employees, and the place to pump is NOT in the bathroom by any means. You should have either a nursing room or a private room that you're able to use by law. This helps women to know that just because they are working mothers doesn't mean that they have to stop breastfeeding, stop pumping, or go to formula. Jobs, you need to provide mothers with a room so that they have the privacy they need to pump milk for their baby, and give them enough time to do so.
If you're a nursing mom, you know that the last thing we want for our child is formula. I did formula feed my first two children but have since educated myself and learned that Mommy's milk IS best for him, and that he will not receive formula UNLESS I just am not producing enough for him, which is not the case at all. I have plenty, and Gatorade three times a day definitely helps when it comes to pumping a bottle for at night just because if my husband wants to help feed him once a day, he can.
WIC has an LC (Lactation Consultant) that will be in touch with moms every week for the first 4 weeks and then once a month after that, unless you have a question.
Great to know these options exist for working mothers. Now to make sure the workplace is well informed and actually implementing these rules!
ReplyDeleteI was grateful I had a quiet & private place to go. It was hard to fit in pumping into my busy work schedule, but I had to make it a priority to ensure I had enough milk for my baby.
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