Accommodating Nursing Mothers (Breastfeeding Legislation)
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends breastfeeding for at least the first twelve months of life. Since most women return to work before their infants are a year old, this means that there are a lot of lactating women in the workforce. Not every woman decides to breastfeed; it's a very personal choice and can be controversial.
A recent survey reports that 29 percent of new mothers who stop breastfeeding their baby before he is twelve months old quit because of work issues. Fifty-seven percent of them stop because they have nowhere at work to express milk.
A woman who works full time may be away from her baby for as long as nine or ten hours a day once you factor in travel time to and from work and a lunch break. She will need to express breastmilk at least once during the day, but preferably twice or maybe even three times — it will depend on how much milk her body produces. Engorgement from not expressing milk is very uncomfortable and can contribute to clogged ducts and infections.
There are several high-quality breast pumps on the market that allow a woman to express milk quickly and quietly. They may be rented or purchased and come with an attractive carrying case that resembles a briefcase. Once the mother learns how to use it, she can finish the job in fifteen minutes — including cleanup.
The Talk
A woman returning to work from maternity leave may be apprehensive about telling her supervisor that she will need to express breastmilk during her breaks. Breastfeeding mothers are not ashamed of how they feed their babies — in fact, the opposite is true — but bringing up the subject of breasts and bodily functions with someone that you have a business relationship with may be awkward. You don't need to bring it up, but you can open the door to the topic by saying, “Is there anything that you will need from us once you return to work?”
Most women will bring up the subject while they are on maternity leave by saying that they will need a private place to express breastmilk after they return to work. This is your cue to arrange for a place for them to do this, and the place should not be a restroom stall. You can ask for thier input on where they would feel comfortable and they may have some ideas of their own.
Employer Obligations
Currently, twelve states have breastfeeding legislation that applies to employers. These states are California, Connecticut, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Minnesota, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, and Washington. Coincidently, half of these states also have state maternity laws that are more generous than federal law.
State breastfeeding laws vary from requiring an employer to provide a private, sanitary area for mothers to express milk to encouraging employers to make a reasonable effort to do so. Most indicate that employers should not expect women to express milk in a restroom stall.
To find out about breastfeeding legislation in your state, visit the Web site for the National Conference of State Legislatures at
If a woman's only option is to express milk in a restroom, supply a chair near the sinks. She should not be expected to sit on a toilet seat. Would you want to prepare a meal for your child there?
A private office is another place to express milk. There may not be running water, which is convenient for cleaning out equipment, but the environment is private and the door can be locked. Tape a “Do Not Disturb” sign on the door. A woman needs to be relaxed to express milk and the interruption of a knock on the door can delay getting things started.
Giving her the time and space she needs to continue to provide breast-milk for her baby while working is a gesture a new mother will never forget.
