Breastfeeding and Healthy Living: Going Back to Work or School

MO-07-0043 BFP

Select Your Topic:

For Parents
For Employers

For California Department of Public Health Employees
For Child Care Workers
For Community Leaders
International Reports

For Parents:

Lactation Accommodation Law 

Assembly Bill 1025 passed 10/13/2001

Labor Code Section 1030-1033

To file a complaint when an employer violates labor code section 1030 complete a complaint by following the directions in the following Bureau of Field Enforcement Claim.

The California Department of Fair Employment and Housing fines employer (PDF)for not allowing a mother to breastfeed her child during her break.

Health Care Reform Boosts Support for Employed Breastfeeding Mothers: FAQs by United States Breastfeeding Committee

La Leche League

California Department of Public Health WIC Breastfeeding Resources Website, Resources for Employees:

WIC Pantry for Mom and Baby Breastfeeding Comparisons (PDF)...Spanish

How Does Formula Compare to Breastmilk (PDF)...Spanish

Breastfeeding While Working or Going to School (PDF)...Spanish

Getting Ready for Child Care English (PDF)...Spanish

Pumping and Storing Breastmilk for Your Baby (PDF)...Spanish

Sample Schedule for Expressing Breastmilk at Work English (PDF)...Spanish

Help in getting breastfeeding started well:

What to Expect in the First Week of Breastfeeding (PDF, English)...Spanish | Chinese

You Can Make Plenty of Breastmilk (PDF)...Spanish

Babies Cry, Babies Sleep (PDF)...Spanish

Dad "Your Love and Support Make a Healthy, Happy Family" (PDF, English)...Spanish

All about breastfeeding website by the New York State WIC office

National Center for Education in Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health

Maternal and Child Health Library

Websites

For Employers:  

Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Healthier Worksite Initiative:

The Lactation Support Program

Support for Breastfeeding in the Workplace (PDF)

From the U.S. Office of Personnel Management:

California Department of Public Health Website, Resources for Employers:

The Business Case for Breastfeeding

Letter to Employers from the Director of the Department of Health Services (Word)

Minimum Requirements of the California Lactation Accommodation Law (PDF)

Other Ways to Support Breastfeeding in the Workplace (PDF)

Sample Flyer for Employee Break Rooms (PDF)

Sample Messages for Paycheck Stubs (PDF)

Developing a Breastfeeding Workplace Policy (PDF)

Setting up a "Lactation Room" (PDF)

Improving the Bottom Line for Businesses (PDF)

National Business Group on Health:

Breastfeeding Support at the Workplace: Best Practices to Promote Health and Productivity (PDF)

An Employer’s Toolkit: Investing in Maternal and Child Health (PDF)

Recommended Coverage from A Purchaser’s Guide to Clinical Preventive Services: Moving Science into Coverage (PDF)

• Breastfeeding Counseling Coverage
• Structured breastfeeding education and behavioral counseling is a covered benefit for all pregnant and lactating women.
• Counseling may be provided in an office setting, during hospitalization for labor/delivery, or in the patient’s home after the birth of their child.
• There is no maximum number of sessions, provided that the care is medically necessary.

San Diego County Breastfeeding Coalition:

Breastfeeding & the Bottom Line: Breastfeeding in the Workplace - a CD ROM (2004) $20.00 

Breastfeeding Task Force of Greater Los Angeles

Breastfeeding Works

American Institute of Architects, that collects and disseminates Best Practices as a service to its members:

Lactation Room Design, published in February, 2008 and states: 
“Mothers returning to the workplace after childbirth are incredibly driven to provide for their new babies but also to be productive members of the workforce. Companies that provide lactation rooms in the workplace help these employees achieve both of these goals. Following the design guidelines given here will yield a lactation room that is easy to use and offers comfort and respect to mothers.”

For Child Care Workers:

“Preventing Childhood Obesity in Early Care and Education Programs”: (2010) (PDF, 6.4 MB)Selected Standards from Caring for Our Children: National Health and Safety Performance Standards  (to be released in 2011)

Ten Steps to Breastfeeding Friendly Child Care Centers (Wisconsin) (PDF) A resource kit to assist child care providers and community groups to implement strategies to promote, protect and support breastfeeding women.  The kit includes a self-appraisal tool and information and resources for planning and implementing action plan based on the ten steps.  Wisconsin child care center staff can earn continuing education units.

How to Support a Breastfeeding Mother: A Guide to the Childcare Center  Contains training modules and materials made available by the Texas Department of State Health Services:

The WIC Peer Counselor Training can be used for Child Care workers so they will support the mothers of the babies they care for.

Safe Storage and Handling of Breast Milk

For Community Leaders:

US Breastfeeding Committee Resources:

Workplace Support

Health Care Reform Boosts Support for Employed Breastfeeding Mothers

AWHONN Position Paper: Breastfeeding and Lactation in the Workplace (PDF)

Workplace Initiatives to Support Breastfeeding Women:

Institute for Women’s Policy Research: “Maternity Leave in the United States” (PDF)

Washington Business Group on Health (PDF)

Oregon Health Division Mother-Friendly Workplace Policy

Texas Breastfeeding Initiative and the Mother-Friendly Work site Program

The Mother Friendly Worksite Program (Manual) (PDF)

State-level legislation monitored by La Leche League International

USDA's Breastfed Babies Welcome Here (PDF)

International Reports:

Findings from the International Labor Organization’s (ILO) Conditions of Work and Employment Database A review of national legislation Maternity at work;  2005 ILO Recommendations related to breastfeeding and employed mothers (PDF)

Full document (PDF, 1.6MB)

The International Labour Organization (ILO) is the UN specialized agency which seeks the promotion of social justice and internationally recognized human and labour rights.

Protection, promotion and support of breastfeeding in Europe: a blueprint for action (PDF)See page 27, 4.3. Legislation for working mothers.