Providing Breastfeeding Support

Missy Lake RN, IBCLCEssentia Health

Benefits of BreastfeedingFOR MOM

risk of osteoporosis

risk of Type II diabetes

risk of breast cancer

risk of ovarian cancer

FOR BABY

risk of illnessrisk of SIDSrisk of diabetes

risk of obesity

Essentia Health’s Commitment to supporting breastfeeding

• Designated a “Baby-Friendly” facility in October 2015.

• Only 9 facilities in the state of MN are “Baby-Friendly”

Mayo Clinic – Austin U of M – Fairview Healtheast – Woodwinds St. Joseph’s – St. Paul St. John’s – Maplewood Regions Hospital – St. Paul HCMC – Minneapolis Fairview - Princeton Essentia Health

– St. Joseph’s Medical Center

• We are the 1st facility in our area to be awarded this designation

Essentia Health’s commitment to support breastfeeding

We’re achieving the international best practice and standard of care for mothers and babies

It is well recognized that hospital practices in the first hours and days after birth make a difference in breastfeeding success.

National health leaders, including the surgeon general, rank breastfeeding as a top health initiative, like cancer screening, reducing rates of obesity and smoking. The federal Centers for Disease Control are tracking the number of “Baby-Friendly” hospitals as part of its assessment of community health.

Breastfeeding support in our

community• Lactation

services at Essentia Health

• Mom’ Morning Out support group

• WIC & peer counselor

• Infant Feeding Line

• Social Media• La Leche

League• Peers, family,

& friends

Returning to workMothers are the fastest-growing segment of

the U.S. labor force. Approximately 70% of employed mothers with children younger than 3 years of age work full time.

Mothers who work outside the home initiate breastfeeding at the same rate as mothers who stay at home. However, the breastfeeding continuance rate declines sharply in mothers who return to work.

US Breastfeeding RatesInfant Age DO NOT work

outside the home

Work outside of the home

2 months 68% 67.7%

6 months 35.4% 22.8%

12 months 22% 10.6%

Success in Numbers

Measure SJMC 2012

SJMC 2014

Healthy People

2020 Target

BF on Admission 74% 81% N/A

Exclusive BF at Discharge(Of those that initiated BF)

79% 88% N/A

Exclusive BF at 1 Month 42% 48% N/A

Exclusive BF at 3 Months 26.5% 38.5% 46.2%

Exclusive BF at 6 Months 18% 26% 25.5%

Exclusive BF at 1 Year 1.5% 3.2% N/A

A small investment can yield a BIG return!Companies successful at retaining valued employees

after childbirth find that two components can make the difference: providing a dedicated space for breastfeeding

employees to express milk in privacy providing worksite lactation support. 

Supporting your breastfeeding employees saves money becauseBreastfeeding employees miss work less oftenBreastfeeding lowers health care costsIt fosters better retention and higher productivity &

loyalty

Steps to Supporting your employees

Private space for milk expressionSpace needs to be private with the ability to

lockSpace needs to have an electrical outletSpace should be close to running waterSpace should include a chair and tableSpace cannot be a bathroomSpace may include a cork board to allow

women to put pictures of their infants up

Steps to Supporting your employeesFlexible breaks and work options

Women need to express milk approx every 3 hours. Typically 2-3 times in an 8 hour shift

Each milk expression time takes approx 15 minutes, plus time to go to and from the lactation room

Milk expression can easily be divided between usual paid breaks and the meal period

Work with your employees to create a flexible work schedule to allow milk expression breaks (coming in 15 minutes early or staying 15 minutes late, 45 minute lunch instead of 60.)

Steps to Supporting your employeesProvide education

Provide your policy to employees upon their hire

Remind pregnant women of your policy in pregnancy

Discuss mothers return to work and a schedule that will accommodate milk expression

Have pamphlets and information in the lactation room that reminds women of local support in your area

Steps to Supporting your employees

SupportA positive, accepting attitude from upper

management and supervisors helps breastfeeding employees feel confident in their ability to continue working while breastfeeding.

Supportive policies and practices that enable women to successfully return to work and breastfeed send a message to all employees that breastfeeding is valued.

Support is a temporary need for each breastfeeding employee as milk expression requirements will gradually diminish between 6-12 months.

How do you begin?Convene a task force

Who will work on this projectManagement, employees, community members

Create a policyKeep it simpleMany resources on-line that you can use as a template

Allocate a spaceSmall area that can accommodate a chair and table

and has an electrical outletUnused office area, unused closet or storage area,

sectioning off a small corner with partitions, adapting a small unused space

How do you begin?Identify community resources

Ask for input in creating your policy or creating a room

Have resources available to your employeesEducate your employees on resources

availableEmployees are made aware of the policyEmployees are aware of the lactation space

Supporting breastfeeding in the daycare setting

Programs that support breastfeeding families will help women start and continue to breastfeed.

The daycare provider or center should have basic knowledge of breastfeeding.How to support familiesHow to store and prepare breastmilkFeeding breastmilk from the bottle

Trinity Children’s Center2 staff attended the Certified Lactation

Counselors (CLC) training on a grant provided by CWE

Having a CLC on staff has given them “the education and confidence to support their families.”

Trinity Children’s CenterChanges made to the center included….

Updating their policy to support breastfeedingAdding a space where women can feed at the

centerSupporting alternate drop off and pick up

times to accommodate a feeding scheduleA storage space for breastmilkEducated on the handling of breastmilk and

guidelines for avoiding waste and illness

Trinity Children’s CenterAnyone wanting more information on the

process that Trinity Children’s Center took to make changes or how it has affected and supported their families can contact……Becky Dryburgh, Center Director Trinity Children’s Center 1420 S 6th Street Brainerd, MN 56401 tcc@trinitybrainerd.org

Normalizing Breastfeeding

1. It’s normal!

2. It’s the best meal!

3. Health Benefits!

4. Anywhere, Anytime!

5. Happy babies!

Something to think about….How are you going to support Breastfeeding?Among family and friends?At work?In your community?In public?