Medela Corporate Lactation Program
An important part of creating a supportive workplace for nursing mothers
Corporate lactation programs were pioneered in the late 1980s by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power when the company began investigating the feasibility of offering special support for its employees who were nursing mothers. Although the program was intended to reduce absentee rates and employee turnover, it also proved effective in reducing the health care claims costs of infants whose mothers participated in the program.
Balancing work and family
Many employers recognize that helping employees balance the demands of work and family results in a happier, more productive workplace. Evidence of this trend can be found in the wealth of programs now being offered to employees. Services that are common today, such as daycare, eldercare, domestic partner benefits, adoption assistance and days off to care for sick children were unheard of just a few years ago. In fact, corporate lactation programs have become so popular that over 95% of the corporations listed in the 2007 100 Best Companies for Working Mothers* offer this benefit to their employees.
With more mothers working than ever before, it has become quite common for companies to provide a safe, convenient "Mother's Room" in which nursing employees can take a short break to express milk. Many employers are also providing, or subsidizing the purchase of, breastpumps and related equipment. Eliminating the financial barriers associated with these products has resulted in a significant increase in the number of employees who choose to breastfeed and has helped to increase the length of time mothers nurse their infants.
What Does It Take to Build a Successful Program?
It takes planning and preparation to build a successful, supportive corporate lactation program. The most successful of these programs offer at least one of these four main components:
- Private "Mother's Rooms" for expressing milk in a secure, relaxing environment.
- Access to hospital-grade, autocycling breastpumps.
- Subsidization or outright purchase of individually owned breastpumps for employees.
- Consultation services of certified lactation specialists.
Private Mother's Rooms
When returning to work after a maternity leave, mothers need access to a private, sanitary location to use a breastpump during the work day. Nursing mothers will typically use the room two or three times a day. If each employee uses safe, effective, autocycling breastpumps, each visit to the Mother's Room should last no longer than 10 to 15 minutes.
Breastpump Equipment
When it comes to equipment, employers have two options: 1) purchase hospital grade, autocycling breastpumps that remain in the workplace and are shared by employees who receive a personal accessory kit to use with the pump; and 2) purchase individual pumps for each employee or subsidize the purchase to help reduce costs to the employee. No matter which option an employer chooses, nursing mothers' needs are effectively served and mothers are assured a safe environment without risk of cross-contamination. Further, by providing equipment for breastfeeding employees to use, corporations are able to ensure that each mother is using the breastpump that best meets her needs.
Access to Qualified Lactation Professionals
Breastfeeding can be one of the most rewarding experiences a mother has. It can also be one of the most challenging. Making sure that nursing mothers have access to a qualified lactation professional ensures that mothers get the support they need to make breastfeeding a positive experience. A Board-Certified Lactation Consultant is an invaluable resource to help mothers establish proper nursing patterns, answer concerns about breastfeeding challenges, or simply to provide reassurance through the difficult early post-partum period.
Choosing the Right Breastpumps
The right breastpump not only makes pumping more comfortable, it can also make pumping more efficient. Breastpumps with double-pumping options save time and can even help increase a mother's milk supply. Medela offers a variety of pumps to meet short- and long-term pumping needs.
Symphony® Hospital-grade Breastpumps
Symphony is Medela's latest innovation in hospital-grade electric double pumps. With breakthrough 2-Phase Expression® technology, Symphony is proven to reduce pumping time through faster let-down and milk flow and removes as much milk as a breastfeeding baby.
Pump In Style® Advanced Breastpumps
The Pump In Style Advanced breastpumps are the best choice for employees who need their own breastpump. They are the only electric retail pumps with breakthrough 2-Phase Expression® technology pumping for maximum milk flow, thus providing more milk in less time. The pump is available in three stylish, discreet bags (the Shoulder Bag, the Backpack, and the Metro Bag™) that are ideal for women who travel or need to carry the breastpump home for use during nonworking hours.
Freestyle™ Hands-free Breastpump
Introducing the newest 2-Phase Expression technology breakthrough — Freestyle is our first hands-free, double-electric pump. It’s the performance you expect from Medela in an innovative pump that fits in the palm of your hand and includes thoughtful features that provide true mobility, freedom and flexibility. Inspired by pumping moms… Freedom is Born™.
Creating the Mother's Room
Mothers who will be expressing breastmilk during the workday require a private, clean place to use a breastpump. Creating a Mother's Room can be as simple as converting an unused closet, or as extensive as turning an office into a private room with a telephone, music and decorations. Below is a checklist of what it takes to create a Mother's Room, plus a few ideas that can make the room more soothing.
Necessary Mother's Room Items
- Door that locks from the inside
- Symphony® Breastpump (if purchasing for multiple-mothers' use) (add Symphony link)
- Shelf or table on which to rest a breastpump
- Garment hook on back of door
Optional Mother's Room Items
- Bulletin board for mothers to put up photos of infants
- Educational materials about breastfeeding
Breastfeeding is the most natural way to ensure a baby's healthy development. But developing a corporate lactation program can help lower employee absenteeism and reduce healthcare costs.
Benefits to the employer
In addition to making a positive impact on employee morale, corporate lactation programs offer companies an opportunity to demonstrate sensitivity to the challenges faced by working mothers. These programs are proved to reduce pregnancy-related costs, insurance claims from infant illness and the severity of infant illnesses when they do occur. Employers who have instituted corporate lactation programs have found that the programs are viewed favorably by not only the expectant mothers, but also by other employees who may not have a need for the current program. Simply put, most employees are impressed that their company took the time to consider and respond to the challenges a nursing mother faces.
Because breastfeeding is healthier for babies, mothers of breastfed babies take fewer days off to care for sick children. In fact, studies have shown that companies with corporate lactation programs experience*:
- 27% fewer maternal days off
- 36% fewer infant illnesses
Benefits to the infant
The health benefits of breastfeeding newborns speak for themselves. For maximum benefit, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the World Health Organization and the Surgeon General of the United States all recommend breastfeeding for at least one year. But studies show that infants who are breastfed for at least the first six months of life experience a wealth of benefits, including:
- lower rates of respiratory illnesses in the first three years of life
- two-thirds fewer middle-ear infections the first three years of life
- shorter duration of illnesses that do occur
- less risk of rotavirus gastroenteritis
- additional protection against bacterial meningitis for five years
Benefits to the employee
Breastfeeding not only promotes mother/infant bonding, it also helps return the mother's body to its pre-pregnant state faster. Mothers who breastfeed also enjoy a 40% reduction in the risk of breast cancer if they breastfeed for a lifetime total of at least two years. Mothers who nurse are also less likely to develop ovarian cancer and osteoporosis.
References
Cohen, Rona, RN, MN, FPNP, CLE. Comparison of Maternal Absenteeism and Infant Illness Rates Among Breast-feeding and Formula-feeding Women in Two Corporations. American Journal of Health Promotion. November/December 1995, Vol. 10, No. 2, pp. 148-153.
Cohen, Rona, RN, MN, FPNP, CLE. The Impact of Two Corporate Lactation Programs on the Incidence and Duration of Breast-Feeding by Employed Mothers. American Journal of Health Promotion. July/August 1994, Vol. 8, No. 6, pp. 436-441.
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