Missy Lake RN, IBCLC Essentia Health

Benefits of Breastfeeding FOR MOM risk of osteoporosis risk of Type II diabetes risk of breast cancer risk of ovarian cancer FOR BABY risk of illness risk of SIDS risk of diabetes risk of obesity

Essentia Health’s Commitment to supporting breastfeeding Designated a “Baby-Friendly” facility in October 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 1 st 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 work Mothers 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 Rates Infant AgeDO NOT work outside the home Work outside of the home 2 months68%67.7% 6 months35.4%22.8% 12 months22%10.6%

Success in Numbers MeasureSJMC 2012SJMC 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 because Breastfeeding employees miss work less often Breastfeeding lowers health care costs It fosters better retention and higher productivity & loyalty

Steps to Supporting your employees Private space for milk expression Space needs to be private with the ability to lock Space needs to have an electrical outlet Space should be close to running water Space should include a chair and table Space cannot be a bathroom Space may include a cork board to allow women to put pictures of their infants up

Steps to Supporting your employees Flexible 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 employees Provide 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 Support A 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 project Management, employees, community members Create a policy Keep it simple Many resources on-line that you can use as a template Allocate a space Small area that can accommodate a chair and table and has an electrical outlet Unused 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 employees Educate your employees on resources available Employees are made aware of the policy Employees 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 families How to store and prepare breastmilk Feeding breastmilk from the bottle

Trinity Children’s Center 2 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 Center Changes made to the center included…. Updating their policy to support breastfeeding Adding a space where women can feed at the center Supporting alternate drop off and pick up times to accommodate a feeding schedule A storage space for breastmilk Educated on the handling of breastmilk and guidelines for avoiding waste and illness

Trinity Children’s Center Anyone 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 6 th Street Brainerd, MN

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