President Obama's health care bill is symbolic for a number of reasons. But one of the gems is the provision that employers will be held accountable for providing a private place for breastfeeding moms to pump their milk at work. What a victory! For years, because of the sporadic laws in only 25 states and accommodations offered by a handful of employers, working moms were left on their own to fend for themselves. They had to fight for a private place to pump (NOT the bathroom), or felt forced to give up breastfeeding early because of the barriers that work posed.
Now, according to the bill, employers would be required to provide a "reasonable break time for nursing mothers" in the first year after giving birth. Women would be provided a private place, other than a bathroom, to use a breast pump. The provision exempts companies with fewer than 50 workers if the requirement would impose "an undue hardship," a determination left to the employer to make. While this is a giant step for breastfeeding, the way the language in this section is written might leave the pumping mom in a precarious situation. It's possible she might not be protected under this bill if her employer does not understand the importance of pumping and keeping up her milk supply.
Obama's health care bill opens the door for breastfeeding moms, but they must walk through it, and might have to continue to fight for the "reasonable time" and "private place" they need to pump and express their breastmilk.
With all that said, the health care bill is still a huge leap, and it offers such validation for the importance of breastfeeding, breastpumping, and breastmilk within the context of our Nation's health and preventive medicine.
Now, according to the bill, employers would be required to provide a "reasonable break time for nursing mothers" in the first year after giving birth. Women would be provided a private place, other than a bathroom, to use a breast pump. The provision exempts companies with fewer than 50 workers if the requirement would impose "an undue hardship," a determination left to the employer to make. While this is a giant step for breastfeeding, the way the language in this section is written might leave the pumping mom in a precarious situation. It's possible she might not be protected under this bill if her employer does not understand the importance of pumping and keeping up her milk supply.
Obama's health care bill opens the door for breastfeeding moms, but they must walk through it, and might have to continue to fight for the "reasonable time" and "private place" they need to pump and express their breastmilk.
With all that said, the health care bill is still a huge leap, and it offers such validation for the importance of breastfeeding, breastpumping, and breastmilk within the context of our Nation's health and preventive medicine.
Autumn 1 week old
Autumn 4 1/2 months old
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