Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding Welcome Here Project
The Breastfeeding Welcome Here Project is focused on increasing awareness & public acceptance of nursing as normal by engaging area businesses, museums, and public venues to pledge support & put up signage welcoming breastfeeding in their establishment.
By partnering with local businesses, the Breastfeeding Welcome Here Project encourages new & future moms to feel more comfortable nursing in public places. Please review the materials for more information and how to get involved if you are a breastfeeding advocate or a business that is willing to support breastfeeding moms & babies.
Please click on the following links to view & download Breastfeeding Welcome Here Project materials:
Optional Nursing Room Information (for businesses)
Breastfeeding Welcome Here Locations 2014
For more information on the Breastfeeding Welcome Here Project contact Megan Whitehill, (757) 668-6456 or email, whitehmm@evms.edu.
The Business Case for Breastfeeding (BC4BF) is a program designed to educate employers about the value of supporting breastfeeding employees in the workplace.
The benefits to employers are:
- lower healthcare costs for nursing moms & their babies
- lower absenteeism which leads to higher productivity
- lower staff turnover rates
For moms & babies, breastfeeding has been shown to have tremendous benefits:
- lowered risk of obesity
- lowered risks of diseases for both mom & baby
- real cost savings for families & tax-funded programs - women who breastfeed can save up to $1,500 a year on formula
Please click on the following links to view & download Business Case for Breastfeeding materials:
Easy Steps to Breastfeeding Support Booklet
FAQs for Flexible Breaktime, Federal Laws
Timeline for Implementing a Lactation Support Program
The Business Case for Breastfeeding for Business Managers
Lactation Program Pre-Assessment Form for Businesses
Lactation Support Program Feedback form for Employees
Lactation Support Program Feedback form for Supervisors
Lactation Support Program Resource Guide
Sample Policy for Lactation Support Program
Employer Spotlights: Positive Outcomes
BC4BF Project Details
With funding through the Virginia Department of Health's CHAMPIONS initiative, CINCH implemented BC4BF in Hampton Roads in 2010 with the goal of engaging 10 employers in multiple cities to adopt some of the strategies listed in BC4BF. This program involved completing a baseline assessment of what policies and support systems (if any) employers had to support nursing moms. Project staff then worked with employers to help either develop or enhance breastfeeding support policies, as well as set up appropriate lactation space that nursing mothers could use at their worksite.
Those employers and organizations who participated the BC4BF program received a variety of materials and incentives including:
- A resource toolkit that outlines steps employers can take to provide lactation support through policies and environmental changes
- Breast pumps, chairs, signage and other supplies for lactation rooms
- Community resource information for nursing mothers.
- Technical support from project staff
A follow-up assessment of this program in 2012 showed that we exceeded our goals for this program with:
- 17 employers engaged in some aspect of this program
- 16 employers participated in face-to-face consultations
- 15 employers completed the baseline Lactation Assessment Form
- 14 employers created or upgraded 17 lactation rooms at their facilities
- 13 worksites impacted by 8 drafted or adopted organizational policies
Special thanks to the project staff, past and present, who worked diligently with Hampton Roads employers to make this a successful project.
For more information on the Business Case for Breastfeeding Project contact Megan Whitehill, (757) 668-6456 or email, whitehmm@evms.edu.
Breastfeeding Friendly Child Care
Because breastfeeding provides the healthiest start for babies, providing ideal nutrition and a multitude of health benefits for both infant and mother, it is important for child care providers to support and encourage breastfeeding. We want to ensure that all breastfeeding families have the support they need to continue breastfeeding while their children attend child care centers.
FOR FAMILIES:
Infant Feeding for All Families
Infant Feeding Plan for Child Care Centers
Our Center Supports Breastfeeding Brochure
FOR CHILD CARE CENTERS:
Sample Child Care Center Breastfeeding Policy
Books and Toys that Support Breastfeeding
Supporting Breastfeeding Employees
ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS FOR SETTING UP YOUR PROGRAM:
Breastfeeding Friendly Child Care Center Self-Inventory
Ten Steps to Having a Breastfeeding Friendly Child Care Center
For more information on the Breastfeeding Friendly Child Care Project contact Megan Whitehill, (757) 668-6456 or email, whitehmm@evms.edu.