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Breastfeeding
Georgia Department of Public Health
Breastfeeding Support Policy
Background
Problem Statement
Benefits to the Georgia Department of Public Health as an Employer
Goal
The Georgia Department of Public Health (DCH) promotes, protects and supports breastfeeding as the preferred method of infant feeding for the first year, and as being beneficial to both the infant’s and the mother’s health. Hence, the Department has a vital role and a responsibility to create a supportive public environment in order to encourage breastfeeding.
Background
Breastfeeding is acknowledged as the preferred method of infant feeding by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the American Dietetic Association, the American College of Nurse-Midwives, the Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses, the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners, the American Public Health Association, and the National Healthy Mothers/Healthy Babies Coalition.
Scientific research overwhelmingly indicates that breastfeeding is the superior method of infant feeding. Significantly lower rates of diarrhea, ear infections, lower respiratory illness, and childhood lymphomas occur among breastfed infants and children in the United States. There are a number of studies that show a possible protective effect of human milk feeding against necrotizing enterocolitis, bacteremia, meningitis, botulism, sudden infant death syndrome, Chron’s disease, ulcerative colitis, lymphoma, allergic disease, urinary tract infection, early childhood caries, insulin-dependent diabetes, and inflammatory bowel disease. Developmentally, breastfed infants have better visual acuity, and evidence suggests that their cognitive development is superior. For mothers, breastfeeding reduces the risk for developing premenopausal breast, ovarian, and endometrial cancer.
Many studies conducted in industrialized countries have demonstrated the economic benefits of breastfeeding, both to the individual families in terms of purchases related to infant feeding and to society in terms of lowering medical costs. A study conducted in Colorado showed considerable savings to the WIC and Medicaid programs in terms of lower WIC food costs for infant formula and lower Medicaid pharmacy costs. (J Am Diet Assoc 1997; 97:379-385) A study conducted by Kaiser Permanente, among its members found that for the first year of life the average total medical costs of breastfed infants was $200 less than those of formula fed infants. (Am Journal of Man Care 1997; 3:861-865) An analysis conducted by the U.S. Government indicated that a minimum of $3.6 billion would be saved if the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding increased from current rates to those recommended in Healthy People 2010, $3.1 attributable to premature deaths (necrotizing enterocolitis) and $.5 billion due to a reduction of other medical expenditures and indirect costs. (U.S. Department of Agriculture. Food Assistance and Nutrition Research Report No. 13, 2001)
Breastmilk is the ideal nutrition for infants, and breastmilk alone is the only food infants need for growth and development for the first six months of life. Gradual introduction of iron rich solid foods in the second half of the first year should complement the breastmilk. Recently (Febuary, 2005), the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) made the following recommendations:
- Exclusive breastfeeding for approximately the first six months and support for breastfeeding for the first year and beyond as long as mutually desired by mother and child.
- Mother and infant should sleep in proximity to each other to facilitate breastfeeding;
- Self-examination of mother's breasts for lumps is recommended throughout lactation, not just after weaning;
- Support efforts of parents and the courts to ensure continuation of breastfeeding in cases of separation, custody and visitation;
- Pediatricians should counsel adoptive mothers on the benefits of induced lactation through hormonal therapy or mechanical stimulation.
- Recognize and work with cultural diversity in breastfeeding practices
- A pediatrician or other knowledgeable and experienced health care professional should evaluate a newborn breastfed infant at 3 to 5 days of age and again at 2 to 3 weeks of age to be sure the infant is feeding and growing well.
Problem Statement
An increasing number of employers are recognizing the economic benefits to breastfeeding, however there are still few who have a workplace environment that promotes and supports breastfeeding.
Women with infants and children below age three are the fastest growing segment of today’s labor force. A large proportion (70%) of employed mothers who have children less than 3 years of age work full time. (U.S. Department of Labor, Women’s Bureau, 1999) About one-third of these mothers return to work within 3 months and about two-thirds within 6 months after the baby is born. (Am J Public Health 1998; 88(7):1042-1046; Demography 1999; 36(2):157-171)
Women who wish to continue breastfeeding after returning to work have relatively few and simple needs; availability of suitable, dependable efficient breast pumps; a convenient, safe, private and comfortable location at the worksite; and the ability to take two or three breaks during the work shift to pump.
Benefits to the Georgia Department of Public Health as an Employer
After initiating lactation programs, many employers have seen positive results in the workplace, such as: lower absenteeism, high productivity, high company loyalty, high employee morale, and lower health care costs. Because an ill child is a frequent cause of absenteeism among employed mothers and fathers, worksite programs that aim to improve child health may also bring about a reduction in absenteeism. Infants who are formula fed are ill three times more often than are breastfed infants.
Goal
The Georgia Department of Public Health will set an example for employers in promoting breastfeeding among working mothers by developing and implementing a workplace breastfeeding promotion policy. This policy will serve as a way to protect the health of DHR employees and their breastfeeding infants. In addition, DHR will promote breastfeeding as a normal part of daily life, and it will be an important part of community support for breastfeeding. This breastfeeding initiative is a component of Health Matters, which is the DHR Worksite Wellness Program. The Health Matters planning committee will coordinate the monitoring and evaluation of this program.
