Jeanette H. Magnus, MD, PhD, Leigh Ann DeMonredon, APRN, MSN, and Meshawn Tarver, MPH. Tulane and Xavier University of Louisiana’s Center of Excellence in Women’s Health, 127 Elk Place, EP7, New Orleans, LA 70112, 9863853, leighann.demonredon@hcahealthcare.com

Currently, US breastfeeding rates are on the rise. This is especially true for the present rate of initiation, which is approximately 70%. The Healthy People 2010 goal is 75%. For a number of reasons, many women do not successfully achieve the recommended six months of exclusive breastfeeding. In the US, only 33% of women breastfeed six months postpartum, a rate far from the Healthy People 2010 goal of 50%. One major barrier for achieving the recommended 6-month goal for US women is returning to work. Unlike other countries, US women receive only four to six weeks of paid maternity and twelve weeks of unpaid maternity leave. In addition, the majority of employers and corporate environments are not breastfeeding-friendly. However, evidence shows that breastfeeding provides benefits not only to mother and child, but the workplace and society as a whole. For example, breastfeeding moms are less likely to be absent from work due to illness of the child. Evidence suggests that US employers could significantly improve workplace dynamics and the health of their employees’ and their employees’ children by establishing a breastfeeding-friendly workplace. This session highlights success stories of breastfeeding-friendly workplaces and outlines the administrative steps to making the workplace breastfeeding friendly.

Learning Objectives: