Breastfeeding mothers would gain employer support through Franklin bill

OLYMPIA – From brain to bowel, breastfeeding is best for baby. And it isn’t just good for babies, it’s good for mothers too. So if the best food for infants is human breast milk, why aren’t more employers “infant friendly,” providing a private area, other than a restroom or break room, for expressing milk or for rinsing breast-pump equipment?

Sen. Rosa Franklin, D-Tacoma, said that an employer’s support of breastfeeding mothers increases employee productivity, stability and retention.

“We should encourage women to breastfeed their babies because breastfeeding is best,” said Franklin, a former nurse and sponsor of Senate Bill 5153. “A century ago, nurses and doctors told mothers not to breastfeed. They received formula instead. We know better now. Today, a large part of our work force includes mothers of breastfeeding infants. Most mothers can’t afford to stay home, so employers should try to do their best to accommodate lactating mothers whenever possible.”

SB 5153 would encourage, but not require, businesses to become “infant-friendly.” If an employer does not have a breast-feeding policy, the Department of Health (DOH) would provide the business with infant-friendly models that accommodate individual businesses. Employers that use the “infant-friendly” designation could also use that language on promotional products such as stationary, to attract mothers with breastfeeding children and future mothers-to-be.

In 2001, a bill creating an employer “infant friendly” designation was passed. However it lacked funding. Franklin’s bill would provide DOH with funding to convene a stakeholder group to develop standard work place breastfeeding policies. DOH would have to provide these policies to doctors, licensed midwives, lactation consultants and hospitals for distribution to expectant and new mothers to facilitate conversations with their employers and help with a successful return to work.

The bill passed the Senate by a vote of 41-8 and now moves to the House of Representatives for further consideration.

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