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Maternal Child

Going Back to Work or School

• Breastfeeding Home
• Benefits for Babies, Moms, Families & Communities
• Going Back to School & Work
• Medications & Recreational Drugs
• Diabetes & Obesity Relationship to
  Breastfeeding
• Family Support
• Frequently Asked Questions
• IHS Best Practice Breastfeeding Site Contacts: Suzan Murphy
  1-877-868-9473
  (1-877-TOTWISE)
  Jenny Chee, Chinle, Arizona
  Brenda Cook, Anchorage, Alaska
• Breastfeeding Listserv
• Breastfeeding Links
• Staff Resources

One out of 3 women returns to work or school within 3 months of giving birth and 2 out of 3 women return to work or school within 6 months of giving birth. 

Moms who continue to breastfeed use less sick time.  Many parents say that breastfeeding helps them feel less guilty about having to leave their babies while they work or go to school.

For ideas about how to keep breastfeeding and working, click on:

• I.H.S. MCH BF Breastfeeding and Work (or School) - it's easier than you think (WORD - 26KB)

• Storing Breastmilk (WORD - 48KB)

• Lactation Support Policy in the Workplace - IHS Circular July 2006 (WORD - 55KB)
• FDA Web page – consumer tips for breast pumps

For ideas about how to support employee breastfeeding, consider:

• PIMC Policy and Procedure (WORD - 42KB)
• ITCA Policy and Procedure (WORD - 19KB)
• Maricopa County Policy and Procedure (WORD - 71KB)

The following links have more information about working and breastfeeding

• American College of Midwives
• Texas State Health Department
• Vermont State Health Department
• Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney (NY) maintains a web site that addresses federal breastfeeding legislation and other resources - Type “breastfeeding“ in the search box at www.house.gov/maloney/issues/breastfeeding
• Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies, “What gives These Companies a Competitive Edge? Worksite Support for Breastfeeding Employees.” Available at www.hmhb.org
• Breastfeeding Support at the Workplace: Best Practices to Promote Health and Productivity. Available from Washington Business Group on Health, or http://www.businessgrouphealth.org/pdfs/wbgh_breastfeeding_brief.pdf
• LaLeche League International
• International Lactation Consultant Association
• Medela Inc
• Working Mother magazine annually recognized 100 companies for their culture that is friendly to working mothers,including moms who breastfeed

Site Coordinator: BrestfeedingWebAdmin@ihs.gov

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