NIH Lactation Program
At NIH, we care about the health and wellbeing of our employees. We know that returning to work after a having new baby can be difficult, especially for women who choose to breastfeed. We want to provide the worksite assistance you need for you and your baby to remain happy and healthy.
In September 1998, NIH started a two-year pilot program to help nursing mothers make this transition more easily. The pilot was so successful that the NIH Lactation Program is now a permanent part of the Work/Life Center's services.
The Lactation Program includes:
- prenatal breastfeeding education classes taught at various locations on campus
- telephone support while on maternity leave, providing advice and problem-solving during the first critical weeks
- return-to-work consultation
- onsite lactation rooms in various buildings, all equipped with breast pumps.
The NIH Lactation Program services are available free of charge. However, you need to fill out a registration form and email balkamj@od.nih.gov in order to take advantage of the consultations, classes, and lactation rooms. If you have any questions about the program, you can contact our Lactation Consultants.
Benefits of Breastfeeding
Human milk is superior for infant feeding and is designed to meet the unique needs of human infants. Breastfed infants enjoy additional general health, growth and developmental benefits. Breastfeeding provides infants with protection from certain infections of the respiratory tract, ear, brain and spinal cord, and gastrointestinal and urinary tracts. Furthermore, breastfeeding may help prevent sudden infant death syndrome, insulin-dependent diabetes, and diseases of the digestive system, colon, and lymphatic system. Breastfeeding may also reduce the risk of your baby developing allergies.
As a mother, you benefit from breastfeeding your baby by experiencing less bleeding after delivery and a more rapid return of the uterus to its normal size. Breastfeeding also helps speed your return to your pre-pregnancy weight, prevents calcium loss from your bones, and reduces your risk of developing ovarian and premenopausal breast cancers.
Breast milk is more economical than formula, and since breastfed infants tend to be healthier, you may lose less time from work to care for a sick baby.
Lactation Program Registration
- The NIH Lactation Program services are available free of charge. However, you need to fill out the registration form and email the form to Jane Balkam at balkamj@od.nih.gov in order to take advantage of the consultations, classes, and lactation rooms.
- Click here to fill out a registration form (.doc)
Lactation Program Services
- Lactation program services include classes and lactation room access. Classes entitled "Breastfeeding and Return to Work" and "How to Get Started with Breastfeeding?" are taught at various locations on campus.
Lactation Room Use Guidelines
- The lactation room may be used by NIH employees, contractors and visitors. However, you must register with the lactation program to use the room on an ongoing basis.
Prenatal Breastfeeding Education Classes
- Prenatal Education classes are open to all women working at NIH who have registered for the Worksite Lactation Program. There is no cost for participation. These classes complement the classes offered by your hospital or childbirth educator.
NIH Lactation Consultants
- Jane J. Balkam, PhD, APRN, CPNP, IBCLC, a local Lactation Consultant who specializes in worksite lactation programs, administers the lactation services. Dr. Balkam is a pediatric nurse practitioner and certified Lactation Consultant who has been managing worksite lactation programs in the Washington, DC area for over 14 years. In 2006, she received her PhD with a focus on Maternal-Child Health/Breastfeeding and Human Lactation. She can be reached at (301) 435-7850, or by e-mail at balkamj@od.nih.gov. Dr. Balkam is in the Office on Tuesdays and Thursdays only, but monitors the phone for messages on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
- Colleen M. Prorok, RS, MSN, IBCLC, is also a Lactation Consultant who has over 20 years experience in pediatric nursing, and has been a certified Lactation Consultant for more than a decade. Mrs. Prorok is in the office on Wednedays only to our employees at the Frederick locations. She can also be reached my by telephone at (301) 435-7850 or via e-mail at prorokc@od.nih.gov.
