Mothers and Their Families

According to the U.S. CDC, breastmilk is the best food for growth and development of infants and saves money. Breastfeeding helps protect babies against ear infections, respiratory and gastrointestinal infections, asthma, sudden infant death syndrome, Type 2 diabetes and obesity.[1] Breastfeeding also lowers a mother's risk of Type 2 diabetes, certain types of breast cancer and ovarian cancer.1

What you can do:

  • Talk to your healthcare provider about your breastfeeding plans and ask how to get help with breastfeeding
  • Ask about breastfeeding support practices and "Baby-Friendly" designation when choosing a maternity hospital
  • Join with other community members to encourage local hospitals to improve breastfeeding support
  • If you work outside your home, talk with your supervisor to discuss your plans to breastfeed before your baby's birth
  • Ask about private areas where you can comfortably and safely express milk
  • Under the Maine Law Supporting Nursing Mothers in the Workplace and the federal law Break Time for Nursing Mothers" employers must offer their breastfeeding employees reasonable break times to pump and a place, other than a bathroom, to comfortably, safely, and privately express breastmilk

Resources

Women's Health - Breastfeeding This is a complete resource with information about breastfeeding benefits, how to breastfeed, handling common breastfeeding challenges, pumping and storing milk and returning to work or school while breastfeeding

WIC Nutrition Program - Breastfeeding The breastfeeding resources available on this page are for any woman and her family. WIC can help you:

  • Talk about your thoughts and concerns and learn about the benefits of breastfeeding
  • Get ideas for talking to family and others about how important it is to breastfeed
  • Learn about breast pumps, where to get one if you need one and ideas on how to continue breastfeeding when you return to work or school
  • Learn where to get more breastfeeding help if you need it

Employee's Guide to Breastfeeding and Working (PDF) This online booklet will help you take those first steps back to your working life

Breastfeeding and going back to work This webpage provides answers to common questions about returning to work while breastfeeding

[1] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Strategies to Prevent Obesity and other Chronic Diseases: The CDC Guide to Strategies to Support Breastfeeding Mothers and Babies Atlanta: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; 2013, page 3. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/pdf/BF-Guide-508.PDF Accessed 12.11.15