Infants at Work: A Pediatric Clinic's Approach to Workplace Breastfeeding Support
Kailey Snyder1, Colby Kelley1, Laura Wilwerding2
1Public Health, School of Health and Kinesiology, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, NE, USA.
Summary
An Infant at Work (IAW) policy allows employees to bring their babies to the clinic, supporting extended breastfeeding and maternal well-being. This innovative approach normalizes breastfeeding and strengthens the bond between mother and infant.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Occupational Health
- Maternal-Child Health
Background:
- Workplace breastfeeding support is crucial for maternal and infant health but often inadequate.
- Federal lactation accommodation laws may not fully support sustained breastfeeding.
- Existing policies often lack provisions for direct infant presence at work.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the development and implementation of an Infant at Work (IAW) policy in a pediatric clinic.
- To evaluate the feasibility and impact of allowing employees to bring their infants to the workplace.
- To provide a framework for other organizations seeking to enhance lactation support.
Main Methods:
- Implementation of an Infant at Work (IAW) policy in a pediatric clinic setting.
- Policy allows employees to bring infants up to 12 months of age, considering safety and job performance.
- Qualitative data from participating mothers and clinic staff on policy benefits and facilitators.
Main Results:
- Three mothers participated with five children over a decade.
- Reported benefits include extended breastfeeding duration, improved maternal emotional well-being, and enhanced work-life balance.
- Success factors include leadership support, a family-oriented culture, and flexible workflow accommodations.
Conclusions:
- Direct infant presence in the workplace can normalize breastfeeding and strengthen maternal-infant bonds.
- The IAW policy reduces the strain of early postpartum employment for mothers.
- This model offers a novel framework for reimagining workplace lactation support, adaptable to various settings.
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