Newsletter / September 2014

In This Issue

Fall is Here

Lactation Room

Expressing Breastmilk

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Wisconsin Breastfeeding Coalition!

Fall is Here!

After a very fun, busy summer, we can all settle back into the routine of everyday life! Fall is a wonderful time to enjoy time outdoors before the snow begins to fly! This makes it a great time to participate in our Milky Miles in Wisconsin Rapids on September 13th and our golf outing in Marshfield on September 26th! There is still plenty of time to register for both, but deadlines starting September 1st are fast approaching.

This fall, the coalition will be busy with these two events, promoting breastfeeding in the prenatal population and working with businesses to help them become breastfeeding friendly. As always, we will be here to support breastfeeding moms, infants, families and the community.

Enjoy the beautiful colors of fall!

-Leah Meidl and Amber France Co-Chairs of the Wood County Breastfeeding Coalition

Developing a Lactation Room

With the new changes in the Affordable Care Act that allow for better protection of breastfeeding, especially for mother's in the workplace, many business owners may be developing lactation rooms.

A lactation room is a private, comfortable space available for mother's to use while expressing breastmilk for their infant when they are separated, or for them to use to breastfeed their baby should they choose to do so in private. It is very important for these rooms to be comfortable for mom and baby. They should never be in a bathroom, after all, we don't like to eat in the bathroom and babies do not either.

The room should have a few basic components, first and foremost the room should be comfortable and clean. The room should also (at minimum) have:

-An electrical outlet for use with a breast pump

-A door that locks from the inside to ensure privacy

-A comfortable chair for mother to sit, a rocker is the best option

-A small table to put the breast pump on

-Disinfectant wipes and/or access to a sink with running water for cleaning breast pump supplies and wiping surfaces

-Some employers choose to provide a multi-user pump, otherwise, ensuring the employee has their own breast pump (most insurance plans now cover this!)

-A refrigerator nearby for milk storage (and, its not considered a biohazard, its just food!)

The coalition is happy to help businesses become breastfeeding friendly. For more information, e-mail wcbc@outlook.com or call 715-421-8911 and ask for Amber France or Leah Meidl. You can view great information here:

https://www.womenshealth.gov/breastfeeding/government-in-action/business-case-for-breastfeeding/easy-steps-to-supporting-breastfeeding-employees.pdf

Expressing Breastmilk

With most mother's choosing to work outside of the home, there is a large amount of women who choose to express breastmilk while separated from their baby. For many mother's this can be stressful and worrisome. In reality, its not as complicated as it seems.

Mother's of a healthy, term baby who is breastfeeding well do not need to worry about expressing breast milk for return to work until baby is at least one month old. Many mother's worry about building a large supply, but they don't need to. In reality, mom only needs to have enough stored for her first day away from baby. The following days, baby only needs what mom pumped the day before. Because a bottle is often use, baby may seem to want more than what is available to them, but they do not need it. The differences in feeding from the breast and bottle often confuse baby.

When baby is at least one month old, mom can start to think about expressing extra breastmilk for when she returns to work. A great way to do this is by incorporating just one pumping session in per day. Mom should choose a time when baby usually does not eat as often, or when she has more milk. For many mother's, there is often extra milk available in the morning. During a long afternoon nap for baby is also a good time to add a pumping session. Whatever works best for mom and baby.

When mom is back to work, she should pump at least a few times per day. Pumping sessions will last an average of about 15 minutes. Some tips that moms have offered to save time including: using microsteam bags to clean pump parts or to keep pump parts cold in between pumping sessions by placing in a small thermal container. Then, mom can wash the parts at home at the end of the day. Another tip is to keep expressed milk out at room temperature for a time, its is good for 6-8 hours at room temperature. If mom chooses to refrigerate it, it may be helpful to bring a lunchbox with some ice packs to keep the bottles right inside.

Breastfeeding moms- you can do it! For more information and additional handouts, check out: http://www.woodcountybreastfeeding.org/Resources.aspx