Each Child. Every Community.

For employees who have recently given birth, returning to work can be challenging for many reasons. For those who breastfeed, many are met with barriers—such as a lack of adequate break time to breastfeed, few private and comfortable spaces for pumping or nursing, and unsupportive workplace policies.

The inability to breastfeed or pump during working hours can lead to discomfort, engorgement, and potential health issues, as well as a reduction in the overall milk supply. Many employees may choose to stop breastfeeding altogether because of these barriers.  

It is critical that employers recognize the importance of providing a conducive environment—one that is safe, secure, and comfortable for employees to breastfeed or pump if they choose to do so.  

Employers can take several steps to create a breastfeeding-friendly workplace: 

1. Dedicated Lactation Rooms: Provide a private, clean, and comfortable space outside of their office or a restroom for pumping or breastfeeding infants. These rooms should be equipped with comfortable seating, electrical outlets, access to a sink, and adequate storage facilities for breast milk. 

1. Flexible Break Times: Allow reasonable break times for employees to pump or breastfeed on their body’ or infant’s schedule without fear of repercussions or loss of pay. 

1. Supportive Policies: Implement clear policies that protect an employee’s right to breastfeed or pump during working hours, ensuring that their needs are accommodated and respected. 

1. Education and Awareness: Promote education and awareness campaigns to help create a supportive and understanding workplace culture around breastfeeding. 

These changes can benefit the health of each breastfeeding employee, their children, their overall family unit, and even organizations as providing a supportive environment can lead to lower employee turnover rates, increased productivity, and reduced healthcare costs.  

At the North Carolina Partnership for Children (NCPC) we recognized a need for a dedicated lactation room to make breastfeeding easier for employees.  

NCPC recently received $10,000 from Aeroflow Breastpumps to use towards the remodel of a new lactation room as well as new equipment and resources for its breastfeeding employees.  

“It is so critical that NCPC’s employees have the opportunity to support their children as needed. The donation from Aeroflow will allow NCPC to give back to employees who are working so diligently to provide safe, family-friendly spaces for North Carolina’s youngest citizens, says Amy Cubbage, NCPC’s president. 

Check out the before and after pictures of NCPC’s Lactation Room:  

Before:  

After:  

NCPC will continue to support Smart Start Local Partnerships with additional funding from Aeroflow by offering the remaining donation from Aeroflow to Smart Start Local Partnerships in need of support in executing their own lactation support goals to enhance work-friendly lactation needs.  

When employees feel supported and empowered to continue breastfeeding, it benefits everyone – parents, the children, employers, and society as a whole.