New Health Care Law Helps Mothers Find Space to Breastfeed

Most working mothers find it very hard to keep breastfeeding their babies after they return to work. Carrying the pump around, making sure that the milk gets to the baby, and finding time to pump, are concrete challenges for mothers with full time jobs. In addition most mothers use a bathroom stall to pump their milk, as in most companies there is no other space available.

According to Ellen Galinsky president of Families and Work Institute, in 1998 about 37% of companies had some kind of space for mothers to express milk. At present, the percentage has risen to about 49 percent, (53% in companies with 100 employees or more) and these figures are destined to keep going up thanks to page1239 of the health care bill that President Obama recently signed into law.

Details about the new health care law
The new health care law stipulates that employers need to provide "a place, other than a bathroom, that is shielded from view and free from intrusion from co-workers and the public, which may be used by an employee to express breast milk." In other words, working mothers who are breastfeeding babies under one year of age, and need to express their milk, are entitled to break times and a private location, which is not a bathroom, where they can pump their milk.

The emphasis of the new health care law is that a bathroom is no longer an acceptable location for mothers to express milk for their babies. Companies have to provide a room free from intrusion or public viewing while pumping. While the health care reform doesn't stipulate how many times during their working day, breastfeeding mothers are allowed a break to express milk, companies with more than 50 employees, will have to create accommodation for such private spaces, if they have a request from a breastfeeding mother.

Reactions from mothers and employers
The new heath care law was acclaimed by many working mothers, who are in favor of the breast feeding spaces. The president and co-founder for the Families and Work Institute, Ellen Galinsky views it as a step in the right direction that helps ease the discomforts of breast feeding mothers with a full time job.

"It reflects both a shifting attitude,and a shifting reality," Galinsky comments, " The impact of research shows that it's healthier for the kids, and therefore good for the company... it is a win for the family and a win for the company -- they have less absenteeism, and the children are healthier."

Others view the enthusiasm for breastfeeding as hysteria. Hanna Rosin, contributing editor at the Atlantic, isn't convinced that the medical benefits of breastfeeding are more than modest and many don't agree with the part of the new health care law that addresses these breast feeding spaces.

The Texas Association of Business calls it "inappropriate," and feels that this new law will only create additional expenses, during a time when the economy is suffering. "Adding costs to employers means fewer employees."

Works cited
"New health care law requires breaks, private spaces for moms who breast-feed" by Marcia Pounds www.newsobserver.com

"Breastfeeding rooms hidden in health care law." Elizabeth Landau www.cnn.com