<p> Multiple national authorities recommend breastfeeding, as it provides both maternal and infant health benefits (Johnston & Esposito, 2007). However, the portion of infants in the United States who are ever breastfed has yet to meet the Healthy People 2020 Maternal Infant and Child Health Objectives (Chapman, & Perez-Escamilla, 2012; Healthy People2020, 2015). Many women of childbearing age are returning to work or school in the postpartum period, which contributes to a decrease in breastfeeding initiation and continuation rates (Johnston & Esposito, 2007; Mills, 2009; Seabolt, 2012). Assisting women in removing workplace and school barriers may increase breastfeeding rates and also has the added benefit to employers of increasing the productivity and loyalty and decreasing absenteeism and healthcare costs of their employees of childbearing age (LBC, 2010-2015a). The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act § 4207 mandates workplaces to provide time and space for the lactating mother to express breast milk (United States Federal Government, 2011).The purpose of this project was to create and implement a campus lactation policy at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, to set up at least one lactation area at the University, and to attain the Lactation Friendly Workplace Champion designation for the University. Through collaboration with key stakeholders, the project was successfully implemented and the lactation policy was accepted by the university. Three lactation rooms were opened, and the university received the Breastfeeding-Friendly Workplace Champion designation from the Louisiana Breastfeeding Coalition. Evaluations indicated that nursing mothers who used the lactation rooms were satisfied with the lactation support services available and they made recommendations were made for additions to the services, which are being considered at this time. As support from the University and the community continues it is planned for services to be improved and enhanced in the near future.</p>
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:PROQUEST/oai:pqdtoai.proquest.com:10163312 |
| Date | 01 December 2016 |
| Creators | Alexander, Leshawn R. |
| Publisher | University of Louisiana at Lafayette |
| Source Sets | ProQuest.com |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | thesis |
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