Local businesses are invited to apply for recognition as "Infant Friendly." The Bismarck-Mandan Breastfeeding Partnership supports the North Dakota Department of Health’s "infant friendly" designation, which is a program that is friendly to mothers and families, and recognizes worksites that adopt a workplace breastfeeding policy that includes:
• Flexible work scheduling, including scheduling breaks and permitting work patterns that provide time for expression of breast milk.
• A convenient, sanitary safe and private location, other than a restroom, allowing privacy for breastfeeding or expressing breast milk.
• A convenient, clean and safe water source with facilitates for washing hands and rinsing breast-pumping equipment located near the private location.
• A convenient place for temporarily storing breast milk, such as a refrigerator or cooler.
The following North Dakota businesses have been designated as infant-friendly:
• Barnes County, Valley City
• Bismarck State College, Bismarck
• Central Avenue Health Mart Pharmacy, Valley City
• Custer Health, Mandan
• Foster County Public Health Department, Carrington
• North Dakota State University, Fargo
• St. Catherine Elementary School, Valley City
• Valley Health and WIC, Grand Forks
• North Dakota Department of Health, Bismarck
The designation of these businesses coincides with Governor Jack Dalrymple’s proclamation of Breastfeeding Week, August 1-7, 2011. This coincides with the global celebration of World Breastfeeding Week, an annual event that draws attention to the health impacts of breastfeeding for both babies and mothers.
“We understand that if a woman has support in her place of employment that she will breastfeed her infant for a longer duration; this will give the baby an edge in overall health, including less infections, disease, obesity and diabetes,” said Deanna Askew, ND Department of Health, Healthy Communities Coordinator.
The following businesses have applied for designation as infant-friendly to date:
• Bismarck Burleigh Public Health
• Bismarck Public Schools
• Center for Tobacco Prevention and Control Policy
According to research, breastfeeding also benefits businesses. Such benefits include lower health-care costs because breastfed babies are healthier, lower absenteeism, and lower turnover rates since woman are more likely to return to their previous jobs if the company provides support for breastfeeding mothers. These benefits can provide considerable cost savings to employers.
Bismarck-Mandan Breastfeeding Partnership is a community coalition of volunteers representing public and private health agencies who support families to successfully nourish their children with mother’s milk. The infant-friendly designations and Governor Jack Dalrymple’s proclamation of Breastfeeding Week, August 1-7, are perfect complements to the 2011 Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding. In January, Surgeon General Dr. Regina M. Benjamin called on all sectors of society to help remove the obstacles faced by women who want to breastfeed. “They shouldn’t have to go it alone,” Dr. Benjamin said, “Whether you’re a clinician, a family member, a friend, or an employer, you can play an important part in helping mothers who want to breastfeed.”
Bismarck Burleigh Public Health is a member of the Bismarck-Mandan Breastfeeding Partnership and actively engaged in the Moving More Eating Smarter Recognition program which works to create environments where healthy choices are easy choices. Breastfeeding is the first family meal and the beginning of smart eating, which is necessary for the prevention of chronic diseases. A local list of breastfeeding friendly businesses will be maintained on www.bismarck.org/publichealth and www.ndhealth.gov/breastfeeding. Businesses interested in joining the list of recognized organizations can find resources for supporting their employees and the simple application at www.ndhealth.gov/breastfeeding. For more information about the infant friendly designation contact Wanda Agnew, RD-LRD, PhD, Bismarck-Burleigh Public Health, at 701-355-1540.