Employees are given time, space and support to breastfeed after returning to work
DALLAS – Several Baylor Scott & White Health hospitals earned a "Mother-Friendly Worksite" designation from the Texas Department of State Health Services, meaning employees are provided the time, space and support to maintain breastfeeding after returning to work.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that infants receive nothing but breastmilk for the first six months of life, with continued breastfeeding for at least a year or more. If a mother chooses to breastfeed, she needs to pump breastmilk during the workday in order to maintain her milk supply.
To become a designated Texas Mother-Friendly Worksite, employers must have policies in place for work schedule flexibility to allow milk expression breaks; offer a private space, other than a bathroom, where the employee can pump or breastfeed; and ensure easy access to a clean water source and hygienic milk storage arrangements.
"Breastfeeding is beneficial to the health of both mom and baby, and we want our employees who are new mothers to know that we support their decision to continue breastfeeding once they return to work," said Guwan Jones, Chief Diversity Officer, Baylor Scott & White Health. "We're honored that so many of our facilities are recognized as a Mother-Friendly Worksite."
More than 75 percent of new Texas mothers now breastfeed their infants because of the proven health benefits to both infants and mothers, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services. Research shows that babies who are not breastfed are more likely to develop childhood illnesses like diarrhea and ear infections as well as chronic conditions such as diabetes, asthma, and childhood obesity. Breastfeeding is also good for mothers, lowering their risk for breast cancer, ovarian cancer, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
The Texas legislature created the Texas Mother-Friendly Worksite initiative in 1995 to encourage businesses to support breastfeeding employees. Employers that provide Mother-Friendly Worksites benefit from increased employee retention, lower absenteeism, higher morale, greater productivity, reduced health care costs, and improved health of the breastfeeding mother and her child.
Baylor Scott & White facilities with the Mother-Friendly Worksite designation include:
- Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas
- Baylor Scott & White All Saints Medical Center – Fort Worth
- Baylor Jack and Jane Hamilton Heart Vascular Hospital
- Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Plano
- Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Waxahachie
- Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Carrollton
- Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Grapevine
- Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Irving
- Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – McKinney
- Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Frisco
- Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Garland
- Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – College Station
- Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – White Rock
# # #
About Baylor Scott & White Health
As the largest not-for-profit health system in the state of Texas, Baylor Scott & White promotes the health and well-being of every individual, family and community it serves. It is committed to making quality care more accessible, convenient and affordable through its integrated delivery network, which includes the Baylor Scott & White Health Plan, Baylor Scott & White Research Institute, the Baylor Scott & White Quality Alliance and its leading digital health platform – MyBSWHealth. Through 51 hospitals and more than 1,200 access points, including flagship academic medical centers in Dallas, Fort Worth and Temple, the system offers the full continuum of care, from primary to award-winning specialty care. Founded as a Christian ministry of healing more than a century ago, Baylor Scott & White today serves more than three million Texans. For more information, visit: BSWHealth.com