Support Colleagues and Students Who Choose to Breastfeed

The decision and commitment to continue breastfeeding while working and completing their education is important and not always easy. Here are tips to help make their transition to work and school easier.

• Parents who are breastfeeding are allowed to express milk anywhere they feel comfortable. Illinois State law stipulates parents have the right to pump places other than a restroom.
• Breast milk provides the best-known nutrition to infants. Breastfeeding is the normal and preferred method for feeding babies.
• Nursing parents will need 15 to 30-minute breaks to express breast milk at a minimum every three to four hours.
• If a nursing parent skips a session their breasts will become uncomfortably full and their milk supply may decrease.
• Added stress or pressure to hurry pumping of breast milk can disrupt milk supply. Most parents feed only breast milk and supply is crucial.
• Breastfeeding/breast milk are important for a healthy baby.
• Being able to breastfeed at work allows nursing parents to give their infants breast milk for a longer period of time, which improves health outcomes.
• In addition, breastfeeding reduces health care costs for parents, babies, and the university.
• Breastfeeding is environmentally friendly!

• Breast milk reduces the negative environmental impacts of the production of formula as well as the waste associated with formula.

Be Supportive and Flexible

• Don't be afraid to ask respectful questions about breastfeeding and/or breast milk.
• Provide encouragement, share resources, and avoid negative stories about a breastfeeding experience unless asked.
• Acknowledge and applaud a parent's decision to continue providing breast milk for their baby after returning to work.
• Offer compassion and support. Pumping isn't always as easy as one would think. The decision to breastfeed has a positive impact on many levels.
• Regardless of how individuals choose to feed their babies, do not judge their choices.