Creating Supportives Spaces for Breastfeeding
August is National Breastfeeding Month
This year's theme, Nourish, Sustain, Thrive, chosen by the U.S. Breastfeeding Committee, emphasizes the vital role that protecting, promoting, and supporting lactation plays in the human life cycle. It celebrates the incredible efforts of organizations working to create a more supportive environment for new parents and families. Learn more about National Breastfeeding Month at https://www.usbreastfeeding.org/national-breastfeeding-month.html.
In December 2022, the PUMP Act (Providing Urgent Maternal Protections) was enacted, marking a pivotal step forward in supporting breastfeeding parents. This legislation requires employers to provide a designated, non-bathroom space for employees to express breast milk in private. While this is a significant advancement, many new breastfeeding parents returning to work may face challenges if their employers are unaware of the law.
Healthy Acadia is taking a lead role in our communities, encouraging individuals, funders, and policymakers to actively contribute to building a robust and sustainable lactation field, ensuring that all families have the resources and support they need to thrive.
Our Commitment to Support Breastfeeding
To address these challenges, our dedicated team members at Healthy Acadia, in partnership with the PROSPER initiative, have taken proactive steps. PROSPER supports pregnant people and new parents with substance use disorders, and together, we've introduced a unique solution: the pop-up Lactation Station. Designed by our Healthy Eating, Active Living (HEAL) Coordinator, Sandy Fortin, this initiative provides a quiet space for nursing or pumping at community events and aims to raise awareness about the PUMP Act and the importance of workplace support for breastfeeding mothers.
Healthy Acadia’s Lactation Station provides a private space for parents to feed their infants at community events.
Bringing Support to the Community
The Lactation Station has become a familiar sight at various community events across Washington and Hancock counties. From school Pre-K registrations and community baby showers to Pride Day events, Juneteenth Downeast celebrations, and even Lobster Festivals, we've been engaging with community members of all ages. Our goal is to foster a supportive environment for breastfeeding parents and educate the public about the critical need for designated spaces for nursing and pumping.
Positive Outcomes and Future Plans
Our Lactation Station made its debut at Jewett Elementary School in Bucksport, where it was warmly received. Our HEAL Coordinator and school staff engaged in discussions about the need for a designated breastfeeding room for future staff members, anticipated in 2025. These conversations included sharing breastfeeding policy templates and evaluating potential sites for a permanent “pumping break” room.
As a result of these efforts, plans are in motion to submit a breastfeeding policy to the School Wellness Committee and designate an underused room for “pumping breaks.” This initiative represents a significant step toward creating a more supportive environment for breastfeeding individuals within our schools and workplaces.
Creating a Welcoming Space for All
The Lactation Station pop-up tent provides a quiet, comfortable space for resting, changing, and feeding children. Healthy Acadia’s HEAL Coordinator serves as an ambassador for breastfeeding individuals, enhancing their transition back to work and easing their participation in community events to meet their lactation and care needs.
As a community health nonprofit, we are dedicated to being ambassadors for breastfeeding individuals. Through initiatives like the Lactation Station, we strive to inspire positive change and create a more inclusive and supportive community for all.
Check out the Lactation Station!
Visit the Healthy Acadia Lactation Station at the Back-to-School Community Baby Shower on Friday, August 30th from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at The Bingo Hall in Indian Township, Princeton. Parents who breastfeed may pickup a FREE gift and enter a raffle giveaway.
For more information, contact Sandy Fortin, HEAL Coordinator at Healthy Acadia, at Sandy.Fortin@healthyacadia.org.
Additional Information and Resources
August 1-7 World Breastfeeding Week & National WIC Breastfeeding Week
August 8-14 Indigenous Milk Medicine Week