Say YES to making SISD a Mother-friendly work environment!

Having a baby is one of the most joyous events in a woman’s life. Bonding is critical in the first few months. One major way to bond with one’s child is by breastfeeding. Returning to work after having a baby is a hard decision and can be stressful.

Many women choose to stop breastfeeding upon returning to work, many still choose to continue to breastfeed. Although most administrators are willing to accommodate to a mother’s needs, some do not feel they need to and ask the mothers to pump during their lunch and after school. A woman's milk supply is directly related to how much stimulation her breasts receive; in other words, the more a baby nurses, the greater her milk supply, and vice versa.

If a mother is unable to breastfeed or pump sufficiently, she will gradually lose her milk supply which can result in her baby weaning prematurely.

Doctors and pediatricians both strongly encourage breast feeding and recommended for women to pump four to five times during a work day. Studies have shown that women who continue to breastfeed after returning to work miss less time because of baby-related illnesses and have shorter absences when they do miss work, compared with women who do not breastfeed. Working mothers who continue nursing also have higher morale and, perhaps most interestingly, tend to return to work earlier from maternity leave, presumably because they are less concerned about the effect of their return on the nursing relationship. Breastfeeding is an important health choice that women make for themselves and their babies.

The Texas Statutes Health & Safety Code Title 2- Chapter 165
The Texas Statutes Health & Safety Code Title 2-Chapter 165-Sec.003 & Sec.033 states that a business may use the designation "Mother-friendly" in its promotional materials if the business develops a policy supporting the practice of worksite breast-feeding that addresses the following:

1. Work schedule flexibility, including scheduling breaks and work patterns to provide time for expression of milk;

2. The provision of accessible locations allowing privacy;

3. Access nearby to a clean, safe water source and a sink for washing hands and rinsing out any needed breast-pumping equipment; and

4. Access to hygienic storage alternatives in the workplace for the mother's breast milk.

Women should not be forced to wean their babies off breast milk early due to the fact that their workplace does not accommodate for breaks to pump.

We have the right to pump. Pumping only during lunch and after school is not enough! Socorro is a young district with many young teachers who are either starting their families or are planning on starting soon.

New mothers need to be provided with break time and with facilities for pumping, both of which are essential.