Breast-feeding program earns city praise

The San Diego Union - Tribune; San Diego, Calif.; Sep 8, 2001; Cheryl Walker;

Abstract:
In celebration of the recent World Breast-feeding Week, the city was honored as the 2001 Breast-feeding Friendly Workplace by the San Diego Breastfeeding Coalition. The coalition is a nonprofit association of health professionals with an educational mission. Selection for the award is based on an employer's work schedule flexibility, provision of a private place for women to express milk, a clean and safe water source, a sink for washing hands and cleaning breast milk collection equipment, and a clean, cool and safe place to store the milk.

Escondido's city government has 825 full-time and 200 part-time employees, 38 percent of them women. Officials started the breast- feeding support program in 1996 as an 18-month pilot program. The program offers prenatal education and help for employees to readjust to work after maternity leave. Visits with a lactation specialist are provided and there is a special room where women may breast-feed and/or express milk for their babies. Some women may choose to have their babies brought in during the lunch hour.

Full Text:
Copyright SAN DIEGO UNION TRIBUNE PUBLISHING COMPANY Sep 8, 2001
ESCONDIDO -- The city of Escondido has made returning from maternity leave much easier. And it hasn't gone unnoticed.

In celebration of the recent World Breast-feeding Week, the city was honored as the 2001 Breast-feeding Friendly Workplace by the San Diego Breastfeeding Coalition. The coalition is a nonprofit association of health professionals with an educational mission. Selection for the award is based on an employer's work schedule flexibility, provision of a private place for women to express milk, a clean and safe water source, a sink for washing hands and cleaning breast milk collection equipment, and a clean, cool and safe place to store the milk.

Escondido's city government has 825 full-time and 200 part-time employees, 38 percent of them women. Officials started the breast- feeding support program in 1996 as an 18-month pilot program. The program offers prenatal education and help for employees to readjust to work after maternity leave. Visits with a lactation specialist are provided and there is a special room where women may breast-feed and/or express milk for their babies. Some women may choose to have their babies brought in during the lunch hour.

"This year we've had three participants in the program," said Cindy Titgen, the city's human resources benefits manager. "Women who have used the program have really appreciated it."

One woman who used the breast-feeding program this year is assistant city attorney Jennifer McCain, who gave birth to her fourth child on March 15.

"Just having the city say this is important is a relief for you to take time out to do it," McCain said. "It's not something you have to hide and they respect that. It's a special time and you do what you have to do."

McCain is mother to Sara Jo, 10; Max, 9; Jack, 2 1/2; John, 6 months, and Justine, her 11-year-old stepdaughter.

"I was pregnant with my first when I took the bar, and started as an attorney when Sara Jo was a few months old," she said. "Although I breast-fed my first two children, I did not pump with them because I was in the courtroom all the time. With this program, I was able to pump with my last two and able to keep Jack on breast milk until he was 14 months old."

The program costs the city up to $500 per participant. It includes two breast-feeding education classes, a consultation at Momma's Pump store in Carlsbad within five days after delivery, and unlimited phone consultation with the store as needed. Participants are allowed to rent a breast pump.

The coalition is just one of several organizations and government entities that encourage such workplace support for new mothers. The Department of Health and Human Services, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and organizations such as La Leche League actively promote breast-feeding as good nutritional support for infants. According to the academy, infants who are breast-fed have fewer illnesses and fewer cases of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

Benefits to the mother include not having to warm a bottle or pay for formula. And breast-feeding helps a mother burn about 500 extra calories a day.

But Mom and baby aren't the only ones who have come out winners in the city's program.

"We are trying as many things as possible to extend family- friendly ways to our employees," Titgen said. "This program allows the female employees hopefully to make an easier transition back into the work force, and it's one less thing they have to be stressed about. Breast-feeding is good for the baby, and mothers usually have to take off less time for a child being ill. Everyone benefits."

To learn more about breast-feeding, visit the AAP Web site at www.aap.org or the coalition's Web site at www.breastfeeding.org, or write to San Diego County Breastfeeding Coalition, c/o Children's Hospital and Health Center, 3020 Children's Way, MC 5102, San Diego, CA 92123-4282.

Do you have a story idea for Escondido? Contact Cheryl Walker at (760) 752-6736, by fax at (760) 743-8231 or e-mail cheryl.walker@uniontrib.com.

[Illustration]

1 PIC; Caption: Jennifer McCain, assistant city attorney for Escondido, held her 5-month-old son, John, in their downtown San Diego home. The city of Escondido was recently honored as a Breast-feeding Friendly Workplace.; Credit: Shannon DeCelle

Credit: COMMUNITY NEWS WRITER

Sub Title: [NI Edition]
Column Name: TOWN FOCUS ESCONDIDO
Start Page: NI-6
Dateline: ESCONDIDO
Personal Names: McCain, Jennifer

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