Pleasanton Medical Offices receives California Mother-Baby Friendly Workplace Award

Kaiser Permanente’s Pleasanton Medical Offices is among several California businesses recently recognized on the steps of the state Capitol for exemplary efforts to adhere to state and Federal law by creating breastfeeding policies, ensuring awareness with their staff, and talking with expectant mothers about accommodating their breastfeeding needs when they return to work.

On Tuesday, May 10, state legislators and officials – State Sen. Dr. Richard Pan; Dr. Karen Smith, Director and State Public Health Officer, California Department of Public Health; and Amie Bergin, Deputy Labor Commissioner, Division of Labor Standards Enforcement –  hosted the Mother-Baby Friendly Workplace Awards in collaboration with the California Breastfeeding Coalition and the Sacramento Breastfeeding Coalition to recognize businesses that have successfully addressed workplace barriers for breastfeeding mothers.

“Fundamental to our efforts to support breastfeeding moms is the need to support our own physicians and staff while breastfeeding,” said Dr. Kimberly Klein, Director of Newborn Care and Lactation Services for Kaiser Permanente’s Diablo Area. “Our goal at Kaiser Permanente is to be the leader in lactation support, in Northern California and across the country. Therefore, we are making every effort to adequately accommodate all breastfeeding mothers, both in and out of the workplace.”

The Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breastfeeding for about six months of the baby’s life, followed by breastfeeding in combination with the introduction of complementary food until at least 12 months of age, and continuation of breastfeeding for as long as mutually desired by mother and baby.

“We need supportive workplaces, like Kaiser Permanente, if mothers are to achieve the recommendations of their physicians and their own breastfeeding goal, “said Robbie Gonzalez-Dow, California Breastfeeding Coalition Executive Director.

Studies show that babies who are breastfed have lower risk of becoming obese or developing asthma, diabetes or respiratory infections. Breastfeeding also benefits mothers, lowering women’s chances for ovarian and breast cancer, hypertension, heart disease, and osteoporosis.

All the businesses recognized demonstrate that helping breastfeeding mothers succeed can be as simple as providing break time and a private space to pump breast milk at work, which is required by law, as well as communicating with supervisors and employees about the support. Studies show that breastfeeding mothers who are supported in the workplace take fewer sick days and have higher retention rates, which is good for employee morale and for businesses’ bottom line.