Southampton recognized for breastfeeding policy

The Town of Southampton was honored by Northwell Health for becoming the first municipality on Long Island to provide a private lactation room for nursing mothers when they return to work after maternity leave.

The locked room includes a refrigerator that nursing moms can use to store milk after pumping.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, the frequency and duration of breastfeeding in the workplace is lower among women with inflexible job hours and non-managerial positions. A recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed that nearly half of U.S. employers had lactation support programs in 2018.

The New York State Department of Health encourages employers to establish and implement a breastfeeding-friendly work environment to comply with and exceed the standards set by state law, which guarantees breastfeeding mothers the right to pump milk at work for three years after they give birth.