MADISON – Madison Hospital has been designated a Breastfeeding Friendly Business by the Alabama Breastfeeding Committee.

Madison Hospital is the first hospital, and also the first business anywhere in the state, to be formally recognized by the Alabama Breastfeeding Committee for supporting employees who breastfeed or pump breast milk at work.

In order to be named a Breastfeeding Friendly Business, a company must show that it has a specific and easy-to-understand breastfeeding policy. It must also provide a clean, comfortable space for employees to breastfeed or pump and allow them the time they need to do so during the work day.

“We are honored to be the first Breastfeeding Friendly Business in Alabama,” said Renee Colquitt, CRNP, Madison Hospital’s Director of Perinatal Services. “Breastfeeding has proven benefits for new mothers and babies, and we strongly encourage all new moms to breastfeed, including those who work at our hospital.”

Madison Hospital has taken a number of steps to promote and support breastfeeding on its campus, including:

– Educating employees on Alabama’s breastfeeding law, which says a woman can breastfeed her child in any location, public or private, where she is authorized to be present;
– Employing a team of international board certified lactation consultants to help patients, visitors and employees get off to a successful start with breastfeeding;
– Teaching employees about the benefits of breastfeeding and how to support nursing mothers;
– Creating a dedicated area on the second floor where employees can go to breastfeed or pump; and
– Placing a large cardboard cutout of a nursing mother in the hospital lobby and Emergency Department to let women know that breastfeeding in welcome anywhere in the hospital.

“We are excited to see Madison Hospital make breastfeeding support a priority,” said Glenni Lorick, who chairs the Alabama Breastfeeding Committee Business Committee. “They deserve to be recognized for creating a supportive environment for breastfeeding mothers.”

The Breastfeeding Friendly Business designation extends to how breastfeeding customers or clients are treated. All employees must understand that a mother may breastfeed her child anywhere that she is legally allowed to be. Furthermore, if another patron complains, employees are expected to stand up for the rights of the breastfeeding mother.

Last year, Madison Hospital earned the Alabama Breastfeeding Committee’s Better Bama Babies Award for working to improve the statewide breastfeeding rate. In 2017, Madison Hospital was designated a Baby Friendly-USA hospital for adopting clinical guidelines proven to help new mothers breastfeed successfully.