In an effort to improve the health of underserved communities, Cohen Children’s Medical Center, a branch of Northwell Health, has recognized the Bridgehampton School District as a breastfeeding-friendly workplace.
The designation by Cohen’s Breastfeeding, Resiliency, Engagement, and Empowerment Team, which is supported by a six-year, $1.44 million New York State grant, means that new parents who work for the district have access to a private space for pumping, along with supportive policies allowing them the time to do so and training for all employees around the issue.
“We do have a significant number of faculty who may be growing a family,” said Mary Kelly, the Bridgehampton superintendent. “We anticipate it’s definitely something that people will be able to take advantage of.”
The district received a certificate from the BFREE team during a Sept. 21 school board meeting. It is one of two public school districts on Long Island, and three schools over all, to earn the designation; the Wyandanch School District and the Tiegerman School, a private institution serving children with special needs in Glen Cove, are the others. Southampton Town Hall has also been recognized in this way.
“We know that when mothers come back to school, it’s really tough to leave a child,” said Michael Miller, Bridgehampton’s principal. “This is something they’ll know is already there, so it’s one less stress to endure.”
The school now has a dedicated, comfortable room connected to the faculty lounge, formerly a storage space, that is outfitted for breastfeeding and pumping. There’s even a television.
“That is an important service that we can provide,” Ms. Kelly said.
The benefits of breastfeeding are far-reaching for both new mothers and babies. According to the federal Centers for Disease Control, it boosts a baby’s immune system and protects against conditions like asthma, obesity, and Type 1 diabetes and sudden infant death syndrome. For their mothers, it plays a role in preventing breast and ovarian cancer, Type 2 diabetes, and high blood pressure.
A 2019 study published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health showed that “mothers themselves report multiple barriers to breastfeeding once returning to work, such as a lack of flexibility in the work schedule to allow for milk expression; lack of accommodations to express and/or store human milk, and concerns about support from supervisors and colleagues.”
Pamela Anderson, who leads the BFREE team with Anastasia Schepers, said this week that having a dedicated space for breastfeeding “creates positive relationships as a family-friendly employer, helps with retention of employees and increased employee morale, and lower absentee rates due to child sickness.”
Ms. Schepers said that Bridgehampton is “so supportive.” This will make it easy “for the parent to achieve their goals and not have returning to work become a barrier.”
“I hope this movement can continue to grow,” Ms. Anderson said. “Let’s hope that we can continue to make a difference.”