The 23rd annual World
Breastfeeding Week, Aug. 1 – 7, focuses on making breastfeeding work in places
of business.  
According to the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC) about 81 percent of mothers breastfed their babies
in 2014, but only 29 percent continued to breastfeed until their babies were
one year old.

Babies that are breastfed for at least
one year are less likely to develop ear infections, respiratory illnesses,
diabetes, some childhood cancers and sudden infant death syndrome, when
compared to formula-fed infants.
Colorado
law requires businesses of one or more employees to:
  • Provide
    reasonable time for mothers to express milk at work. This can be unpaid OR
    paid break time and/or meal time.
  • Make reasonable
    efforts to provide suitable, private space with an electrical outlet to
    moms, so they can express milk at work. Toilet stalls are not an acceptable space.
  • Not discriminate
    against women for expressing milk in the workplace.
Research shows businesses see a 3:1
return on investment when moms breastfeed their babies. Healthcare costs and
employee turnover rates decrease while productivity and loyalty increase.
Employees also take less sick days.
Click here for more information from the Mesa County Breastfeeding Task Force.