This document provides information on establishing a workplace lactation program called S.T.E.P. Up for Breastfeeding. It discusses the benefits of breastfeeding for babies, mothers, families and businesses through increased productivity, lower healthcare costs, reduced turnover, and improved company image. The program recommends supporting breastfeeding through a written policy, providing time and private places for expressing milk, education, and measuring success. It outlines next steps to recruit CEOs to promote breastfeeding and launch the program.
6. DOH and WHO/UNICEF
Recommendation
Initiate breastfeeding on
the first hour of birth
Exclusive breastfeeding for
six months
Complementary feeding
starting 6 months,
breastfeeding up to 2 years
and beyond
8. Breastfeeding is Good for Business
HIGHER EMPLOYEE PRODUCTIVITY
Breastfeeding mothers only one missed one
day of work because their babies were sick
with 1 of 40 common illnesses.
“Maternal absenteeism and infant illness rates among breastfeeding
and formula-feeding women in two corporations,”
American Journal of Health Promotion
9. Breastfeeding is Good for Business
REDUCED HEALTH CARE COSTS
For every 1,000 babies not breastfed, there
were extra 2,033 extra physician visits, 212
extra hospitalization days, and 609
prescriptions for just three common infections.
“Health care costs of formula feeding,”
American Academy of Pediatrics
10. Breastfeeding is Good for Business
LOWER TURNOVER RATES
Mutual of Omaha’s lactation support program
resulted in a retention rate of 83% of female
employees compared to the national
average of 59%. On the average 94.2%
retention rates for companies with lactation
support programs.
“Duration of breast milk expression among working mothers enrolled in
an employer-sponsored lactation program,” Pediatric Nursing
11. Breastfeeding is Good for Business
ENHANCED COMPANY IMAGE
Builds a company’s reputation as a family-
friendly and socially responsible employer.
100 best companies for working women, 91%
offered a workplace lactation program.
100 Best Companies for Working Women, Working Mother
12. Breastfeeding is Good for Business
ENHANCED COMPANY IMAGE
MDG Goals in the Philippine Development Plan:
• 16.6% poverty incidence of in 2015, from 33.1% in 1991
• 100% participation of school-age children in primary
education
• 1:1 ratio of girls to boys in primary education 50% share
of women in nonagricultural wage employment
• 26.7 under-five mortality per 1,000 live births
• 52 maternal mortality per 100,000 live births
• Zero prevalence of malaria and tuberculosis
14. S.T.E.P. Up for Breastfeeding
S T E P
SUPPORT TIME EDUCATION PLACE
15. Support
• A written policy
institutionalizes the
company’s support for
working families
• Details accommodations
and benefits
• Can be made part of health
benefits, employee flexibility
or workplace diversity
16. Time
• Lactation breaks 2-3 times a
day apart from regular time
off for meals
• Milk expression takes 20-30
minutes
• Women multi-task
• Set up equipment, collect,
label and store milk, walk to
and from lactation room
17. Education
• For both male and female
employees
• Written educational materials
• On-site prenatal/postpartum
classes or support groups
• Referral to breastfeeding
consultation services
18. Place
• Accessible to employees
• Assures privacy
• Electrical outlet
• Lighting and ventilation
• Table and chair
• Has or near a faucet
• Refrigerator to store milk
• Number of room depends
on employees
20. BUILD THE
BUSINESS
CASE
FOR BREASTFEEDING
IN THE COUNTRY &
BENCHMARK
FOR SUCCESS
21. BREASTFEEDING RATES
• 2 M babies born every year
• 82,000 children die before their
5th birthday
• 16,000 could have been saved
with optimal feeding practices,
including breastfeeding
• Only 54% of babies were
initiated for breastfeeding
• 1 out of 6 infants exclusively
breastfed at 4-5 months of life
• 1 out of 8 were never breastfed
at all
25. STEP Up AVP
• Message of each CEO on why they support
STEP Up for Breastfeeding
• Message from different employees in
anticipation of the Workplace Lactation
Program
- Pregnant
- Dad with young kids
- Manager who has female employees
- Etc.
26. NEXT STEPS for STEP UP
• STEP Up for Breastfeeding Kit
• Provide final schedule for
CEO for Breastfeeding
Event
• Schedule AVP shoot with
CEO and company
employee