Women's Health Portal
Breastfeeding Resources 

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Breastfeeding Policy and Guidance

Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Guide for Establishing a Nursing Mother's Program external link NEW GUIDE

The Federal Government is challenged to set the pace in changing the culture of the American workplace to support employees who are devoted to their families. This includes nursing mothers who want to continue lactation after they return to the office.  During a webinar, hosted by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, agency representatives from the Pentagon, Army Material Command, and National Security Agency discussed thier successful nursing mother's programs.  Links to the slide presentations are available on the Community of Practice Event Presentations & Handouts web page external link. To access them you must register as a member of the Community of Practice.  Follow these steps to join:

1. If you do not have one, create a MAX account  external link 

2. Once you have a MAX account, apply for membership to the Work-Life Community of Practice  external link

Background: Section 4207 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, Pub. L. 111-148 requires employers to provide (1) reasonable break time and (2) a private place, other than a bathroom, for nursing mothers.  On December 20, 2010 President Obama delegated the responsibility to OPM Director John Berry to implement the provision of the Act at Federal agency worksites. 

Federal Worksite Lactation Accommodation Law external link Supporting breastfeeding employees is pivotal to a company's family-friendly platform, with proven financial benefits  to businesses, including an ROI of 3 to 1. It's also the law. The U.S. Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act has specific provisions requiring businesses to implement basic lactation support. In this webinar, we'll provide HR managers with practical tools for implementing worksite lactation support programs that meet federal requirements, with options for enhancements that help employees meet their breastfeeding goals and result in higher productivity and loyalty to your company.

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, Section 4207 external link

Requires that employers with >50 employees provide "a reasonable break time for an employee to express breast milk for her nursing child for one year after the child's birth each time such employee has need to express milk; a place, other than a bathroom, that is shielded from view and free from intrusion from coworkers and the public, which may be used by an employee to express breast milk."  

Resource Tools

Breastfeeding Support Plan Sample Memorandum external link  (password protected) (AKO)

This sample memorandum proposes a support plan to assist Soldiers in breastfeeding upon return to military duty.

Mom-2-Mom Peer Support Breastfeeding Program                                                                                           (contact DHPWWebContacts2@amedd.army.mil  to request this document)

The Mom-2-Mom Peer Support Breastfeeding Program Tool Kit was designed to assist in implementation of a volunteer breastfeeding support program tailored to encourage new mothers to breastfeed during at least the first two months of an infant's life.  This is not a breastfeeding education program but rather a peer support program designed to help new mothers over the initial challenges and anxieties associated with breastfeeding. 

The tool kit includes the core components of the program for successful implementation.  The program materials may need to be adapted to the local installation environment and infrastructure.  The work group that champions the peer support breastfeeding program can identify what local adaptations are necessary and how each adaptation will function within the program.  The materials below are not to be used as a substitute for classroom training by subject matter experts.

Three critical success factors for a peer support breastfeeding program were identified:

  • Command support must be obtained to ensure program success.
  • Communication between program stakeholders is essential.
  • Instruction for program volunteers should include role-play scenarios.

How to use the Mom-2-Mom tool kit

  • Read the Administrative Resource Guide.
  • Provide training to volunteers in a classroom setting by a qualified instructor.  The Volunteer Resource Guide should be used as a template for this training.
  • Market the program to the installation to enlist participants.

Mom-2-Mom Tool Kit

  • Administrative Resource Guide
  • Volunteer Resource Guide
  • Marketing Resource Guide
  • Program Logo 1
  • Program Logo 2
  • New Moms Marketing Brochure 1 (B&W)
  • New Moms Marketing Brochure 2 (color)
  • New Moms Marketing poster
  • Volunteer Recruiting Brochure 1 (B&W)
  • Volunteer Recruiting Brochure 2 (color)
  • Volunteer Recruiting Brochure 3  (text only)
  • Volunteer Recruiting Poster
  • Training Date for Volunteer Poster 1 (B&W)
  • Training Date for Volunteer Poster 2 (color)

U.S. Army Pregnancy Postpartum Physical Training Program Information (PHC)