August is National Breastfeeding Month, and as new legislation enables more new mothers to pump at work, Monongalia County Health Department WIC counselors have something to celebrate as breastfeeding rates climb higher.
The recently enacted Pump Act for Nursing Mothers, known as the PUMP Act (dol.gov/agencies/whd/pump-at-work), allows for reasonable time and space accommodations for breastfeeding in the workplace.
It’s certainly something that has made Ceranda Jones’ life easier. Jones is not only a breastfeeding peer counselor at the Monongalia County Health Department Women, Infants and Children program, but she’s also a nursing mother.
And when she first returned to work after giving birth to her daughter, Ophelia, her job was at a tattoo studio with a group of men.
“When I brought them stuff about the PUMP Act, they were super supportive,” Jones said. “They gave me a private office. I know I directly benefited from the PUMP ACT.”
Now, at MCHD WIC, “I work with mothers who don’t know their rights,” she said. “One of the primary reasons they said they didn’t want to breastfeed is because they didn’t think they’d have the appropriate accommodations. Now we give them information to show their employers and we’ve had great success.”
And, she says, “It’s been a while since I’ve had someone in my office who hasn’t felt supported.”
Lynne Ryan, an international board certified lactation consultant (IBCLC) at MCHD WIC, noted that the numbers of breastfeeding moms who are clients at MCHD have risen, both in terms of who start to breastfeed and those who continue for at least six months. In 2018, the initiation rate was 52% and rose to 62% in 2022; and in that same time period, duration rose from 29% to 43%.
Pregnant, postpartum and breastfeeding mothers as well as children up to their fifth birthday who qualify can take advantage of the federally funded WIC, which provides nutrition and breastfeeding counseling and education; as well as health monitoring and nutritious foods. MCHD WIC operates in six counties — Monongalia, Preston, Marion, Harrison, Doddridge and Taylor.
Counselors such as Ryan, Jones and Chrissy Rodeheaver, a certified breastfeeding specialist, work with new mothers to help them learn how to help the baby latch on to the nipple and with any other breastfeeding issues they might have.
And for WIC clients, there is also a 24/7 app called Pacify that they can use.
“It’s extremely helpful,” Rodeheaver said. “We always encourage breastfeeding parents to reach out to us if they’re in need of support, but Pacify is absolutely invaluable for weekends, holidays and the middle of the night.”
MCHD WIC offers both free breastfeeding classes and a support group that members of the public can attend. To get more information on breastfeeding and to see a class schedule, go to monchd.org/services/breastfeeding.
And the support group meets at 6 p.m. on the first and third Thursdays of the month. The first Thursday is in person at the MCHD WIC office in Morgantown, while the third Thursday is virtual. To get an invite to the virtual class, email christyn.r.rodeheaver@wv.gov for a link.
Breastfeeding has many benefits, including improving the baby’s gut health and providing them with antibodies that can keep them well.
“It’s the most natural way to feed an infant,” Ryan said.
It can also be cost-effective.
“Most insurance companies will provide a mom with a pump and there are laws that support working and pumping moms,” Rodeheaver said.
WIC mothers who breastfeed also get the largest nutritional package, Jones noted. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends breastfeeding exclusively for at least the first six months, and up to 2 years and beyond, if possible, supplementing with healthy food. Breastfeeding WIC mothers get the nutritional package for the first year.
Jones, who is just starting to wean her 3-year-old daughter, noted that Ophelia rarely gets sick.
“At this point, I’m not her primary source of food, and a lot of it is connection and comfort,” she said. “It’s just a big benefit, and it fixes any boo-boo. It’s a great tool.”
Email Mary Wade Burnside at MaryWade.Burnside@wv.gov.
