Enhancing the academic careers of women in science, technology, engineering, & mathematics
Lactation Support Facilities at URI
URI's first Lactation Facility will be located in the
ADVANCE Resource Center, 001 Carlotti Hall
- Space preparation is taking place fall 2007 for a January 2008 opening date.
- The ADVANCE Lactation Room is a small, comfortable room with glazed windows and a door that locks. It will have comfortable chairs, a sink, both electric and manual breast pumps, containers to store milk, a refrigerator, and a small resource library.
- A Lactation Consultant is available through the ADVANCE office.
- The room is available to any URI employee or student who needs a clean, private, comfortable space to pump breastmilk.
- Please call 874-9422 for more information
- Additional future sites are being identified across campus and on the Bay and Providence campuses. In addition, all new URI construction will include plans for a lactation space.
URI ADVANCE Lactation Program Proposal
Breastfeeding is one of the most natural and beneficial activities for mom and baby. There is no other single action by which mom can so dramatically impact the present and future health of her baby.
Why are Lactation Centers needed at URI? |
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- The ever-increasing number of women and nursing mothers in the workforce.
- To meet the needs of dual earner families.
- Tenure track overlaps with 'parent track' for women.
- An equitable work environment should accomodate parent's needs.
- The next generation of workers in Rhode Island need a healthy start.
What benefits do Breastfeeding and Lactation Centers provide? |
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- Female faculty and staff would have the ability to return to work earlier and remain at work during the workday.
- Reduces cost of healthcare by promoting healthier moms and babies.
- Less sick time will be taken (because of healthier babies).
- Reduces tax burden on communities & government to ensure children are properly fed.
- On a larger scale, there would be a decreased environmental burden due to the disposal of formula containers, and decreased energy demands for the production and transportation of artificial feeding products.
Benefits to Babies who Breastfeed |
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- Provides most complete and optimal mix of nutrients & antibodies.
- Keeps pace with infant's growth and changing nutritional needs.
- Protects against stomach upsets, asthma, meningitis, childhood lymphoma, Crohn's disease and ulcerative entercolitis.
- Reduces risk of childhood diabetes and SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome)
- Increase bone density.
- Reduces risk of heart disease later in life.
- Develops higher IQ's.
- Improves brain & nervous system development.
- Improves emotional development.
- Promotes special warm bonding & emotional relationship with mom.
Benefits to Moms who Breastfeed |
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- Protects against osteoporosis and hip fracture later in life.
- Reduces risk of breast, ovarian and endometrial cancer and anemia.
- Helps return mom's body to its pre-pregnancy state faster.
- Breastmilk is free, thus reducing or eliminating the cost of formula.
- Breastfed babies are sick less, thus reducing healthcare costs to family and requiring less time-off from work.
- Promotes special emotional relationship and bonding with baby.
URI is proud to join a national effort to support breastfeeding... |
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The Center for Disease Control and Prevention has publicly stated its ongoing commitment to increasing breastfeeding rates in the United States. This goal can only be achieved by providing support for breastfeeding mothers and their families. Education, training, technical assistance, and funding are necessary to carry out this objective.
Rhode Island legislation protects a woman's choice to breastfeed by requiring an employer to make "a reasonable effort to provide a private, secure, and sanitary room or other location in close proximity to the work area, other than a toilet stall, where an employee can express her milk or breastfeed her child" (R.I. General Laws §23-13.2-1).
References & Resources |
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