Vermont Chamber to accept breastfeeding friendly award

The 5th Annual Breastfeeding Friendly Business Awards, sponsored by the Washington County Maternal Child Health Coalition, will take place Thursday August 19 at 4 PM in the lobby of the Central Vermont Hospital in Berlin. The awards will be presented by Kathryn Saunders, of Central Vermont Midwifery.
The awards are given to area businesses that support new mothers returning to work who wish to continue to breastfeed their babies. Vice President of Communications Vicky Tebbetts will accept the award on behalf of the Vermont Chamber of Commerce. Vermont Chamber President Duane Marsh stated: A happy baby is a happy Mom and a happy Mom is a better employee. Everybody wins when the employer can be flexible and allow its employees the privilege to continue breastfeeding as they return to work after the birth of a child.
One way an employer can help a woman continue breastfeeding is by providing break time and a private space to express breastmilk. Praising the flexibility of the Vermont Chamber as an employer, Tebbetts noted, Pumping at work is a privilege that allowed me the best of both worlds. I could continue my career and feel satisfied with my choices. It was an honor to work with the Vermont Chamber of Commerce to allow me to accomplish this goal.
Recent studies demonstrate the many benefits when businesses take steps to provide time and space for new mothers who wish to continue to breastfeed: the infants are healthier; the mothers are happier and as a result are more productive employees; staff turnover is reduced, staff loyalty is enhanced, and skilled workers are retained; the business experiences decreased absenteeism and lower health insurance costs and can offer added recruitment incentives for women.
Governor Douglas recently recognized the importance of breastfeeding when he proclaimed July as Breastfeeding Promotion Month in Vermont. He was joined by Dr. Paul Jarris, MD, MBA, Commissioner of Health, at a health fair on the State House lawn. Breastfeeding is one of the most basic and cost effective acts a mother can do to improve her childs health, said Dr. Jarris.
The Vermont Chamber is a member of the Breastfeeding Study Commission, established by the Vermont Legislature.