Rhode Island has passed a new law that allows a woman to breast or bottle-feed her child in any place that is open to the public. A pre-existing Rhode Island law exempted breastfeeding mothers from disorderly conduct laws but did not provide them with the explicit right to breastfeed a child in any public place. The new law will protect a breastfeeding woman from being asked to leave a public place or to stop breastfeeding her child in public.
“Breastfeeding protects mothers and their babies from numerous health risks and results in significant cost savings for families, the healthcare system, and employers who support breastfeeding families,” said Director of Health David R. Gifford, MD, MPH. “At a time when the state budget and healthcare system are stretched beyond capacity, promoting breastfeeding is a smart and cost-effective healthcare strategy,” he said. “Breastfed children also have a lower risk for becoming overweight or obese in childhood and later in life,” he added.
The new law will take effect on March 1, 2009. HEALTH will develop outreach materials to assist local businesses to accommodate mothers who are breastfeeding in public. Details will be available at www.health.ri.gov/family/breastfeeding early next year.
The Department of Health and the Physicians’ Committee for Breastfeeding in Rhode Island, the group that partnered with local businesses and community-based organizations to promote the new breastfeeding law, will recognize two businesses this year for accommodating breastfeeding mothers returning to work after giving birth. The Rhode Island Department of Administration will be recognized at the silver level and Raytheon IDS Seapower Capability Center will receive a bronze Breastfeeding-Friendly Workplace Award during World Breastfeeding Week (August 1-7). Businesses are assessed on fifteen breastfeeding-friendly criteria, including whether they allow clients to breastfeed in public spaces.
Rhode Island is one of ten states that have been awarded a grant by US Department of Health and Human Services to distribute a new toolkit called the “Business Case for Breastfeeding.” This resource outlines the bottom line benefits of supporting breastfeeding employees, including fewer days of missed work, lower healthcare costs, lower turnover rates, higher employee productivity and loyalty, and additional healthcare savings. For additional information about this toolkit or about the benefits of breastfeeding to mothers and children, visit www.health.ri.gov/family/breastfeeding.