Bryn Mawr Hospital hosted the House Children and Youth Committee’s hearing on workplace accommodations for nursing mothers. Two days before Mother's Day, lawmakers heard testimony in support of Lentz’s legislation from working mothers who nurse, as well as breastfeeding advocates and physicians.

Pictured above are (from left) Rep. Bryan Lentz; Dr. Esther Chung, associate professor of pediatrics on faculty at Jefferson Medical College; Rep. Louise Williams Bishop, House Children and Youth Committee chairwoman, Dr. Ravy Lu, Ob/Gyn, Bryn Mawr Hospital; Rep. Rick Taylor; Dot Eldreth, patient care manager for Mother/Baby and delivery rooms, Bryn Mawr Hospital; Ivan Scott, director of Nursing, Bryn Mawr Hospital.

I have introduced a bill (H.B. 1350) that would create the Workplace Accommodations for Nursing Mothers Act. Under my proposal, employers would be required to provide reasonable unpaid break time or permit an employee to use paid break or mealtime to breastfeed a child or express breast milk for up to two years following the child’s birth. Employers would also be required to make a reasonable effort to provide a nursing mother with a private location, other than a toilet stall, where she can express milk.

Sadly, Pennsylvania is not included in the 23 U.S. states that already have protections for women who breastfeed in the work place. My legislation would give new mothers privacy when making the transition back to the office. I hope you will join me in this important cause by contacting your local legislators to urge them to vote YES on H.B. 1350.

Please stay tuned for additional updates as this proposal moves through the legislative process.

Bryan

P.S. - Have you ever been told to stop breastfeeding or denied time to pump at work? Are you a friend or family member who has watched this happen to your loved one? Please share your story.