Volume 26
Number 17
August 21, 2015
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
`` A colorful display during Breastfeeding Week encourages new moms to continue to nurse after returning to work.
`` Officially opening the lactation lounge at the Helen O. Dickens Center were (from left) Regina Howard, manager of Clinical Operations; Rebecca Marlow, administrative director; Jabina Coleman-Dwyer, social worker and lactation counselor.
B R E ASTF EED ING AND W OR K:
T H E Y A R E C O M PAT I BLE!
Most people know the great health benefits of breastfeeding — for both baby and mom — but continuing to nurse after returning to work is still very difficult in this country. Two of the main obstacles women face are finding a private, clean and comfortable place to pump their milk — and the time to do it. To continue supporting its culture as a breastfeeding-friendly workplace, HUP
INSIDE Spreading the Word About Stroke Prevention......................2 Ebesutani Wins MER Award....2 Why We Need ZZZs..................3 Papal Visit Preparations............3
recently opened a third lactation lounge, in the Helen O. Dickens Center on 1 Gates, coinciding with the celebration of World Breastfeeding Week. At the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Jabina Coleman-Dwyer, MSW, perinatal social worker, said, “For the past two to three years, we’ve worked tirelessly to encourage our patients to breastfeed, at both pre-natal and post-partum visits, encouraging them to bring their little ones with them. Now, the Center can provide this level of privacy and comfort — for patients or employees.” HUP was ahead of its time when it created its first lactation lounge in 2000 on Dulles 2 (the original location of the postpartum unit.) When that unit was moved to Silverstein 8, the staff made sure the lactation lounge was a part of the new environment. Today, at least 20 women a day use that room to pump.
A second lactation lounge opened on the Penn Tower bridge, to help staff who worked far from Silverstein 8 — especially those in the Perelman Center — and did not have the time to travel that distance. Both the lactation lounge and the Nursing Renewal Center will be moved to 2 Donner in preparation for the demolition of Penn Tower in November. Additional support came this past May in the form of a Health System policy (2-05-28) that states, in part: “We encourage and support employees in their efforts to combine working and breastfeeding. UPHS will provide a private place, other than a bathroom, and a reasonable break time to express breast milk, for up to one year after the child’s birth.”(To learn more, contact your HR representative or your manager). (Continued on page 4)
…And Something New.............4
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