Lactation Information: Suggested Strategies
for Individuals and Instructors/Managers

Employees and Students

1. Access available research about the benefits of breastfeeding from multiple perspectives:
   • infant well being
   • employee productivity
   • employee recruitment and retention
   • lower absenteeism due to illness
2. Present a compelling case to your professor or manager from a supervisory point of view regarding enhanced commitment to academic and professional goals.
3. Identify previous lactation room arrangements and personal lactation experiences from other departments and colleagues as references for successful models; inquire if units and individuals would be willing to provide documentation to share with your instructor or manager.
4. Whenever possible, demonstrate flexibility in scheduling your daily activities in order to meet your baby's, program's or unit's needs.
5. Consider having your baby attend part time child care hours during the end of your leave and prior to your formal return to campus, so that you both can have a transitional period. Inquire about returning to work or class on a Wednesday or Thursday, rather than a Monday, so that you have a chance to assess and modify your schedule.
6. Explore child care possibilities closer to campus during your baby's early years so that you can visit and/or feed your infant during breaks.
7. Remember to eat and drink nutritious snacks and beverages throughout the day (your health care provider can offer suggestions and recommended portions) and practice good hygiene habits (wash your hands, clean your pumping equipment regularly and store expressed milk properly).
8. Call (520) 621-2493 or 621-9870 (MST) or click here for more resources.

Instructors/Managers

1. Review presented research about the benefits of breastfeeding from multiple perspectives:
   • infant well being
   • employee productivity
   • employee recruitment and retention
   • lower absenteeism due to illness
   • workgroup and organizational effectiveness
2. Be open to scheduling modifications (especially those concerning lunch and break periods) proposed by employees and students and remember that individual lactation requests are short-term in nature as babies progress to solid food.
3. Identify previous lactation room arrangements and personal lactation experiences from other departments and colleagues as references; inquire if units and individuals would be willing to provide documentation and share related advantages and concerns.
4. Whenever possible, offer flexibility in scheduling daily tasks and assignments in order to meet the individual and program or unit needs.
5. Recognize that instructional and managerial responsibilities may not always encompass "traditional" and perhaps, more comfortable roles. If such requests are new and unfamiliar to you, consider them as opportunities to expand your knowledge and skill set regarding productivity and work/life issues. Call (520) 621-2493 or 621-9870 (MST) or click here for more resources.