WASHINGTON (Michigan News Source) – When the Federal Government passed the Omnibus Bill ahead of the New Year, certain rights and additional accommodations for pregnant and postpartum workers in teaching and other fields also passed.  

Two legislative windfalls in the bill included the Pregnant Workers Fairness (PWF) Act and the Providing Urgent Maternal Protections for Nursing Mothers (PUMP) Act.  Supporters of these added protections believe that workers have often had to make hard decisions when it comes to careers.  

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“I first introduced the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act more than a decade ago; since then, I have met with countless pregnant workers and listened to their heartrending stories of having to make the impossible decision between staying at work or protecting the health of their pregnancy. That’s a choice no one should ever be forced to make, and it’s why I have fought tirelessly to advance the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act,” Representative Jerrold Nadler (D)NY said in a statement.  “Guaranteeing pregnant workers the most reasonable of accommodations will erode pernicious discrimination against pregnant women, strengthen our economy, and keep women and children healthy and safe.”  

The PWF Act requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations for medical conditions related to pregnancy and childbirth and forbids employers from requiring “employees to take paid or unpaid leave if another reasonable accommodation can be provided” the bill says.  

The PUMP Act extends the right to nursing mothers the rights to receive break times to pump, and also places the responsibility on employers to provide a private place – “shielded from view and free from intrusion from coworkers and the public” –  to pump at work.  A previous iteration of the pumping law excluded most salaried employees according to Forbes, but now will “extend these rights to all breastfeeding employees for the first year of the baby’s life.”  

“The health benefits of breastfeeding are without question. What has been a question is a women’s protection at the jobsite to pump safely. If a mother chooses to breastfeed her baby, she deserves the legal protection to do so without having to worry about it impacting her career,” Senator Lisa Murkowski (R) Alaska. “I am encouraged to see the PUMP Act pass the Senate—good progress toward ensuring no mother ever has to choose between a job and nursing her child.” 

The Surgeon General purports that breast is best when it comes to protecting babies from infections and illnesses such as diarrhea, ear infections, pneumonia, and are less likely to develop asthma.  Furthermore, mothers who nurse their young have a decreased risk of breast and ovarian cancers.  Families that breastfeed also have the added benefit of not having to pay for infant formula, which according to some can cost between $1,200 – $1,500 in the first year.  

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Last August, Gov. Whitmer declared it “Breastfeeding Month” as part of Michigan’s commitment to “encouraging a strong foundation for life in all infants by supporting breastfeeding parents for the first year of their child’s life and beyond.” 

The month was a time not only to focus on supporting parents, but also educating the public about the health benefits of breastfeeding. 

“During National Breastfeeding Month we recommit ourselves to supporting infants and new parents and ensure that every Michigander has equitable access to the resources and support they need to give their child a great start,” Gov. Whitmer said in a statement. “We will work with Michigan’s health care providers and local organizations to broaden public understanding about the impact breastfeeding has on improving infant health and reducing infant mortality rates within communities of color across the state. I will work with anyone to ensure every baby in Michigan has what they need to grow up and pursue their potential.”

Data from Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring (PRAMS) states that 86.9% of Michigan families initiate breastfeeding, but only 58% continue nursing children at three months, despite many health benefits such as easy digestion, production of antibodies, and reduced risk of infections and childhood obesity.