Lactation
Lactation Advocacy
CWA collaborates with partners to improve lactation and human milk feeding policies and outcomes among low-income families in California. We advocate for policies that boost initiation, duration, exclusivity and acceptance of lactation as the norm.
Here, we offer resources for breastfeeding support and advocacy.
Lactation Accommodation
Returning to work or school after childbirth requires support for continued breastfeeding. Lactation accommodation benefits employers, employees, families, the economy, and society. Explore state and federal laws, resources, and information on workplace and school lactation accommodation.
Paid Family Leave
Updated assembly bill for “Employment: Leave” (AB-1040) (2021)
California WIC Agencies Celebrate Breastfeeding/Chestfeeding Month!
In August, California WIC Local Agencies brought together community partners and families to celebrate and increase awareness about the benefits of breastfeeding. Please enjoy the images in the breastfeeding video that capture thirty-seven WIC agencies’ hard work and...
Preserving Mayan Heritage: Native American Health Center’s Mission to Serve the Mam-Speaking Community
Mayra and Victornia are dedicated Native American Health Center (NAHC) WIC staff serving the indigenous Mam-speaking community in Oakland. They provide WIC services and classes in Mam, an ancient Mayan language from Central and South America, which is the first...
9 Steps to Breastfeeding-Friendly Clinics
In these handouts, you will see steps, guidelines, and desired outcomes defining community health centers that fully support the breastfeeding dyad.
Health Centers
Discover resources such as 9 Steps to Breastfeeding Friendly Health Clinics and the accompanying toolkit, case studies and more to help make breastfeeding the norm in health care settings.
San Francisco WIC Linkage with Epic Electronic Health Record System
The Maternal Child and Adolescent Health section of the San Francisco Department of Public Health transitioned to Epic to streamline services for the MCAH population and support healthcare providers in delivering whole person care.
Los Angeles Multiple WIC Agency Linkage with Health Information Exchange
Watts Healthcare and Northeast Valley Health Corporation worked with Los Angeles Network for Enhanced Services to establish referrals and access to data needed for WIC enrollment and certification of patients being provided care by their respective health centers.
California WIC Local Agency Linkages: Shared Staff
California WIC local agencies partner with healthcare and other programs to facilitate access to WIC services and coordinate care for program participants.
Breastfeeding Rates & Reports
The in-hospital support a mother receives before and after birth greatly impacts breastfeeding success. CWA and partners developed reports and fact sheets to highlight breastfeeding rates in California hospitals by county. Find our hospital reports for 2010-2016 in our Resource Hub . County fact sheets for these years are available by request.
For most recently released hospital breastfeeding data, go to CDPH Breastfeeding Data and Reports.
Click here to find the Baby Friendly Hospitals in your state.
Achieving Breastfeeding Equity in California
The in-hospital support a mother receives before and after birth greatly impacts breastfeeding success. CWA and partners have developed reports and fact sheets each to highlight breastfeeding rates in California hospitals.
Sustaining Change in Challenging Times
California needs innovative breastfeeding support strategies. Advocates and policy makers must work together to develop action plans to combat potential reversals in breastfeeding rates.
Charting a New Course to Improve the Quality of Prenatal Care
The journey toward ensuring optimal prenatal care is ongoing, with continual advancements and shifts necessary to meet the evolving needs of expectant mothers.
Breastfeeding Laws & Advocacy
Learn from local WIC agencies and their breastfeeding promotion events or connect with other organizations focused on breastfeeding support and advocacy.
State Breastfeeding Laws
Mother/Baby-Friendly Workplaces
Breastfeeding at Work
ACR 155 / Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 155 Chap. 152
Introduced: 09/01/1998
Author: Maddox
Summary:
The State of California and California employers is encouraged to support and encourage the practice of breastfeeding, by striving to accommodate the needs of employees, and by ensuring that employees are provided with adequate facilities for breastfeeding and expressing milk for their children. The measure would also memorialize the Governor to declare by executive order that all State of California employees be provided with adequate facilities for breastfeeding and expressing milk.
Jury Service: Breastfeeding
AB 1814 / Code of Civil Procedure – § 210.5 Chap. 266
Introduced: 08/30/2000
Author: Lempert
Summary:
The Judicial Court shall adopt a standardized jury summons for use, which must include a specific reference to the rules for breastfeeding mothers. AB 1814 created the law and directs the Judicial Council to adopt a rule of court to allow the mother of a breastfed child to postpone jury duty for a period of up to one year and that after one year, jury duty may be further postponed upon written request by the mother.
Lactation Accommodation
AB 1025 / Labor Code Chapter 3.8 Sections 1030-1033
Introduced: 10/13/2001
Author: Frommer
Summary:
Employers are required to allow a break and provide a room for a mother who desires to express milk in private. CA AB 1976 (2018) requires an employer to make reasonable efforts to provide an employee with use of a room or a location other than a bathroom, for these purposes. CA SB 142 (2019) requires the room or location other than a bathroom to have prescribed features. Requires an employer, among other things, to provide access to a sink and refrigerator in close proximity to the employee’s workspace.
Employment and Housing Discrimination: Sex: Breastfeeding
AB2386 / California Health & Safety Code § 12926
Introduced: 09/28/2012
Author: Allen
Summary: The State of California and California employers is encouraged to support and encourage the practice of breastfeeding, by striving to accommodate the needs of employees, and by ensuring that employees are provided with adequate facilities for breastfeeding and expressing milk for their children. The measure would also memorialize the Governor to declare by executive order that all State of California employees be provided with adequate facilities for breastfeeding and expressing milk.
Sex Discrimination: Pregnancy, Childbirth or Related Medical Conditions
California Code of Regulations Subchapter 6A
Introduced: 12/31/2012
Author: Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review
Summary: A “condition related to pregnancy, childbirth, or a related medical condition,” as set forth in Government Code § 12945, means a physical or medical condition intrinsic to pregnancy or childbirth that includes, but is not limited to lactation. Generally lactation without medical complications is not a disabling “related medical condition” requiring pregnancy disability leave, although it may require transfer to a less strenuous or hazardous position or other reasonable accommodation.
Paid Family Leave
California Family Rights Act (CFRA) Paid Family Leave: Qualifying Exigency
AB 2399
Introduced: 09/30/2020
Author: Committee on Insurance
Summary: This bill would revise those definitions for the purpose of the qualifying exigency provisions. The bill would define “military member” for the purpose of that term’s use in those revised definitions.
Employment: Paid Family Leave
SB 83
Introduced: 06/27/2019
Author: Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review
Summary: Extends the duration an employee may receive Paid Family Leave (PFL) benefits from six weeks to eight weeks effective July 1, 2020.
Mother/Baby-Friendly Schools
Pupil Services: Lactation Accommodations
AB 302 / Education Code § 222
Introduced: 10/09/2015
Author: Garcia
Summary: A school operated by a school district or a county office of education, the California School for the Deaf, the California School for the Blind, and a charter school shall provide reasonable accommodations to a lactating pupil on a school campus to express breast milk, breast-feed an infant child, or address other needs related to breast-feeding.
Breastfeeding at Work
AB 2785 / Education Code § 66271.9
Introduced: 09/30/2018
Author: Rubio
Summary: The California Community Colleges and the California State University shall, and a satellite campus of these systems and the University of California are encouraged to, provide reasonable accommodations on their respective campuses for a lactating student to express breast milk, breast-feed an infant child, or address other needs related to breast-feeding
Baby-Friendly Hospitals
Breastfeeding Education & Support
AB 977 / Health and Safety Code §s 123360-123365
Introduced: 09/05/1995
Author: McDonald
Summary: All general acute care hospitals and special hospitals are required to provide maternity care to make available a breastfeeding consultant or, alternatively, provide information to the mother on where to receive breastfeeding information.
Human Milk Banking
AB 532 / Health and Safety Code § 1647 Chap. 87
Introduced: 07/02/1999
Author: Lempert
Summary: This bill would apply similar provisions to the procurement, processing, distribution, or use of human milk for human consumption.
Human Milk
SB 246 / California Health and Safety Code § 1648
Introduced: 09/26/2006
Author: Figueroa
Summary: A hospital that collects, processes, stores or distributes human milk collection from a mother exclusively for her own child is required to comply with the standards for collection, processing, storage or distribution of human milk by the Human Milk Banking Association of North America unless the department of health approves alternate standards. No screening tests are required to be performed on human milk collected from a mother exclusively for her own child.
Hospital Training: Breastfeeding
SB 22 / California Health & Safety Code § 1257.9 & 14134.55
Introduced: 01/04/2007
Author: Migden
Summary: Department of Public Health shall recommend a minimum eight-hour training to appropriate staff in general acute care hospitals that provide maternity care and have exclusive patient breastfeeding rates in the lowest 25 percent of the state.
Hospital Infant Feeding Act
SB 502 / California Health & Safety Code § 123366
Introduced: 10/06/2011
Author: Pavley & De Leon
Summary: This bill would require all general acute care hospitals and special hospitals that have perinatal units, as defined, to have an infant-feeding policy and to clearly post that policy in the perinatal unit or on the hospital or health system Internet Web site. This bill would require that the infant-feeding policy be routinely communicated to perinatal unit staff and that the infant-feeding policy apply to all infants in a perinatal unit.
Hospital Breastfeeding Support
SB 402 / California Health & Safety Code § 123367
Introduced: 10/09/2013
Author: Pavley & De Leon
Summary: Establishes the “Hospital Infant Feeding Act” and requires all acute care and special hospitals that have a perinatal unit to adopt the “Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding” of the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative, or an evidence-based alternative with targeted outcomes adopted by a health care service plan, or the Model Hospital Policy Recommendations as defined by § 123366.
Community Support
Right to Breastfeed in Public
AB 157 / § 43.3 of the Civil Code
Introduced: 07/14/1997
Author: Villaraigosa
Summary: A mother is allowed to breastfeed her child in any location, public or private, except the private home or residence of another, where the mother and the child are otherwise authorized to be present.
Employment and Housing Discrimination: Sex: Breastfeeding
AB2386 / California Health & Safety Code § 12926
Introduced: 09/28/2012
Author: Allen
Summary: Unlawful to engage in specified discriminatory practices on the basis of sex related to individuals’ opportunity to seek, obtain and hold employment or housing. Cal. Government Code § 12926 (2012) defines sex to include breastfeeding or medical conditions related to breastfeeding.
CalWORKS: Welfare-to-Work Requirements
SB 252 / California Health & Safety Code § 11218
Introduced: 10/4/2013
Author: Liu
Summary: An applicant or recipient of aid is entitled to breastfeed her child in a county welfare department or other county office.
County Jails: Infant & Toddler Breast Milk Feeding Policy
AB 2507 / § 4002.5 of the Penal Code
Introduced: 09/30/2018
Author: Jones-Sawyer
Summary: On or before January 1, 2020, a county sheriff or the administrator of a county jail to develop and implement an infant and toddler breast milk feeding policy for lactating inmates detained in or sentenced to a county jail that is based on currently accepted best practices. The bill requires the policy to include provisions for, among other things, procedures for providing medically appropriate support and care related to the cessation of lactation or weaning and for conditioning an inmate’s participation in the program upon the inmate undergoing drug screening. The bill requires the policy to be posted in the jail, as specified, and to be communicated to all staff persons who interact with or oversee pregnant or lactating inmates.
Federal Breastfeeding Laws
Mother/Baby-Friendly Workplaces
Fair Labor Standards Act
FLSA § 7(r)
Introduced: 03/23/2010
Author: Silvey
Summary: Effective March 23, 2010, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act amended the FLSA to require employers to provide a nursing mother reasonable break time to express breast milk after the birth of her child. The amendment also requires that employers provide a place for an employee to express breast milk.
TRICARE Moms Improvement Act
HR 4492
Introduced: 04/28/2014
Author: McCaskill & Capps
Summary: TRICARE Moms Improvement Act of 2014 – Requires the contracts entered into by the Secretary of Defense (DOD) for medical care for military dependents (e.g., TRICARE) to provide for breastfeeding support, supplies, and counseling as appropriate during pregnancy and the postpartum period.
Pregnant Workers Fairness Act
HR 1065 / S 1486
Introduced: 04/29/2021
Author: Nadler & Casey
Summary: (Active Legislation) To eliminate discrimination and promote women’s health and economic security by ensuring reasonable workplace accommodations for workers whose ability to perform the functions of a job are limited by pregnancy, childbirth, or a related medical condition.
PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act
HR 3110 / S 1658
Introduced: 05/17/2021
Author: Maloney & Merkley
Summary: (Active Legislation) To amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to expand access to breastfeeding accommodations in the workplace, and for other purposes.
Paid Family Leave
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
HR 3590
Introduced: 09/17/2009
Author: Rangel
Summary: Effective March 23, 2010, this federal law requires employers to provide break time and a place for most hourly wage-earning and some salaried employees (nonexempt workers) to express breast milk at work. The law states that employers must provide a “reasonable” amount of time and that they must provide a private space other than a bathroom. They are required to provide this until the employee’s baby turns one year old. This provision was passed as Section 4207 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), which amended Section 7 of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 207)
FAMILY Act – Family and Medical Insurance Leave Act
HR 804 / S 248
Introduced: 02/04/2021
Author: DeLauro & Gillibrand
Summary: (Active Legislation) This bill entitles every employee to a family and medical leave insurance (FMLI) monthly benefit payment of two-thirds of the employee’s regular pay, limited to a maximum of $4,000, for not more than 60 days of qualified caregiving. The bill establishes the Office of Paid Family and Medical Leave within the Social Security Administration to administer the FMLI program. An FMLI benefit payment must be coordinated with any periodic benefits received under a state or local temporary disability insurance or family leave program. The bill imposes a tax on employers, employees, and self-employed individuals to fund FMLI benefits It also establishes the Federal Family and Medical Leave Insurance Trust Fund to hold tax revenues.
Mother/Baby-Friendly Schools
Fair Labor Standards Act
FLSA § 7(r)
Introduced: 03/23/2010
Author: Silvey
Summary: Effective March 23, 2010, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act amended the FLSA to require employers to provide a nursing mother reasonable break time to express breast milk after the birth of her child. The amendment also requires that employers provide a place for an employee to express breast milk.
Baby-Friendly Hospitals
Safe Medications for Moms and Babies Act
HR 5219
Introduced: 05/12/2016
Author: Herrera, Beutler & Castor
Summary: To provide for the establishment of the Task Force on Research Specific to Pregnant Women and Lactating Women, to require an annual report to Congress on approved new drug applications with information on pregnancy and lactation, and for other purposeS he provision was then incorporated into the 21st Century Cures Act and subsequently passed into law. The measure will establish a taskforce of federal and medical experts to advance research and information sharing on medication use during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act of 2021
ACR 155 / Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 155 Chap. 152
Introduced: 02/22/2021
Author: Underwood & Booker
Summary: (Active Legislation) A bill to end preventable maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity in the United States and close disparities in maternal health outcomes, and for other purposes..
Community Support
Friendly Airports for Mothers (FAM) Act
HR 302
Introduced: 10/05/2018
Author: Duckworth & Knight
Summary: The FAM Act requires all large and medium hub airports to provide a private, non-bathroom lactation space in each terminal building.* The Act also requires airports to provide a baby changing table in one men’s and one women’s restroom in each terminal. This legislation was signed into law in 2018 and the requirements go into effect in 2021.
Fairness for Breastfeeding Mothers Act of 2019
Pub. L. 116–30, §2(b)
Introduced: 02/14/2019
Author: Norton & Daines
Summary: This bill requires that certain public buildings that are open to the public and contain a public restroom provide a lactation room, other than a bathroom, that is hygienic and is available for use by members of the public to express milk. The lactation room must be shielded from public view, be free from intrusion, and contain a chair, a working surface, and (if the building is supplied with electricity) an electrical outlet.
Friendly Airports for Mothers Improvement (FAMI) Act
S 2638
Introduced: 10/17/2019
Author: Duckworth & Fischer
Summary: The FAM Improvement Act extends the FAM Act’s requirements to small hub airports. This legislation was signed into law in 2020 and the requirements go into effect in 2023.
Wise Investment in Our Children (WIC) Act of 2021
HR 2011 / S 823
Introduced: 03/18/2021
Author: DeLauro & Casey
Summary: (Active Legislation) To amend the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to increase the age of eligibility for children to receive benefits under the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children, and for other purposes.
IBCLC Workforce Overview: August 2023
CWA offers an overview to better understand the need and the cost of becoming an International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) for WIC.
Foreground to Horizon: Opportunities for WIC’s Next Half Century
This report presents some forward-looking ideas in the areas of integrating WIC with current opportunities in health care reform and prevention and expanding the use of WIC clinics.
Achieving Breastfeeding Equity in California
The in-hospital support a mother receives before and after birth greatly impacts breastfeeding success. CWA and partners have developed reports and fact sheets each to highlight breastfeeding rates in California hospitals.
