NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Department of Health has been helping mothers give their babies the best start in life for more than 90 years, and education and support for breastfeeding are a big part of these important efforts. TDH celebrates World Breastfeeding Week Aug. 1-7 to help promote the importance of breastfeeding as a lifesaving goal.

1. 710 James Robertson Parkway • Andrew Johnson Tower, 5
th
Floor
Nashville, TN 37243 • Tel: 615-741-3111 • tn.gov/health
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 22, 2015
CONTACT: Woody McMillin
615-741-3446
Woody.McMillin@tn.gov
OR
Shelley Walker
615-253-5184
Shelley.Walker@tn.gov
TDH Promotes Workplace Support for Breastfeeding Mothers
World Breastfeeding Week is Aug. 1-7, 2015
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Department of Health has been helping mothers give their
babies the best start in life for more than 90 years, and education and support for
breastfeeding are a big part of these important efforts. TDH celebrates World Breastfeeding
Week Aug. 1-7 to help promote the importance of breastfeeding as a lifesaving goal.
“When we think about how we can protect the health of a baby once she is born, breastfeeding
is an optimal choice and is one of the best examples of primary prevention, something that can
stop a future health issue from ever even happening in the first place,” said TDH Commissioner
John Dreyzehner, MD, MPH. “We fully support all efforts to encourage more mothers to nurse
their babies, and we urge Tennesseans to learn about the benefits of breastfeeding to help
build the community of support for nursing mothers and babies in the workplace and every
place.”
The theme for WBW 2015 is Breastfeeding and Work: Let’s Make It Work!, emphasizing the
importance of workplace support for breastfeeding women. Businesses that support
breastfeeding reap numerous benefits including retention of experienced employees;
reduction in sick time taken by both mothers and fathers for children’s illnesses; and lower
health care and insurance costs. The goal of this year’s WBW is to empower and support all
women working in both the formal and informal sectors to adequately combine work with
child-rearing, particularly breastfeeding.
Numerous efforts are underway in Tennessee to support breastfeeding mothers. To date, more
than 600 businesses have taken the “Breastfeeding Welcomed Here” pledge, indicating their
support for mothers to breastfeed at their locations. Find the list of participating businesses or
take the pledge at www.tn.gov/health/article/breastfeeding-welcomedHere.
The Tennessee Department of Health also offers the Tennessee Breastfeeding Hotline, 1-
855-4BF-MOMS (1-855-423-6667). This toll-free hotline is available 24-hours a day, seven days a
week to connect breastfeeding mothers, caregivers, family members and others seeking
information on breastfeeding with international board-certified lactation consultants and
certified lactation counselors. TDH provides the Tennessee Breastfeeding Hotline in
partnership with Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital in Memphis.
”The Tennessee Department of Health recognizes breastfeeding as a primary strategy for
-more-

2. 710 James Robertson Parkway • Andrew Johnson Tower, 5
th
Floor
Nashville, TN 37243 • Tel: 615-741-3111 • tn.gov/health
preventing poor health outcomes in mothers and babies,” said TDH Family Health and Wellness
Director Michael Warren, MD, MPH, FAAP. ”We are pleased to partner with numerous public
and private stakeholders to give Tennessee babies the best possible start in life by promoting
and supporting breastfeeding.”
Tennessee lawmakers also support the vital practice of breastfeeding. The Tennessee General
Assembly has passed laws protecting a mother’s right to breastfeed in any location, public or
private; prohibiting local governments from criminalizing or restricting breastfeeding; and
requiring employers in Tennessee to accommodate breastfeeding mothers at work.
TDH has designated breastfeeding experts who are certified lactation counselors or
international board-certified lactation consultants available in all Tennessee county health
departments to provide breastfeeding services for all women. Find a list of county health
departments online at www.tn.gov/health/topic/localdepartments.
TDH also has peer counselors in 62 clinics across the state who serve WIC-eligible mothers by
providing support from their own breastfeeding experiences. Peer counselors are usually
women from the community who are trained to provide optimal breastfeeding support and
awareness not only to mothers, but to fathers, grandparents and other members of the family’s
support network. Studies have found peer counselors effectively improve rates of
breastfeeding initiation, duration and exclusivity.
Many Tennessee health departments and other locations are holding activities throughout the
month of August to encourage and support breastfeeding. Find a map of planned activities at
http://tdh.maps.arcgis.com/apps/PublicInformation/index.html?appid=ac744a9263074be687f4
b1939336976c.
For more information on breastfeeding, visit http://tn.gov/health/article/breastfeeding-mothers
and the following websites:
• www.womenshealth.gov/breastfeeding
• www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/index.htm
• www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/breastfeeding.html
• www.lalecheleague.org
• http://lovingsupport.nal.usda.gov/
• http://worldbreastfeedingweek.org/
• http://kidcentraltn.com/
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This news release can be accessed online at www.tn.gov/health/news.
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