An Oklahoma organization, joined by state and federal officials, applauded the efforts not only of mothers who provide natural nourishment for their children, but also legislators who support the rights of those mothers during a ceremony in May.
As part of celebrating Mother's Day, the Coalition of Oklahoma Breastfeeding Advocates honored legislators who helped bring about legislation to support breastfeeding mothers. Governor Brad Henry signed the first substantial measure in 2004. HB 2102, introduced by Rep. John Carey, D-Durant, Rep. Greg Piatt, R-Ardmore, and Sen. Nancy Riley, R-Tulsa, encourages mothers to breastfeed in any location. Also, breastfeeding is not to be considered indecent exposure. The measure also exempts mothers from serving as jurors if they are breastfeeding or are unemployed and have a child who is not enrolled full time in an early childhood education program.
In 2005, the Legislature passed HCR 1015, introduced by Rep. Dale DePue, R-Edmond, which called on state employers to provide a sanitary place and refrigeration units for breastfeeding mothers to express and store milk in the workplace, using unpaid break and lunch times to do so. DePue also was part of this year's efforts for HB 2358, introduced by Sen. Susan Paddack, D-Ada, which provides guidelines for workplace policies governing breastfeeding. The governor signed HB 2358 on April 24.
DePue said HB 2358 held special importance for him because it was his first bill to pass and be signed by the governor. He also announced that the Capitol is now equipped with a designated room for breastfeeding mothers - complete with a refrigerator for mothers to store their milk.
New mothers are a growing segment of Oklahoma's workforce, and they need to be welcomed into a supportive environment, said state Secretary of Health Terry Cline. Breastfeeding yields health benefits for both mother and child, including providing biological and emotional bonding for mother and child and protection for children from infections, according to information from the Coalition of Oklahoma Breastfeeding Advocates.
In Oklahoma, breastfeeding rates have increased by more than 10 percent since 2000, said Esther Phillips, deputy regional administrator for the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Service. While legislation to support breastfeeding mothers will help protect mothers, another part of encouraging breastfeeding is to educate people about its importance. One of the USDA's campaigns is called Loving Support, to encourage the family and community to support breastfeeding mothers and to overcome cultural barriers and stigmas that may prevent mothers from breastfeeding, Phillips said. In the black community, for instance, there remains a mentality that African-American ancestors who were slaves in the South were often charged with breastfeeding their owner's children.
That notion is coupled with thoughts that breastfeeding is a private matter, Phillips said. Also, there is the perception of breastfeeding as it relates to income - if a mother can afford formula for her children, she feels she does not have to breastfeed, she added. However, the USDA is spending millions of dollars annually to educate the public about the importance of breastfeeding. Oklahoma's legislators have helped those efforts, Phillips said, but more support is needed.