Mrs. U.S. Beauties 2009 Inspires Moms to start Corporate Lactation Programs

Juanita Ingram, Mrs. U.S. Beauties 2009 (a national success pageant) saw our feature in Fit Pregancy and asked how she could support our cause! We asked Juanita to share her story in part because of the recent Totes/Isotoner v. Allen case (the Ohio “Fired for pumping” case) but mostly because we think she is a fabulous role model.  We admire her tenacity and positive attitude in approaching her employer and “beating the booby traps”-the barriers that keep moms from achieving their personal breastfeeding goals.    We are pleased to name Juanita Ingraham as a Best for Babes Champion for Moms.  Here is Juanita’s story:

juanita queen picture

Mrs. US Beauties 2009

I am a wife, mother, lawyer, national queen for Mrs. U.S. Beauties 2009 and strong proponent for breastfeeding and the rights associated therewith.

I set and accomplished a great number of goals in my life to date; I finished college and went on to obtain my JD/MBA, passed the bar in two states and practiced with large firms and corporations.  I served as a business law adjunct professor, inspiring young minds to pursue legal careers, received the Up and Coming Lawyer – Leadership In Law Award and recognized as on of the Top 40 Under 40.  In addition, I became the first African-American woman to compete and win the title of Mrs. Indiana United States in 2007 and just this year I competed and became the national queen for Mrs. U.S. Beauties 2009, a pageant system that celebrates the success of the modern woman and inspires all women to achieve their goals and dreams. While all of the aforementioned experiences were joyous, none of them compare to the happiness that motherhood has brought to my life.  When my daughter looks at me and smiles, I can see the unconditional love in her eyes for me. Her sincerity makes me feel like a queen everyday and I feel grateful knowing that I gave my daughter the best start in life that I possibly could -  I successfully and exclusively breastfed my daughter for the first 15 months of her life.  This accomplishment, like any other, was not without obstacles and challenges.

When my daughter was born in January of 2008, I was legal counsel for a large retail real estate investment trust.  Practicing law full-time as a new mom, while my husband traveled often for extended periods of time with his job, was an extremely challenging undertaking. I was determined, however, to set and achieve the goal of breastfeeding my daughter for at least 12 months. But setting the goal wasn’t all that would be required to achieve the goal.

Prior to leaving for maternity leave, I asked our HR department about the details of the company’s corporate lactation program.  I just assumed that a company of its size in the 21st century would surely have such accommodations in place.  I was shocked to learn that it did not.  Not only was there no formal corporate lactation program, but it was against company policy at the time to use any office for pumping purposes.  In addition, many women in the company expressed to me that they had given up the idea of breastfeeding because of limited support and nonexistent accommodations.  Moreover, those who did continue were forced to do so in an almost public fashion by  sharing the “sick room” and pumping in front of each other, exposing themselves to one another whether they preferred to or not.  If the sick room was occupied with a sick employee, there were no accommodations available for employees to pump.  There were also numerous situations where lactating mothers within a particular department obtained permission from a supervisor to use a conference room to pump but those pumping sessions were often interrupted by HR personnel who would open the door, remove the curtain—without giving the lactating mothers time to cover themselves—and verbally admonish them, declaring their actions to be against company policy.  These women were humiliated and discouraged.  On several occasions I was even asked by fellow co-workers why I “just couldn’t use a bathroom stall” and I politely explained to them that I didn’t feel it was appropriate for me to pump in a toilet stall for the same reasons they would not prepare their food while standing next to a toilet in a bathroom stall.  After hearing of the numerous horrific incidents involving other lactating moms at the company and experiencing first hand the unsupportive atmosphere, I was determined to take action and initiate a formal corporate lactation program for myself and others!

Receiving the Up & Coming Leadership in Law Award

Juanita Receiving the Up & Coming Lawyer Leadership in Law Award

I started by researching the law with regard to a woman’s right to breastfeed at work and was pleased to find that the state of Indiana had recently passed a law requiring all companies with a certain number of employees to provide reasonable time, pumping and storage accommodations for lactating employees. I then researched and created a proposal for a formal corporate lactation program setting forth all of the proven benefits that support the existence of such programs.   For example, studies have shown that if working mothers breastfed their infants for at least 100 work days, 41% of infants never get sick in their first year of life compared to 10% of formula-fed infants whose mothers experience more than twice as much absenteeism as do the breastfeeding mothers in the first year of the infant’s life.  Similarly, a study of Working Well Moms, CIGNA’s corporate lactation program for employees who breastfeed, revealed a savings of $240 thousand annually in health care expenses for breastfeeding mothers and their children. In addition, a savings of $60 thousand annually is realized through reduced absenteeism among breast- feeding mothers at CIGNA. The study also found that pharmacy costs for breastfed children are lower, because they require 62% fewer prescriptions.

After equipping myself with the applicable law and setting forth the persuasive facts in a written proposal, I requested a meeting with the head of HR and presented the recently passed legislation regarding breastfeeding rights in the workplace for the state of Indiana, along with my materials regarding the proposed corporate lactation program.  I also informed her of the recent incidents that were discouraging and humiliating to currently lactating mothers.  My presentation was a success! Two rooms were designation for lactating mothers and a formal corporate lactation program was established.  It was also permissible to utilize your office to pump if desired.   I considered this not only a success for myself, but for the countless number of lactating mothers at the company who did not have a voice because of fear of retaliation.

If you are a working mother facing a similar challenge in your workplace, my top five tips for starting a corporate lactation program are as follows:

  • Know the law!  Most states have statutes addressing the rights of breastfeeding working mothers.  Start by searching on the La Leche League’s website to see if they have a summary of the laws for your state and then search the internet and make sure the law hasn’t been updated or amended.  Knowing what you have a right to do in the workplace as a lactating mother is powerful!  I often refer to the NCSL (National Conference of State Legislatures) to find the specific recent states laws regarding breastfeeding in the workplace.  (http://www.ncsl.org/issuesresearch/health/breastfeedinglaws/tabid/14389/default.aspx).  If your state has no worksite protection laws, contact your senator and representative and ask that such a bill be filed. Any problems with breastfeeding and employment should also be reported to your state’s commission on discrimination.
  • Be flexible!  Remember that some states provide more benefits and are more detailed than others. Work with the rights that you have and remain flexible.  You may not be able to use the lactation room at the same time(s) everyday if there are numerous other lactating moms seeking to use the same accommodations.  Work together on time slots but remain flexible – we are all working moms and we all know that sometimes you can’t help when a meeting runs over or when someone walks into your office, so try and be accommodating to your fellow lactating co-worker – we are all in this together!

    Juanita & Family

    Juanita & Family

  • Get the right equipment! Pumping can be time consuming and inconvenient if you don’t have the right equipment, so make sure you have a pump that will allow you to obtain the maximum amount of milk in the shortest amount of time.  For me, this meant breaking down and buying the most expensive pump on the market because to be blunt – it was the best and it worked! I could get out 15 to 20 ounces in 20 to 25 minutes flat. I was one productive momma!  For more tips on preparing for pumping at work, see www.workandpump.com.
  • Get the right support outside of work!  I would attribute my success partly to determination and partly to being equipped with the right information and having the right support.  It is IMPERATIVE that you find a good WORKING mothers lactation group for support.  All work associated with motherhood, whether in or outside of the home, is meaningful, substantial and commendable.  However, mothers that work outside of the home have a unique set of challenges and hurdles that they will face when trying to exclusively breastfeed, such as quantity/ supply issues.   You need an informed support group that can offer tips and suggestions that will get your through the moments where you feel that you want to give up.  I used the Working Mothers group through LifeCare, a benefit that my husband received through his employer.  The advice and support I received was invaluable! La Leche league also provides local support groups for mothers working in and outside of the home.  Another great resource is your local IBCLC—International Board Certified Lactation Consultant—you can find IBCLCs in your area by zipcode at www.ilca.org.

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Juanita Ingram

To me, the right to choose to breastfeed your children is what being a modern day women is all about.  My husband and I are now expecting our second child in March of 2010 and I am going to set the same goal as before.  I am equipped with the knowledge of the law and inspired to provide the best start for our new bundle of joy as well.  I wish the same for you!

For answers to the Top Five Questions Moms have about working and breastfeeding, click here .

Get involved!   Support the Breastfeeding Promotion Act 2009, a bill sponsored by Rep. Maloney & Senator Merkley to end discrimination against breastfeeding mothers under the 1964 Civil Rights Act.  For a summary of the bill and easy steps to take action, click here.



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4 Comments | Last revised on 09/16/2009


This entry was posted in Booby Traps and tagged , . Bookmark the permalink.

4 Responses to Mrs. U.S. Beauties 2009 Inspires Moms to start Corporate Lactation Programs

  1. Elita @Blacktating says:

    Fabulous!! Talk about a role model! I will be blogging about this, thanks for sharing!!!

  2. Shirley says:

    This is truly inspirational. Juanita stands heads and shoulders above the rest as an advocate for the rights of working mothers everywhere. As a working professional who desires to have a family and children, Juanita’s story is not only inspirational but empowering. I applaud you for highlighting the courage and strength of this modern day maven.

  3. Wonderful Article. We are proud of you!!

  4. Dwight Ingram says:

    Great work!!! NO ONE could have done a better job.

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