R.I. law boosts support for public breastfeeding

PROVIDENCE – The R.I. Department of Health is working to raise public awareness of a new state law, effective March 1, 2009, that explicitly gives women the right to breast- or bottle-feed a baby in any place that is open to the public, including public areas within businesses.
A previous law exempted breastfeeding mothers from disorderly conduct laws; the new law also protects them from being made to leave a public place or to stop breastfeeding in public.
“Breastfeeding protects mothers and their babies from numerous health risks and results in significant cost savings for families, the health care system, and employers,” said Dr. David R. Gifford, the state director of health, in a news release.
The Department of Health is developing outreach materials to help businesses accommodate mothers who want to breastfeed, including a new toolkit, financed through a federal grant, called the “Business Case for Breastfeeding.” The toolkit shows how supporting breastfeeding employees can reduce missed days, lower health care costs and turnover, and improve productivity. •