Moms, advocates say Alabama employers should do more to allow breastfeeding

Young mother, breastfeeding her newborn baby boy, tender, care, love, positive emotions. Isolated image, black background, Motherhood concept, family concept breastfeeding tile breastfeed / Getty Images Young mother, breastfeeding her newborn baby boy, tender, care, love, positive emotions. Isolated image, black background, Motherhood concept, family concept breastfeeding tile breastfeed / Getty Images

By Associated Press September 22, 2019 2 min read

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) – Advocates for breastfeeding say Alabama employers should do a better job of allowing the practice at work.

At least 29 states have laws that protect breastfeeding and pumping breast milk at work – but Alabama is not among them, Al.com reported.

Alabama has the third-lowest breastfeeding rate in the nation, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Alabama mothers tend to quit breast-feeding sooner than women elsewhere, said Gayle Whatley, a registered nurse and vice chairwoman of the Alabama Breastfeeding Committee. She says that’s happening because of the lack of knowledge and support from their employers.

Once women head back to work, that’s when breastfeeding rates “dramatically drop off,” Whatley said.