Samantha McInerney

Legislative Initiative Assignment

8-5-2016
The History of Breastfeeding
History and Background
Breastfeeding is a natural, safe and effective way to feed your
baby. Today, baby formula provides an alternative to breastfeeding.
This can be useful when mothers have to go back to work,
breastfeeding is painful, or simply for a mother that does not want to
breastfeed. Historically, baby formula has not always been around and
available for use. The historical evolution of feeding a newborn baby
after birth includes wet-nursing, bottle-feeding, and formula use.
Wet nursing was the first alternative to breastfeeding your child.
Wet nursing is a woman who breastfeeds anothers child. This became
a common practice before formula feeding was used. Wet nursing
would be used if a mother died during childbirth or lactation failure. In
some countries, like Greece, wet nursing was used for women of a
higher social status. Wet nursing began as early as 2000 BC and was
even used up into the 20th century. Wet nursing became a wellorganized profession with contracts and laws regulating this practice.
Most wet nursing practices ended in the 19th century when bottlefeeding was introduced.
Many bottles were invented to feed infants but most were hard to
clean and were not preferred. During the Industrial Revolution, the first
hygienic feeding bottle became available. Glass bottles were used with

Samantha McInerney
Legislative Initiative Assignment
8-5-2016
a cork nipple top for feeding infants animal milk. The beginning of the
20th century is when the rubber nipple was adapted. In the 18th
century, the first chemical analysis of human milk and animal milk
began to appear. Based on these studies, human milk is the ideal
source for an infant. In 1865 the first powdered formula was created.
From there, many different types of formula have been created and
now are rapidly used among mothers. Although there are many
formulas and alternative to breastfeeding, breastfeeding is still the
most nutritious and ideal formula for a baby.
Current Legislative
The current breastfeeding laws have been in effect since March
23, 2010. The patient Protection and Affordable Care Act amended the
Fair Labor Standards Act to require employers to provide nursing
mothers with breaks and proper areas to breastfeed. The employer
must provide a reasonable break time for an employee to express
breast milk for a nursing child up to a 1-year after the childs birth. The
law states that a bathroom is not a reasonable place to express breast
milk. The area provided must be shielded from view and free of
intrusion from coworkers. Employers are not required to compensate
nursing mothers for breaks taken to pump breast milk. Employees are
encouraged to use the provided compensated break time to express
their milk.

Samantha McInerney
Legislative Initiative Assignment
8-5-2016
However, employers with fewer than 50 employees are not
subject to the Fair Labor Standard Act break time requirement. The
individual state laws cover these employees. The Indiana state law
allows women to breastfeed her child anywhere the law allows her to
be. State and political subdivisions shall provide for reasonable paid
breaks for an employee to express breast milk for her intake, make
reasonable efforts to provide a room or other location, other than a
toilet stall, where the employee can express breast milk in a private
and make reasonable efforts to provide for a refrigerator to keep milk.
Employers with more than 25 employees must provide a private
location and refrigeration. Employers must allow women to use the
refrigerator, if there is one, or bring a cooler to store the breast milk.
Develop a Position
I defiantly think breastfeeding is the most nutritious and
resourceful formula for an infant to have. I think it is great that woman
can have the choice rather to breastfeed or not. There are many
mothers who cannot afford to take time off work and need to pump
breast milk at work. I think these current laws are great for women.
Employers absolutely should provide a private room for a mother at
work and refrigeration for the breast milk. However, I do think that the
employee should not have to clock out or take pay out of her check for
breastfeeding. This is a natural process that is nutritious for the baby

Samantha McInerney
Legislative Initiative Assignment
8-5-2016
and the mothers pay should not be deducted due to this process. I am
very glad Indiana has great breastfeeding laws that do provide a paid
break for mothers. Also, it is great to know that a woman can
breastfeed anywhere she is legally allowed to be. A woman should be
able to breastfeed in public if needed and not feel ashamed about this
process. I am so glad to be woman in Indiana knowing I am able to
breastfeed my child and have the rights to express breast milk in the
workplace.
Currently, there are not any debates or chances happening to the
current national or state breastfeeding laws.

Communication of Recommendations to a Policymaker

I contacted the Indiana House of Representatives (200 W.
Washington Street, Indianapolis, IN 46204-2786, (317) 232-9600) and
left a message to discuss the current Indiana breastfeeding laws and
what steps to take to contact someone about the national law. I want
to ask why employers are not required to give breastfeeding mothers a
paid break. I have no heard back at this time.