Breastfeeding Options for Students & Employees

Recognizing that breast milk promotes optimum growth and development of infants, North Central Missouri College accommodates mothers who choose to continue breastfeeding after returning to work or school. NCMC provides a private space to express milk. The room is located on the ground level of the Alexander Student Center and it includes a mini-fridge, side table and chair, a breast pump and kits. If a mother has her own breast pump, electrical outlets are available for use.

For NCMC employees, the College allows sufficient break time for breastfeeding to express milk at work. Supervisors are encouraged to consider flexible schedules to accommodate employee’s needs.

Breastfeeding Information

For Nursing Moms: Breastfeeding at Work
International Lactation Consultant Association (ILCA)
Breastfeeding Information from Missouri DHS
Inducing Lactation: Breastfeeding for Adoptive Moms
Kansas City Regional Human Milk Bank

National Links

NCMC Lactation Room

The Lactation Room is located on the ground level of the Alexander Student Center and it includes a mini-fridge, side table and chair, and a breast pump. Milk collection kits may also be available. If a mother has her own breast pump, electrical outlets are available for use.

The Lactation Room will be available on a first-come, first-served basis, with an “Occupied” sign outside the door. If large numbers of breastfeeding students and employees are using the room, scheduling room usage may occur. A key can be checked out from the Student Services Assistant, Dean of Student Services, or Human Resources Director as needed. The lactation room will be kept locked between uses to safeguard equipment, supplies and milk that may be stored in a refrigerator.

People using the Lactation Room should label all milk expressed with their name and date collected so it is not inadvertently confused with another person’s milk. Each person is responsible for proper storage of her milk. The institution will not be responsible for stored milk.

Individual users should take responsibility for keeping the room clean. Disinfectant, anti-microbial wipes or spray will be provided so that each user can clean the outside of the pump and the area around the pump when she is finished.

NCMC Breastfeeding Support Statement

Recognizing that breast milk promotes optimum growth and development of infants, North Central Missouri College accommodates mothers who choose to continue breastfeeding after returning to school or work. NCMC provides a private space to express milk. The room includes a mini-fridge, side table and chair, a breast pump and kits. If a mother has her own breast pump, electrical outlets are available for use.

For NCMC employees, the College allows sufficient break time for breastfeeding to express milk at work. Supervisors are encouraged to consider flexible schedules to accommodate employee’s needs. Breastfeeding support is provided up to one year after the child’s birth.

  1. Institutional Support for Employees
    Breastfeeding employees who choose to continue providing their milk for their infants after
    returning to work shall receive:

    1. Milk Expression Breaks
      Breastfeeding employees are allowed to breastfeed or express milk during work hours using
      their normal breaks and meal times. For time that may be needed beyond the usual break times,
      employees may use personal leave or may make up the time as negotiated with their supervisors.
    2. A Place to Express Milk
      A private room shall be available for employees to breastfeed or express milk. The room will be private and sanitary, located near a sink with running water for washing hands and rinsing out breast pump parts, and have an electrical outlet. If employees prefer, they may also breastfeed or express milk in their own private office, or in other comfortable locations agreed upon in consultation with the employee’s supervisor. Expressed milk can be stored in the refrigerator in
      the lactation room, employee’s personal cooler, or in the refrigerator in the kitchen where the office is located, if one is available.
    3. Breastfeeding Equipment
      NCMC provides an electric breast pump to assist breastfeeding employees with milk expression during work hours. The College provides a pump that can be used by more than one employee or students. Kits may also be available.
    4. Education
      Prenatal and postpartum breastfeeding informational materials are available for all mothers and fathers, as well as their partners.
    5. Staff Support
      Supervisors are responsible for negotiating policies and practices that will help facilitate each employee’s infant feeding goals. It is expected that all employees will assist in providing a positive atmosphere of support for breastfeeding employees.
  2. Employee Responsibilities
    1. Communication with Supervisors
      Employees who wish to express milk during the work period shall keep supervisors informed of their needs so that appropriate accommodations can be made to satisfy the needs of both the employee and the institution.
    2. Maintenance of Milk Expression Areas
      Breastfeeding employees and students are responsible for keeping milk expression areas clean, using antimicrobial wipes to clean the pump and area around it. Employees and students are also responsible for keeping the general lactation room clean for the next user. This responsibility extends to both designated milk expression areas and other areas where milk may be expressed.
    3. Milk Storage
      Employees and students should label all milk expressed with their name and date collected so it is not inadvertently confused with another employee’s milk. Each employee and student is responsible for proper storage of her milk. The institution will not be responsible for stored milk.
    4. Use of Break Times to Express Milk
      When more than one breastfeeding employee or student needs to use the designated lactation room, employees and students may be asked to sign-up for room usage to negotiate milk expression times that are most convenient or best meet the needs of everyone.