With Tax Day quickly approaching, we wanted remind to you of last year’s IRS announcement that the cost of breast pumps and breastfeeding supplies are now considered tax-deductible medical expenses.

In order to qualify for this deduction, your total medical expenses for the year need to be greater than 7.5% of adjusted gross income. You’ll also need to itemize expenses on your tax form.

What other breastfeeding products qualify for the deduction?

The IRS states that “breast pumps and supplies that assist lactation” are qualified expenses, but there is no specific list of tax-deductible breastfeeding supplies. We checked with a few major pharmacies, and they’ve listed nursing pads, gel pads, nipple cream, and milk storage bags as qualified expenses.

Planning to buy a breast pump this year?

If you’re planning to purchase a pump or breastfeeding supplies in 2012, you can also use pre-tax money from your flexible spending account (FSA) or health savings account (HSA) towards these expenses.

What are FSAs and HSAs?

Health savings accounts and flexible spending accounts are tax-advantaged accounts that allow you to put aside pre-tax dollars to save for qualified medical expenses that aren’t covered by insurance.

For more information or help setting up a health savings account, talk to your insurance provider or your employer’s HR department (if you receive health insurance through work). You can also learn more on the IRS website.

Keep in mind that FSA/HSA benefits can vary, so check with your plan administrator or HR department if you have specific questions about eligible deductions. Make sure to keep all receipts for your breast pump and breastfeeding supplies as well.

Do you have any additional questions about tax deductions for breastfeeding moms? Let us know and we’d be happy to research them for you!

Image Credit: John-Morgan on Flickr.

Nursing room at San Jose International Airport

We recently heard the troubling story of Hawaii mom, Amy Strand, who was going through airport security with her breast pump when she was stopped by a TSA agent and told that she couldn’t board the plane with her pump because her bottles were empty.

According to Strand, “I really only had two options: leave part of [the pump] behind or pump. And I’m not going to leave part of it behind because [the agent] doesn’t know the policy and procedures.”

When she asked for a private place to pump, the agent suggested that she go to the public bathroom where the only electrical outlet was in an open area.

“I had to stand at the sink in my heels and dress pumping as travelers came and went. I was humiliated and fighting back tears. It confuses me why an ice pack and breast pump were a threat to national security,” Strand told Today.com.

After the incident, the head of Hawaii’s TSA branch formally apologized to Strand and announced that the employee in question would be receiving “retraining and corrective actions.”

The TSA also addressed the situation in its official blog, apologizing for the incident and clarifying that ice packs and empty bottles are permitted in carry-on luggage.

While Strand’s story is certainly not common, there have been other reports of TSA employees hassling moms who were traveling with a breast pump, so we wanted to clear up some of the misinformation about the TSA’s official guidelines and offer pumping moms some tips for smooth(er) air travel.

Print out and carry a copy of the TSA’s official guidelines on traveling with breastmilk

The TSA considers breastmilk, formula, and juice in the same category as liquid medicine, so it is NOT subject to the 3oz. rule that applies to other liquids or gels.

Separate and declare your breastmilk, pump, and bottles when going through the security checkpoint

You (or your baby) will not be required to taste your breastmilk, but be prepared for the possibility of additional explosives screenings.  TSA Officers might ask you to open containers during the screening process.

Ice packs, gel or liquid-filled teethers, empty bottles and jarred baby food are all permitted in your carry-on

There is no maximum limit to the amount of breastmilk you can bring in your carry-on

The TSA does, however, encourage travelers to only bring as much breastmilk, juice, or formula needed to reach their destination.

If you feel that there is an issue, ask for a supervisor or manager or contact TSA directly

TSA Contact Center: 1-866-289-9673

Talk to TSA

TSA Cares: 1-855-787-2227

On a personal note, I routinely fly with multiple breast pumps in my carry-on luggage (sometimes five at a time!) and have had no challenges with TSA. With few exceptions, I’ve found that the mention of breast pump tends to get me waived through the security line very quickly.

Have you flown with a breast pump or breastmilk? Do you have any tips for making air travel easier?

Three years ago, filmmaker Kevin West and his wife experienced the heartbreak of losing their baby in the eighth month of pregnancy. After the tragic loss, West and his wife learned about milk banking, and his wife became a milk donor to the Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA). “Your body doesn’t realize when you’ve lost a baby,” West explained, “so you continue to produce milk.”

The experience of donating milk helped the couple to heal after their loss. “Donating milk was a positive experience for us, and part of our grieving process. It was a way to honor our daughter through helping others and a big part of the healing process for us,” said West.

The couple’s experience with milk banking led West to create a feature-length documentary on milk banking with Jarred King called Donor Milk: The Documentary. West and King interviewed over 50 people for the film, including many medical professionals.

“As a male I had no concept about milk banking,” West explained, “but I realized that lots of women don’t have an understanding of the importance of human milk either. For NICU babies, human milk makes their chance of living much greater. Many of the donor milk recipients we interviewed said that their babies wouldn’t be alive without donor milk.”

With the release of Donor Milk, the filmmakers hope to raise awareness about milk banking and the importance of human milk. “I had no idea that milk banks existed, and can’t think of many people who know about them. There’s absolutely no awareness,” said West.

King, who became a father while making the film, added, “milk banking needs to be understood in the hospital setting by doctors and nurses who can educate their patients. In the school setting and in classrooms why can’t the benefits of breastmilk be part of discussions on sex education and parenting?”

The filmmakers also hope the film will help to dispel misinformation and concerns about the safety of milk banking. “People want to know is it clean? How is it regulated?” said King.

“One of surprises for me about milk banking,” said West, “is the tremendous amount of care that goes into processing, screening and handling. HMBANA reports that there have been zero reports of adverse effects in babies who’ve received donor milk since its inception in 1985, which is incredible.”

King believes that raising awareness about milk banking is the key to making donor milk more accessible to moms and babies in the US. “People should know that milk banks exist. If you want one in your community, lobby! There’s no reason every major community shouldn’t have access to milk banking,” said King. “Getting personal stories and demystifying the process will help.”

“There are so many benefits to breastmilk,” added West. “As a country we need to do a better job supporting moms with breastfeeding.”

Donor Milk is premiering tonight, March 1, in Houston, and a multi city tour is in the works (no official dates yet). West and King and can be purchased on DVD. You can learn more on their website or facebook page.

For more information on Human Milk Banking in the US or becoming a donor, please visit www.hmbana.org. Milk donation is an incredible gift, so we hope that this film can help raise awareness about its life-saving benefits.

Have you ever donated milk? What was your experience?

Timing of introducing solids

The new AAP statement recommends exclusive breastfeeding for “about six months,” bringing the AAP’s recommendations in line with the World Health Organization (WHO). This is a change from the 2005 statement that supported introduction of complementary foods between 4 and 6 months of age. The question of when to introduce solids can be confusing, so we hope the new guidelines will help clarify this issue for new moms.

Duration of breastfeeding

The AAP’s new recommendation for duration of breastfeeding is “1 year or longer as mutually desired by mother and infant,” which is very similar to its 2005 statement. However, the AAP has removed the statement that “there is no upper limit to the duration of breastfeeding and no evidence of psychologic or developmental harm from breastfeeding into the third year of life or longer.” It’s important to note that the World Health Organization continues to recommend breastfeeding up to 2 years or beyond.

WHO growth charts

The new statement supports the use of the World Health Organization’s growth curve standards that reflect the growth patterns of breastfed infants. This is an important distinction as growth charts that are not patterned on breastfed infants (such as the CDC “reference” growth charts) can lead to mislabeling of breastfed babies as underweight or failing to thrive.

Hospital practices to support breastfeeding

In 2009, the AAP endorsed the WHO/UNICEF “10 Steps to Successful Breastfeeding” which is designed to provide a uniform hospital framework for supporting breastfeeding. The 10 Steps are the backbone of UNICEF’s Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative, and have been proven to increase breastfeeding initiation, duration and exclusivity. The AAP’s new policy statement reinforces support for the 10 Steps and the important role hospitals play in supporting breastfeeding.

Pacifiers

With its new statement, the AAP has clarified its position on giving pacifiers to breastfeeding infants, stating that it:

“does not support a categorical ban on pacifiers…[but] pacifier use in the hospital in the neonatal period should be limited to specific medical indications…Mothers of healthy term breastfed infants should be instructed to delay pacifier use until breastfeeding is well-established, usually about 3 to 4 weeks after birth.”

Workplace lactation

While the AAP’s 2005 statement acknowledged the role of workplace lactation support and encouraged employers to support breastfeeding moms, the new statement goes further, highlighting the Business Case for Breastfeeding. Supporting breastfeeding in the workplace provides many benefits to employers including lower health care costs, improved productivity, and lower employee turnover.

Breastfeeding as a public health Issue rather than “lifestyle choice”

One of the more subtle but important changes to the new policy statement is the shift in language that now refers to the risks of not breastfeeding.

“Published evidence-based studies have confirmed and quantitated the risks of not breastfeeding. Thus, infant feeding should not be considered as a lifestyle choice but rather as a basic health issue. As such, the pediatrician’s role in advocating and supporting proper breastfeeding practices is essential and vital for the achievement of this preferred public health goal.”

By recognizing that breastfeeding is much more than a personal choice, the AAP is sending a strong message that supporting breastfeeding is an important public health issue that merits societal support from the hospital to the workplace.

What do you think about these changes? How do you think pediatricians can better support breastfeeding moms and babies?

ABC News recently reported on Texas mom, Donnicia Venters, who was fired from her job at a debt collection agency in 2010 after requesting time to use the bathroom to pump at work. Ms. Venters sued her employer for discrimination under title VII of the Civil Rights Act, but the judge ruled against her stating, “lactation is not a pregnancy, childbirth, or a related medical condition.”

While the argument that breastfeeding is somehow unrelated to childbirth might seem absurd to anyone with a basic understanding of human biology, unfortunately this case is not unique. In 2009, Ohio courts ruled against LaNisa Allen, who was terminated from her position at Totes/Isotoner for “insubordination” after taking unscheduled restroom breaks to pump. According to the ruling:

[Women] who give birth and choose not to breastfeed or pump their breasts do not continue to lactate for five months. Thus, Allen’s condition of lactating was not a condition relating to pregnancy but rather a condition related to breastfeeding. Breastfeeding discrimination does not constitute gender discrimination.

Breastfeeding discrimination does not constitute gender discrimination. Think about that for a second. Right now, the United States offers no federal protection for breastfeeding and pumping moms in the workplace.

Image courtesy of PumpEase

What about the Fair Labor Standards Act?

In 2010, the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) was amended to provide non-exempt employees with reasonable break times and a private, non-bathroom space in which to express milk.  Unfortunately FLSA does not apply to most salaried employees so millions of teachers, executives and non-hourly workers do not receive any protection under the law.  Furthermore, the law does not protect against workplace discrimination nor does it include an enforcement provision, so it’s unclear how or if an employer would be penalized for failing to comply. Attorney Jake Aryeh Marcus has written more about the shortcomings of the workplace pumping provision at Sustainable Mothering.

Take Action!

Last year, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley and House Representative Carolyn B. Maloney introduced the Breastfeeding Promotion Act of 2011(H.R. 2758, S. 1463). This legislation would protect breastfeeding moms by:

• Protecting Breastfeeding under Civil Rights Law ensuring women cannot be fired or discriminated against in the workplace for expressing milk or breastfeeding during lunch or breaks.

• Expanding the Breastfeeding Provision of the Fair Labor Standards Act to Cover Salaried Office Workers:  The expansion would cover an additional approximate 13.5 million executive, administrative, and professional women in the workplace.

Right now this bill is still in the initial steps of the legislative process (you can check status here), so there’s still time to ask your Representative and Senators to support the Breastfeeding Promotion Act and stop breastfeeding discrimination in the workplace. The US Breastfeeding Committee has written a sample letter that makes it really easy for you to contact your Members of Congress.

For more information about breastfeeding rights in the United States, visit www.breastfeedinglaw.com.

We’re always excited to hear about creative ways to promote breastfeeding, so we loved this idea from a member of the Breastfeeding Task Force of Santa Clara asking Google to create a “Google Doodle” in support of breastfeeding.

What’s a Google Doodle? Google has a team of artists, known as the Doodlers, who make changes to the Google logo to celebrate holidays, causes, and important events. They’ve created over 1000 designs commemorating a wide range of events from Lucille Ball’s Birthday to the Anniversary of PacMan. A doodle in support of breastfeeding could be a fun way to promote breastfeeding to the millions of people who visit Google every day.

To lend your voice of support, send an email to proposals@google.com. Here’s a sample email:

Dear Google Doodlers,

We, the breastfeeding support and promotion community, would be delighted to have a doodle for World Breastfeeding Week, 1-7 August 2012. World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated every year in over 176 countries around the world, and this year marks the 20^th anniversary.

Thanks for considering this proposal.

Would you like to see a breastfeeding doodle?  Do you think it could help bring positive attention to breastfeeding?

A few months ago the Hygeia team attended the ABC Kids Expo in Louisville, Kentucky. The ABC Expo is one of our favorite annual events with hundreds of companies showing the latest innovations in children’s and baby products. We love meeting with retail stores from across the country as well as other companies supporting moms and babies.

This year we wanted a fresh look for the show, so we called MamaPear Designs to create t-shirts for the Hygeia team. MamaPear Designs makes “lactivist inspired wearables for moms and babies” with fun designs and slogans that we knew would help us to stand out at a busy event. Mama Pear’s founder (and nursing mom) Lara made us two eye-catching designs, including this “Peace. Love. Breastfeeding” t-shirt.

Kate, Lara, and Sylvia in front of the Hygeia booth at the ABC Expo

We loved our MamaPear Designs t-shirts so much that we wanted to kick off 2012 by sharing the love with all of you! We’re giving away a MamaPear Designs prize package that includes a “Peace. Love. Breastfeeding” t-shirt like the one we wore at the ABC Expo, a “Will Work For Milk Money” coffee mug, a “Mother Nature’s Meal Plan” journal, and a “Peace. Love. Breastfeeding” bumper sticker.

Thank you so much to MamaPear Designs for sponsoring this generous giveaway! Make sure to check out their website to see more styles and read about Lara’s experience as a pumping mom at the ABC Expo.

To enter the contest, visit Hygeia’s Facebook page through January 16, 2011 and submit the rafflecopter form. Good luck!

Image Credit: Juhan Sonin on Flickr

It’s the time of year that we all need to step back and prioritize while trying to enjoy the holiday season.  When I meet with new mothers I remind them to practice self-care and avoid the stress that comes with trying to keep up with the seasonal pace when they are their baby’s primary source or nurturing and nourishment.

Breastfeeding mothers may find themselves missing feedings when taking road or air trips and other departures that interrupt frequent nursing.  This can lead to what is dubbed “holiday mastitis.”  Not fun. When you get run-down or have a compromised immune system from colds or flu you are at risk for not only mastitis, but also fluctuation in milk production. While staying a step ahead of these issues seems to be common sense, in the moment we moms tend to push through and ignore our body’s signals to keep it simple.

Here are some considerations for nursing mothers as we countdown to the holiday season:

• Avoid an overload of starches and sweets in your diet (I know, easier said than done!).  Since Thanksgiving I have seen several cases of yeast infections of the breast, often associated with an abundance of sweets. Indulge in seasonal goodies, as you are burning extra calories by breastfeeding, but steer away from a steady diet of sugar and carbs.

• Go easy on the alcohol.  A celebratory drink may be fine, but your baby does not need the abundance of second hand alcohol and a hung-over mother will not be a happy one!  Moderation is the key here.

• Plan travel time carefully. Duh.  Be prepared to be flexible with delays by nursing often and giving yourself plenty of time to get where you are going.  Stay hydrated and carry snacks.  Nursing babies are generally good travelers but remain prepared.

• Ask or seek help.  Enlist a neighborhood sitter or family member to keep baby entertained whiled you shop, bake or wrap gifts.  Or wear your baby in a sling or carrier as you go about holiday errands. Take frequent nursing breaks.

• Hand hygiene!  Your baby has the immunological benefits of your milk, but don’t push your luck.  Use hand sanitizer often and keep others from touching or getting close to the baby.

• If you pump milk, keep your pump with you or hand express when separated from baby.

• Avoid holiday supply busters.  Peppermint, spearmint, sage, thyme and chronic decongestant use are associated with decreased milk production.  Stress and sleep deprivation can be culprits too.

Nobody wants to look back on this joyous season as a stressful blur.  After all, your baby and family come first and if you are out of commission, the holidays will not be the time to enjoy your new addition and the memories you will have for a lifetime…

Happy Holidays from all of us at Hygeia!

Breastfeeding is natural, but that doesn’t mean it always comes naturally.  When breastfeeding challenges arise, professional support from a lactation consultant (IBCLC) can make a world of difference for moms and babies struggling with breastfeeding.  Unfortunately many insurance plans do not cover lactation consultations, leaving families without access to breastfeeding support.

During the month of November, the Department of Health and Human Services is hosting regional listening sessions throughout the country to get public feedback on defining essential health benefits to be included in most employer-offered health plans.  This is a great opportunity for you to share your thoughts on why lactation consultations should be considered an essential health benefit covered by insurance plans.

Here are the details for the upcoming listening sessions:

Let us know if you attend; we’d love to hear about your experience!

The “Be a Star” campaign started in the UK in 2007 to increase breastfeeding rates among young moms.  According to their mission statement:

Be A Star is a social marketing campaign that promotes breastfeeding amongst young women by celebrating mothers who breastfeed as ‘stars’, whilst supporting them through the breastfeeding process, via peer support and improved understanding and acceptance of breastfeeding within the community.

The campaign turns young moms from local communities into “celebrities” on posters and radio ads to show breastfeeding as something that can be beautiful and glamorous.  It also connects moms to local peer support groups and provides online resources. During the first six months of the campaign, over 27,000 moms were connected with peer support services and breastfeeding initiation rates rose by 13% among moms under the age of 25.

We love the gorgeous simplicity of their latest video project, released this week:

The Every Ounce Counts Campaign from Texas WIC has created an interactive website with lactation support, information on legal rights, peer counseling and fun educational activities. One of our favorite parts of the site is a downloadable lullaby album with music in multiple languages.

Ads for the campaign were recently spotted on Facebook, so we’re hoping its positive message will soon reach more moms.

What do you think about these breastfeeding campaigns?  Do you think ads like these will encourage more moms to breastfeed?