Employers who have promoted breastfeeding in the workplace were yesterday recognised for their efforts by La Leche League Bermuda and the Ministry of Health.The Royal Gazette Limited was one of eight companies honoured as part of Breastfeeding Awareness Week.Bersalon, TN Tatem Middle School, ACE, Bermuda Hospitals Board (BHB), Capital G, Renaissance Reinsurance and the XL Group were also praised.“Many women experience challenges balancing the needs of their family and their place of employment,” said Health Minister Patricia Gordon-Pamplin.A 2007 study found less than one percent of mothers in Bermuda breastfeed for the six-month period recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO).Ms Gordon-Pamplin said: “When workplace environments support the breastfeeding mother, the result is not only higher rates of breastfeeding and a healthier Bermuda, but reduced employee absenteeism, greater staff productivity, increased company loyalty, higher staff morale, improved employee retention and lower healthcare costs.”TN Tatem teacher Linda Holdipp, had her baby eight months ago and worried that she’d be unable to breastfeed when she went back to work.“It was very stressful and worrying that I might have to stop,” she said.Her employer turned out to be highly supportive.“We talked about the needs that I had with regard to timing and a place, and maybe even some people stepping in when I needed to pump,” Ms Holdipp said. “Sometimes I just needed someone filling in for three minutes or so.”School principal Francine McMahon said she supported breastfeeding because she believed that family should come first.“Also, it is about looking at the health benefits for the child,” she said. “I could never deny a parent or child that opportunity. A healthy child also means a less frequently absent parent therefore, the place of employment benefits.”Hairdresser Nazma Amirali nominated her employer, Bersalon.“Breastfeeding didn’t come easily for me,” said Ms Amirali. “It has a science behind it. It was hard at first. I read the books, I talked to people beforehand, but until you experience it yourself, it just never is easy. I thought it was the natural thing to do, so I thought if my body had produced a child and I am producing food for my child, it should just go accordingly.”Things didn’t quite go as planned and a friend put her in touch with La Leche League. They helped to her to establish a breastfeeding routine, and then helped her again when it was time to go back to work.They recommended that she pump her breast milk, refrigerate it, take it home at the end of the day and give it to her sitter for the next day’s round of food.Bersalon allowed her to come in half days to begin with so her baby could adjust to being with a sitter. Instead of taking a lunch hour, she broke it up into several breastfeeding breaks during the day.“I needed to pump according to the times that my baby would have eaten - whether it was every three hours or whatever,” she said. “My employer allowed me to use one of the treatment rooms to do it so I had privacy and a clean environment.”Jonathan Howes, chief executive officer of The Royal Gazette Ltd, said: “We are proud to support the staff being able to have the choice to continue breastfeeding by facilitating an environment that is comfortable and afford them privacy.”For more information visit La Leche League Bermuda’s Facebook page or telephone 236-1120. A breastfeeding guide is available at www.who.dk/Nutrition/main.htm .