Chesapeake General Hospital employees get a lactation lounge for nursing moms

Aug. 16, 2005 — Nursing mothers who work at Chesapeake General Hospital now have a designated place to pump milk during the workday, thanks to the efforts of its nursing staff.

An Employee Lactation Station officially opened Aug. 2 on the hospital’s sixth floor.

“Before we opened the lounge, our employees who were breastfeeding had no place to go to express milk,” noted R.N. Linda Heller, a certified lactation consultant. “A lot of our staff members are young and have to work but they wanted to continue breastfeeding their babies. They need a designated space that is private to do so.”

Heller noted that CGH is taking the lead among innovative employers who promote wellness in the workplace.

“We want to support a healthy lifestyle for our employees,” she said. “Breastfeeding mothers have healthier babies and that means they miss less work. It’s good for everybody.”