Breastfeeding creates a special bond between mothers and babies. Whether you have already decided to breastfeed or simply want more information, WIC is here to answer your questions and help make breastfeeding work for you and your baby.
Your local health unit has qualified WIC staff who can answer your questions and help you get breastfeeding off to a good start. Call for an appointment today. Find your nearest health unit.
You can also get help with breastfeeding 24 hours a day/seven days a week by calling the Arkansas WIC Breastfeeding Helpline at 1-800-445-6175.
For updates and more information, visit:
Breastfeeding Rights
Arkansas has two laws that support breastfeeding families. They protect a woman’s right to breastfeed in public and require employers to provide reasonable unpaid break time to employees who need to express or pump breast milk.
Act 680: 20-27-2001. Breastfeeding in public.
A woman may breastfeed a child in a public place or any place where other individuals are present. The 2007 law also amended the AR indecency law (Code 5-14-112) to provide protection from prosecution for indecent exposure.
Act 621: 11-5-116. Break time for expressing breast milk.
Summary: An employer shall provide: 1) reasonable unpaid break time and 2) a reasonable private, secure and sanitary location other than a toilet and close to work location. The employee shall make reasonable efforts to minimize disruption to employer’s operations.
There are also federal laws that protect the rights of breastfeeding mothers.
For more details, visit:
- http://www.dol.gov/whd/nursingmothers/
- http://www.dol.gov/whd/FLSAEmployeeCard/BreaktimeNursingMothers.pdf
Additional Breastfeeding Rights and Laws
- Breastfeeding Laws in Arkansas
- Rights of Students When Expressing Breastmilk
- Business Case for Breastfeeding
- Supporting Nursing Moms at Work: Employer Solutions
Breastfeeding Resources
- Arkansas Local Health Units/WIC Clinics: Click here to find your nearest local health unit.
- Arkansas Department of Health WIC Breastfeeding Help Line: 1-800-445-6175
- Arkansas Breastfeeding Community Resources
- The hospital where you delivered your baby. Many hospitals employ breastfeeding specialists who help breastfeeding mothers even after discharge from the hospital.
- National Breastfeeding Helpline: English and Spanish. The National Women’s Health Information Center is available at 1-800-994-WOMAN (9662) or 888-220-5446 (TDD) to answer breastfeeding questions in English and Spanish, Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.
- Breastmilk: Every Ounce Counts
- La Leche League of Arkansas
- La Leche League USA
- National Women’s Health Information Center
- “It’s Only Natural”
- United States Department of Labor
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration – Breast Pumps
- Baby Friendly Hospital USA
- International Lactation Consultant Association
- Partnering with WIC for Breastfeeding Success Video
- WIC Working and Breastfeeding Support (video)
