FARMINGTON – Franklin Memorial Hospital is providing a lactation program as a benefit to its employees who are nursing mothers.

The program provides a “Mother’s Room” for expressing milk in a secure environment utilizing hospital-grade breast pumps and, if needed, consultation services by the hospital’s lactation counselors.

Hospital organizers, who say the program has been found to reduce absenteeism and improve productivity, are in hopes that other businesses will follow their lead and offer the same support for their breastfeeding employees.

All that is needed to accommodate a mother’s need to pump is a small private space with a chair and an electrical outlet. Supervisors must also support two breaks and a lunch period during a typical eight-hour workday.

For assistance in starting a workplace program, contact a lactation counselor at 779-2295. The hospital will celebrate National Breastfeeding Week Aug. 1 to 7.