Diablo power plant receives recognition for supporting mothers
Central Coast Breastfeeding Coalition
Exemplary breastfeeding policies upheld at Diablo Canyon
–The California Breastfeeding Coalition recognizes Diablo Canyon Power Plant for its exemplary efforts to support lactating employees by providing private lactation rooms and supportive breastfeeding policies. These efforts ensure staff and expectant mothers are all fully aware of breastfeeding policy procedures upon mothers returning back to work at Diablo Canyon.
Five members of the Central Coast Breastfeeding Coalition, subsidiary of the California Breastfeeding Coalition, recently toured the PG&E Diablo Canyon facility under tour guides Kristin Zaits and Alison Plemons who showed the group the lactation rooms.
Kristin and Alison, both of whom are mothers, personally used the lactation rooms upon returning to work with their newborns. Kristin has been instrumental in establishing the rooms and creating the Breastfeeding Policy – the first of its kind for the power plant and PG&E. The rooms are beautiful, spacious and functional agreed the group members. “It’s obvious Diablo Canyon values and respects their breastfeeding employees. Diablo Canyon provides a ‘best in class’ facility for their employees,” one member stated.
The rooms are spread throughout the plant’s multiple buildings, have numbered locks for the women using the rooms and can be reserved through “outlook” on a computer. The areas are furnished with comfortable chairs, hospital grade pumps, additional pump kits, a sink, microwaves, multiple electrical outlets, refrigerators, tables, mirrors, breastfeeding, and literature for further learning. Each room is close to a detached bathroom.
Importance of Breast Milk
Breast milk is not only nourishment but also medicine for infants. It contains antibodies, disease-fighting stem cells, anti-virus, anti-allergy, anti-parasitic, and anti-cancer properties that provide both short and long-term protection to children. Breast milk further contains important growth factors including enzymes, hormones, probiotics and other nutrients that help infants to grow and develop to maximum health. Breastfeeding provides benefits to the mother with increased bonding with baby, better healing post-delivery, less incidence of postpartum depression, and decreases the likelihood of developing breast or ovarian cancer.
Lactation Consultants
The Center for Family Strengthening provides non-profit fiscal management services, disbursement of payments to the lactation consultants, and with the Central Coast Breastfeeding Coalition, tracks breastfeeding rates, outcomes and completion of reports.
About Center for Family Strengthening (formerly SLO-CAP)
In 1988, the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors designated Center for Family Strengthening as a self-governing entity responsible for local efforts to prevent and respond to child abuse and neglect. Center for Family Strengthening is dedicated to establishing and bolstering families through education and advocacy. Center for Family Strengthening partners with family support organizations in SLO County to provide resources to families in need, protect children from abuse and neglect, and ensure that strong families are built and remain a community priority.
About the Central Coast Breastfeeding Coalition: It brings together a collaborative team of breastfeeding advocates to network, share resources, accomplish projects, and provide breastfeeding education based on current research and best practice. Our members include private, hospital-based and county lactation consultants, as well as lactation educators and experienced breastfeeding mothers with a passion for helping others with breastfeeding.
To donate or learn more about Center for Family Strengthening go to www.cfsslo.org or call (805) 543-6216.
