Pittsburgh-Area Workplaces and Public Places Win Breastfeeding-Friendly Awards

By Becky Brindle

To commemorate World Breastfeeding Week, Aug. 1-7, the Allegheny County Health Department has announced the winners of its 18th annual Breastfeeding-Friendly Place Awards, which recognize workplaces, public places and other sites away from home that make an extra effort to accommodate breastfeeding mothers.

Below are the four 2013 winners:

1. Mascaro Construction on the North Side demonstrated a strong commitment to breastfeeding moms by offering a friendly atmosphere and a large, clean, private and carpeted room, close to their work space, with a private entrance and occupied/vacant signage. The room has a rocking chair with a foot stool; end table; good lighting; wall-to-wall counter space with a sink in the middle; a refrigerator; and plenty of storage.

2. Oncology Nursing Society in Moon Township provides a friendly atmosphere and two clean, comfortable, private rooms with occupied/vacant signage and a separate-entrance restroom between the rooms. The rooms are close to the work site and have a sofa or two comfortable chairs; an end table; counter space; and a refrigerator.

3. Carnegie Science Center on the North Shore provides a welcoming and supportive atmosphere to any woman wishing to breastfeed her baby, including a designated area for breastfeeding in private, which has a large cushioned bench with a draw curtain surrounding it and is away from the main stream of people.

4. The Midwife Center for Birth and Women's Health in the Strip District has a homey, warm and welcoming atmosphere with a large waiting room and comfortable chairs for moms to breastfeed their babies. Staff members are supportive of any woman wishing to breastfeed and will offer a private area for breastfeeding upon request.