Breastfeeding imparts numerous health benefits for moms and babies. It passes on antibodies to the newborn, helping establish a strong immune system. Breast milk is the most important source of nutrition for babies. For women, breastfeeding can reduce the risk of breast and ovarian cancer. Both the World Health Organization and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend six months of exclusive breastfeeding for all infants.

Rates of breastfeeding have been falling over the past few decades, and reducing barriers to breastfeeding is critical. Yet, the Internal Revenue Service won’t allow women to use their pre-tax flexible spending accounts for breast pumps, bottles or pads, which can run up to $1,000 per year. The IRS deems breast milk as necessary for health, but not as a treatment for a medical condition. Women would have to get notes from their doctors saying that breastfeeding is medically necessary in order for the equipment to be tax-exempt.

Breastfeeding is more than just nutrition – it’s one of the best examples of a low-cost method of disease prevention. Reducing barriers to breastfeeding is critical for working moms. Although there are various laws protecting breastfeeding mothers, they are neither uniform nor comprehensive.

You can urge the IRS and Congress to reduce barriers to breastfeeding by supporting the Breastfeeding Promotion Act of 2009 (H.R. 2819/S. 1244), introduced by Representatives Maloney and Merkley. It includes these five provisions:

*Amends the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to protect breastfeeding women from being fired or discriminated against in the workplace.

*Provides tax incentives for businesses that establish private lactation areas in the workplace, or provide breastfeeding equipment or consultation services to their employees.

*Provides for a performance standard to ensure breast pumps are safe and effective.

*Allows breastfeeding equipment and consultation services to be tax deductible for families (amends Internal Revenue Code definition of "medical care").

*Protects the privacy of breastfeeding mothers by ensuring they have break time and a private place to pump in the workplace (applies to employers with 50 or more employees).

The Act needs more support to help get it through legislature. Urge your Representative to become a co-sponsor of this important Act.

Photo credit: Raphael Goetter