Lea County Breastfeeding Task Force

Grant County Community Health Council
News Release

For Immediate Release
Title: Mother Comfort Zone at WNMU Library
Silver City, New Mexico, April 2, 2010:

Recently, the Western New Mexico University Library dedicated the new Mother Comfort Zone, a relaxing space for mothers to nurse their babies on the designated upstairs 'quiet level' of the facility. WNMU Librarian Gilda Baeza Ortega said, "This was a worthwhile project dear to the hearts of our staff to better serve our student patrons and their families."

The Mother Comfort Zone took a year of planning, dedicated thinking and innovative interior design to create a comfortable space for nursing mothers in the center of the WNMU campus. The upstairs room offers a secluded, relaxing environment for mothers to nurse their babies and keep up with the demands of a busy class schedule. "These students would have a hand on the keyboard and a baby at their bosom as they tried to complete research for classes. We knew we had to help them," said Ortega.

Expectant mother Erika Zavala attended the dedication of the Mother Comfort Zone. A WNMU junior, Zavala is excited about the prospect of having a place to nurse which is easily accessible on campus, "Now I know I have a place to go." The Mother Comfort Zone offers privacy doors, a comfortable rocking chair painted purple for Mustang Pride, access to a handicap bathroom, and a selection of breastfeeding resource materials. Ortega credited staff members Katherine Aguirre, Andrea Jaquez, Nellie Begay, with decorating the space on a small budget.

Gila Regional Medical Center's lactation consultant Mary Gruska, R.N. and IBLCL, feels the zone offers "a tangible support in our community for breastfeeding mothers." Gruska, and fellow lactation consultant Cammie Bacho, discussed with the library staff how to meet nursing mothers' needs in the limited space available.
New Mexico law protects the rights of mothers to nurse anywhere they can legally be. An additional law passed three years ago requires employers to provide a space and flexible break time for mothers to nurse or pump milk, but a gap in the law doesn't specifically address the rights of student mothers on state-owned school or university campuses. Gruska says steps are being taken to close that loophole in mothers' nursing rights, "The New Mexico House of Representatives passed a memorial to protect the rights of student mothers to breastfeed." This memorial includes universities and public school students on state properties.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends babies be breastfed for the first year of life, if not longer as new scientific findings suggest breast milk increases intelligence and neural-functioning, while lowering the chance of infection, decreases the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, and lowers obesity rates in adulthood for breastfed children.

Zavala, who plans to breastfeed her baby for the recommended first year to ensure her baby's future health, jokes that she will tell her child, "They owe me a year's worth of lunches!"

In New Mexico, 72 percent of mothers breastfeed their babies according to the Center for Diseases Control Breastfeeding Report Card for 2009, by comparison 88 percent of mothers in neighboring Arizona breastfeed. Gruska says, "In other countries the community comes together to support mothers. When a baby is hungry and crying people will go to the mother and say, 'Sister please sit down and feed your baby,' that is the environment the staff has created here." Also, the library has expanded their materials on breastfeeding including such titles as The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding from the La Leche League and Breastfeeding Rights in the United States, so mothers can be informed of their rights regarding breastfeeding. Fortunately, New Mexico has been a leader in protecting and extending the rights of breastfeeding mothers in public, workplaces and schools.
WNMU has gone one step further to support student mothers, WNMU has a breastfeeding support group meeting regularly according to the Director of Multi-cultural and Student Affairs, Maria Dominguez. "Mothers need a place to get together and support each other," Dominguez said. WNMU is also looking into installing changing tables throughout the campus to support the needs of their student parents.
To learn more about the Southwest Breastfeeding Council call Beverly Allen-Ananins at 388-1198 ext. 11. GRMC Lactation Consultants Bacho and Gruska are available free of charge to consult with nursing mothers on any issue or businesses on creating a lactation room at 538-4676.