CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Lactation Network (TLN), provider of insurance-covered lactation care through the nation’s largest network of International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs), is thrilled to announce its “Room At The Table” initiative. The program aims to foster breastfeeding friendly environments in restaurants across the country, ensuring safe spaces for breastfeeding parents. TLN is collaborating with The Abundance Setting, a non-profit founded by James Beard Award-winning and Michelin-starred Chefs Beverly Kim and Johnny Clark to support the advancement of women and working mothers in the culinary and hospitality industries.
“Restaurants are crucial spaces for our culture and connection; this can be especially true for postpartum parents who often feel excluded with their infants,” said TLN CMO Ashley Farrow. “During this tenuous time, when most mothers report feeling lonely and one in five suffers from perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, it’s essential that parents feel comfortable nursing in public spaces. What’s more, breastfeeding parents have a right in all 50 states to feed their children in public without being asked to leave, cover up, or use a restroom. Still, too many postpartum families avoid restaurants out of fear, compounding the isolation they’re already experiencing. Together, we can do something about it, and that's why we are thrilled to launch this program.”
TLN’s “Room at The Table” initiative will equip restaurateurs with resources to educate themselves and their staff on the specific needs of breastfeeding parents. All participating restaurants will receive webinar training and education on breastfeeding. This training will also extend to supporting their own restaurant employees, ensuring they can also navigate the challenges of pregnancy and postpartum in the workspace. Participating restaurants will signify their commitment by displaying the program’s “breastfeeding friendly” sticker on their door or window, letting families know they are welcome.
Chef Kim’s restaurants, Anelya and Parachute HiFi, have already completed the program with Kim serving as an ambassador. Other restaurants including Stephanie Izard’s Girl and the Goat, One Off Hospitality and more have also designated their establishments as breastfeeding-friendly spaces, undergoing the same training from TLN and their IBCLCs. For restaurants interested in the training, visit tln.care/roomatthetable.
“As a mom of two, my breastfeeding journeys were both often challenging, and also very rewarding,” said Abby Elliott, Actress from The Bear, Mom of Two, and TLN partner. “When I was postpartum, I needed to get out of the house a lot for my sanity and eating is our family’s love language! I found it extremely difficult to be fully comfortable or safe to feed my baby in public. I remember wrapping a blanket around us to hide with the fear that I may offend someone. The eye rolls, the staring, rude comments— they all contribute to an unpleasant, negative, and depressing experience. It makes all the difference when you can feed in peace knowing that you’re supported. The Lactation Network’s Room at the Table Initiative allows breastfeeding parents the ease and comfort of feeding in public without any shame or inconvenience. I am so thrilled that this exists and want to shout about it from the rooftops!”
To learn more about TLN, its unwavering support of lactation care and breastfeeding parents, and to inquire about its services, visit https://lactationnetwork.com/ .
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About The Lactation Network
The Lactation Network (TLN) connects families nationwide with insurance-covered lactation consultations through the largest network of IBCLCs, providing accessible and inclusive gold-standard lactation care. TLN’s mission is to make lactation support accessible and inclusive, breaking down barriers to access and changing stigmas around this crucial care. The mission-driven organization is building healthcare systems designed to support ALL parents during their 4th trimester, so they can thrive. For more information and to access resources, please visit lactationnetwork.com or follow along on Instagram, LinkedIn and Facebook.
