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SC Law, Federal Law, and Greenwood Support
It’s easy to show your support for breastfeeding. If you would like for your business to be recognized as a Breastfeeding Friendly establishment, please contact us or visit http://scbreastfeedingcoalition.org/employers/ . Supporting breastfeeding in the workplace is a great way to help women balance work with baby’s nutrition. Supporting breastfeeding in your public establishment can help grow your business. It is so easy to be breastfeeding friendly. Self Regional Medical Center has a breastfeeding lounge for visitors and employees to use. Read here about how one store in the upstate made Mother’s Lounges for their customers.
South Carolina Support
South Carolina passed a law S.C. Code Ann. 20-7-97-116 (2005) that says
- Women can breastfeed in any public or private location.
- Breastfeeding is exempt from public indecency laws
Federal Law protects a woman’s right to breastfeed in public and in the workplace. The Federal Fair Labor Standards Act, SEC. 4207. REASONABLE BREAK TIME FOR NURSING MOTHERS.
Section 7 of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938
(29 U.S.C. 207) is amended by adding at the end the following:
- An employer shall provide—
- a reasonable break time for an employee to express breast milk for her nursing child for 1 year after the child’s birth each time such employee has need to express the milk; and
- a place, other than a bathroom, that is shielded from view and free from intrusion from coworkers and the public, which may be used by an employee to express breast milk.
- An employer shall not be required to compensate an employee receiving reasonable break time under paragraph (1) for any work time spent for such purpose.
- An employer that employs less than 50 employees shall not be subject to the requirements of this subsection, if such requirements would impose an undue hardship by causing the employer significant difficulty or expense when considered in relation to the size, financial resources, nature, or structure of the employer’s business.
- Nothing in this subsection shall preempt a State law that provides greater protections to employees than the protections provided for under this subsection.
If you are interested in receiving a card for your wallet that describes these laws, please click here.
Greenwood Support
The Women’s Center at Self Regional Medical Center offers comprehensive support for breastfeeding. They offer free breastfeeding classes,have expert nurses on staff for when you deliver, and they have a certified lactation consultant to assist you at any time before, or after you have your baby. The unit has a breastfeeding lounge for staff to use. Click here for a schedule of free breastfeeding classes. To reach Brandi, the certified Lactation Consultant:
Brandi Thomas RN, IBCLC, RLC, CLC
Lactation Consultant
Self Regional Healthcare
Women’s Center
864-725-5015
South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control ’s Region 1 County Health Departments have support services for breastfeeding women under the WIC program. WIC is a nutrition program for women, infants, and children. Since breast milk is the best for your infant, WIC supports breastfeeding in four ways:
- A breastfeeding class is held for every prenatal woman to encourage breastfeeding,
- An individual breastfeeding class is available for prenatal women to help prepare for breastfeeding. This class is offered approximately one month before scheduled delivery date and is an office visit or home visit,
- A hospital grade electric pump loan program is provided for mothers of premature infants who are in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit or if a mother is hospitalized for some reason, and
- Home visits are offered for supporting latching on problems and concerns if infant is getting enough milk (weighing infant and doing an intake evaluation).
Women with breastfeeding questions may call:
Shenita Brewster, MPH, CHES / Breastfeeding Coordinator
Contact person for Abbeville, Edgefield, Greenwood, Laurens, McCormick, and Saluda
Office Phone 864 227 5972
Kim Paschal / Breastfeeding Coordinator
Contact person for Anderson, and Oconee County Health Departments
Office Phone 864 260 5565
Toll free Office phone 1 866 637 6832
Toll free Pager 1 800 614 0713
Special thanks to Lander University, Sigma Theta Tau International, Honor Society of Nursing, and Johnson & Johnson Pediatric Institute for their support during the development of this website. 
