Corporate Breastfeeding Services

Drs. Shaer and Macaluso help corporations support breastfeeding in the workplace. As breastfeeding has resulted in numerous psychological and physiological benefits to parents and children, there is also compelling evidence demonstrating the substantial benefits that may be gained by businesses that support breast feeding initiatives.. Studies have provided evidence that breast feeding reduces health care costs, absenteeism and turnover. The establishment of a company sponsored lactation support program can provide these mutually beneficial results while also providing the added benefit of overall employee satisfaction. We offer a comprehensive physician run breastfeeding support program as an enhancement to current wellness programs.

          We offer the following services to corporations:

Onsite/webinar conferences
This is an interactive class for pregnant women and their partners during the third trimester. The anatomy and physiology of lactation and the "how to" of getting off to the right start are reviewed. Parents are taught how to feel confident when their newborn is nursing and also stresses how to recognize when breast feeding is not going well. The same conference can be conducted onsite or via live webinar.

Back to work consultation
Prior to returning from maternity leave, the employee can have a phone consultation with a lactation consultant in order to develop an individualized plan for successfully returning to work while breastfeeding.

Phone/email conferencing
Some issues do not require an office visit, so we at Allied make phone consultations available to you. If the problem is determined to be more detailed, an office visit, home visit or video consultation can be scheduled.

Video conferencing
Video consultation is often helpful with breastfeeding problems. These sessions will be conducted through a webex style meeting.

***For those issues that cannot be handled adequately over the phone or through video conference, an "in person" visit will be suggested. There are two options:

1-Office visits:
Office visits are currently available in New Hyde Park and in Riverhead. Mother and baby will be scheduled for a consultation with either Dr. Shaer or Dr. Macaluso and a lactation consultant. These visits will be billed directly to the employee's insurance and either the employee or employer will be responsible for the office copays.

2-Home visits:
For employees who desire a home visit with a lactation consultant, we will send an international board certified lactation consultant to the home. A summary of this visit will be reviewed by the physician, and any problems that are noted during the visit will be followed up by the physician. To speak with a lactation consultant in regards to home visits, email lactationconsultant@alliedpeds.com

Case examples of lower health care costs at corporations with lactation programs:

Cigna reported an annual savings of $240,000 in health care expenses and $60,000 in reduced absenteeism rates¹

Mutual of Omaha reported an 83% retention rate of female employees compared to the national average of 59%²

A study of multiple companies with lactation support programs found an average retention rate of 94.2%³

Mutual of Omaha had a yearly savings of $115,881 in health care claims among families enrolled in the program. Per person costs were $1,246 more for employees who did not participate in the program²

¹ Dickson, V., Hawkes, C., Slusser, W., Lange, L., Cohen, R. Slusser, W. (2000). The positive impact of a corporate lactation program on breastfeeding initiation and duration rates: help for the working mother. Unpublished manuscript. Presented at the Annual Seminar for Physicians on Breastfeeding, Co-Sponsored by the American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and La Leche League International. Chicago, IL: July 21, 2000.

² Mutual of Omaha. (2001). Prenatal and lactation education reduces newborn health care costs. Omaha, NE: Mutual of Omaha.

³ Ortiz, J, McGilligan K, & Kelly P. (2004). Duration of breast milk expression among working mothers enrolled in an employer-sponsored lactation program. Pediatric Nursing, 30(2):111-119.6.