Maternal & Child Health

Lactation Support:

Lactation Support Services at Wells County District Health Unit provide compassionate, evidence-based guidance to help families meet their infant feeding goals. Whether you’re breastfeeding, pumping, or supplementing, our trained staff offers personalized support through in-person visits, phone consultations, and community partnerships.

Our nursing staff work to empower parents and connect them with service providers to further provide them with the knowledge and confidence they need to nourish their babies and thrive in their feeding journey.

Available Services:

Prenatal breastfeeding education
Weighed feeds
Latch and positioning checks
Breast pump and milk storage support
Breast pumps available for qualifying, underinsured families
Helping establish and maintain milk supply
Bottle feeding assistance
Emotional support and encouragement throughout the feeding journey
Referrals to advanced lactation support

All lactation support services at WCDHU are available free of cost. Appointments are available at our main office in Harvey. Lactation support staff may travel to satellite office locations, as needed. To schedule an appointment, call 701.324.5259.

Local Specialists:

Click below for a full listing of all lactation support services and specialists available in our region:

Jamestown Area Breastfeeding Resource Guide

Breastfeeding Laws

Federal Law:
Federal law supports breastfeeding employees by requiring most employers to provide time and space to express breast milk during the workday. Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), as amended by the PUMP Act (Providing Urgent Maternal Protections for Nursing Mothers Act), employers must:

Provide reasonable break time for an employee to express breast milk for one year after their child’s birth, each time they need it during the workday.
Offer a private, non-bathroom space that is shielded from view and free from intrusion, where an employee can comfortably pump.

These requirements apply to nearly all employers, though small businesses with fewer than 50 employees may request an exemption if compliance would cause undue hardship.

Creating a supportive, breastfeeding-friendly workplace not only helps meet legal requirements - it promotes employee well-being, satisfaction, and retention.

For more information on the PUMP Act and the rights of a person who is lactating in the workplace, visit the following links:

Lactation Friendly Workplace

While not mandated by state law, North Dakota promotes the Infant Friendly Workplace designation program which promotes policy changes that support lactation in the workplace for mothers returning to work after having a baby. Employers can voluntarily adopt policies that:

Provide a private, non-bathroom space for expressing breast milk.
Allow flexible break times for milk expression.
Ensure access to a nearby sink and refrigerator for milk storage.
Participating in this initiative can enhance employee satisfaction and retention.

Employer Benefits:

Reduced Sick Leave
Breastfed infants have lower risk for common illnesses such as colds and ear infections, reducing sick leave for new birthing parents.

Lower Healthcare Insurance Costs
Healthier infants require fewer medical appointments and prescriptions, leading to lower employer costs.

Higher Employee Productivity
A supportive environment for breastfeeding birthing parents has been shown to increase both morale and productivity.

Retention of Experienced Employees
Studies show that businesses with breastfeeding support programs have higher retention rates for new birthing parents.