Brooklyn Borough Hall to join Breastfeeding Empowerment Zone

April 16, 2015 Associated Press

AP photo by Nikolas Giakoumidis

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Brooklyn’s Brooklyn Borough Hall is joining the citywide Breastfeeding Empowerment Zone movement.

Borough President Eric Adams said Thursday that a comfortable and accessible lactation room will be designated for public use. The planned opening date is Mother’s Day.

There are about 200,000 children under the age of 5 living in Brooklyn. That figure is higher than the state average.

Experts say breastfeeding rates are lower in Brownsville, Bedford-Stuyvesant and other neighborhoods that are at or below the poverty line. Advocates are working to improve the rate — and babies’ health.

It’s all part of an initiative called Family Friendly Brooklyn. An earlier component included the distribution of cribs and play yards to needy families.