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NEW! Physician Lactation Guidance Announcement

Mass General Brigham is pleased to announce a systemwide Lactation Policy, approved in June, and related Physician Lactation Guidance. This new policy accomplishes three things: 

  • Combines existing lactation policies together into one systemwide policy.
  • Provides both private space and paid break time for all Mass General Brigham employees to express milk, going beyond what is required by state and federal laws.  
  • Gives guidance for how this policy can be fairly applied for physicians and other clinicians paid via productivity-based models.

 

*Currently serving BWH, BWFH, MEE, MGH, and SRH*

Thank you for visiting the Faculty Parental Wellness Program (PWP) webpage. Although this page is currently housed on the MGH website, we support all faculty from Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital, Mass Eye and Ear, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital. We will be moving to a new website soon - stay tuned!

Please see below for information on our Parental Wellness Core Program for new parents and links to helpful resources for all parents and families.

Parental Wellness Core Program for New Parents
Our mission is to support faculty at BWH, BWFH, MEE, MGH, and SRH who are navigating parenthood through initiatives that promote well-being, build community, support a healthy work-life balance, and foster both personal wellness and professional productivity. If you are an expectant or new parent, please see the program below. All parents are welcome to sign up for our low-volume mailing list.


The Faculty Parental Wellness Program is designed to improve the personal well-being and professional productivity of expectant and new parents who are faculty. We welcome all family types and support participants from early in the expectant phase through the first year of your child’s life.

You can sign up for the program if you meet the following criteria:

  1. Faculty at BWH/BWFH, MEE, MGH, and SRH
  2. Expectant parents or parents with a child < 6 months

We welcome faculty of all genders and gender identities. You do not have to be a first-time parent - we welcome all!

BENEFITS:

  • Parental Wellness Advocate (PWA) pairings: This is the opportunity to be connected to an experienced parent who provides guidance and practical strategies on navigating parental leave and the transition back to work
  • Website with centralized lactation, parental leave, and parenting resources
  • Access to emergency lactation supply programs
  • Lactation and feeding stipends (pending eligibility)


Please note: The Parental Wellness Program currently supports faculty at BWH/BWFH, MEE, MGH, and SRH. Please contact us at parentalwellness@mgb.org with any inquiries about eligibility.


If you are eligible and would like to participate in the program as an expectant or new parent (child <6 months of age), please indicate your interest by completing this form. We encourage you to join early in your pregnancy to take full advantage of the program!

If you are an experienced faculty parent and interested in joining our Parental Wellness Advocate (PWA) roster, please indicate your interest by completing this form. We reimburse $100/hr recognizing that your time is valuable and will email you in advance of any formalized match.

Laura Dichtel, MD (Director)

Jo Li, MD (Assistant Director)

Lauren Olson (Program Manager)



on behalf of the Faculty Parental Wellness Program
Contact Us!
Please email parentalwellness@mgb.org with any questions/suggestions.

 

Resources for All Faculty Parents

Do you have a helpful resource to share that would be great on our webpage? Let us know here!

Preparing for Leave

MGB Parental Leave
Steps to take: 

  1. Employee should go to leave portal, which has step by step process listed
  2. Request leave through Peoplesoft 60 days before going out
    1. If you would like more info before 60 days ahead of time, you should attend a leave webinar, look through the leave portal, or check out knowledge articles on AskmyHR
  3. You will then be assigned a subject matter expert with more contact info

Resources


Other

Returning to Work
Lactation Resources

Lactation Room Locations
  • BWH/BWFH & MGH
  • Mass Eye and Ear
    • Mamava, Inc. Lactation pod in the 7th Floor Family Waiting Room. Please contact Nancy Cottone, Director of Planning with any questions
  • Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospitals
    • Brighton: Lactation room is located on the 3rd floor of the facility (room #3018). Please see one of the administrative assistants on the 3rd floor to reserve the room. Staff need to bring their own pump and supplies.
    • Cambridge & Charlestown

Pump Tutorials
Have a new pump to suggest for a tutorial? Email us at parentalwellness@mgb.org.
Mental Health Support
Parenting

Recommended Media about Parenting


Support groups for parents at MGH

Peer Mentoring for Parents: The CFD's Peer Mentoring for Parents Program was created to offer parents the opportunity to increase personal well-being and professional productivity by empowering learning and problem-solving in a space of trust and both practical and emotional support. Meetings are organized and facilitated by the MGH CFD in conjunction with the Faculty Parental Wellness Program for these parental groups:

  • Parents of middle and high school age children
  • Parents of elementary school age children
  • Parents of children from newborns through preschoolers who identify as non-birth parents (traditionally fathers)*
  • Parents of children from newborns through preschoolers who identify as birth parents (traditionally mothers)*

*We encourage individuals of all gender identities and methods of family building in our program! For our early parent groups, we encourage you to pick the group that you feel might be the best fit, and please email us at parentalwellness@mgb.org if you have any questions about potential discussion themes or suggestions regarding inclusive language.

Please sign up here if you are MGB faculty and a parent in one of these categories interested in joining a peer mentoring cohort.

 

Monthly Online Discussion & Support Group for Moms: Monthly Zoom meetings that allow mothers to share and learn with their colleagues, no matter the age of their children. During each session, experts share information, leaving plenty of time for questions and discussion. Mothers are welcome to join and leave the session as their schedule allows. If you’re interested in joining a session, or receiving more information about the Mothers’ Group, please email Joan Sapir: jsapir@partners.org. 

Local parenting groups

GardenParents | Tinyhood - an online forum for parents that started out of the South End and now includes all of Boston and neighboring towns/cities.

South Boston Moms Club - a growing 400-member strong, non-profit organization passionate about supporting Southie and Seaport families and encouraging a strong sense of community. Only for parents with a South Boston/Seaport zipcode.

 

Childcare

The Nanny Network: an email distribution list where MGB-affiliated faculty and trainees can recommend and view available nannies in the area and submit posts seeking childcare recommendations.

Support through the Employee Assistance Program:

  • For employees and/or family members wanting to explore childcare options with an EAP Consultant, please call us at 866-724-4327 for an appointment.
  • If interested in a childcare search only, please fill out the Child Care Search Request Form. Note: childcare searches will take 2-5 business days. If the situation is urgent, please call EAP.


Childcare through Bright Horizons (MGB Benefit)

MGB employees can access center-based or in-home childcare managed by Bright Horizons. Go to this link and click “Join Today” at the top of the page. You will be prompted to create an account that will link to your MGB information and benefits.

MGB employees have access to the following (and more):

  • Family Concierge Service: Free personalized and unlimited support to navigate your Bright Horizons childcare benefits.
  • Center-Based Backup Care (well child): You can reserve care at the MGH Backup Center, BWH Backup Center or another more convenient participating Bright Horizons location.
  • In-Home Backup Care (well or mildly ill child): You can request an in-home care provider as well. We have been told that care for a mildly ill child at home is harder to fill.
  • 24/7 Bright Horizons Support for urgent needs.
  • Webinars to learn more about your benefits and navigating parenthood (click here for the 2024 schedule).
Family-related Benefits
Grants & Awards that Support Parents


For MGH Faculty only


NIH-Related

 

Parenting Webinars & Recordings

Upcoming Webinars

What Parents Should Know about Gender Diversity in Kids and Teens
Friday, December 13 from 12-1pm, Virtual on Zoom
Sponsored by the CFD Office for Women's Careers

Taking a COACH Approach to Parenting
Wednesday, February 26 from 12-1pm, Virtual on Zoom
Sponsored by the CFD Office for Women's Careers


Bright Horizons webinars to learn more about your benefits and navigating parenthood (click here for the 2024 schedule).


Recordings

Parental Wellness Program Summer Series
Ask the Allergist - Food Allergy Q&A
Michael Pistiner, MD, MMSc, Director of Food Allergy Advocacy, Education, and Prevention at MGfC
View the recording

Ask the Pediatric Dermatologist - Skincare Question and Answer from infants to teens!
Elena Hawryluk, MD, PhD, Director of Pediatric Dermatology at MGH
*Session not recorded - see handout with resources

Ask the Adolescent Doctor: Periods, Puberty, and Problems with Nutrition
Julie Potter, MD, Physician at MGfC Adolescent Medicine
View the recording


Encouraging Independence in Kids

Dr. Elana Kagan explored questions about how parents can foster independence in their children and how to encourage them to take on certain responsibilities. Sponsored by the MGH Center for Faculty Development.

Managing (and Preventing) Anxiety & Depression in Our Children
Based on current research and over 30 years of clinical experience, Lynn Lyons talked about the common traps adults fall into and the key adjustments needed to prevent and help mental health challenges in our kids. Sponsored by the MGH Center for Faculty Development.

Looking Ahead to College Panel
Drs. Sue Slaugenhaupt, Bo Rueda, and Anne Levy shared their experiences with their children heading to college in the aim of creating a community of support and understanding, a safe space to discuss concerns, confusions, and questions. Sponsored by the MGH Center for Faculty Development.

The Crucial C's and Family Meetings
Professional Parent Educator Vicki Hoefle gave a 2-part talk where she introduced concepts and strategies for building and maintaining a cooperative, engaging, and respectful environment for both adults and children, especially when challenging behaviors arise. Sponsored by the MGH Center for Faculty Development.
Part 1 Recording
Part 2 Recording

The Phenomenon of College Student Isolation & Disengagement

The panelists, two of whom work in college settings, provided an inside view of the current atmosphere in colleges as well as a brief rundown of services to support college student well-being. They discussed how parents can best educate their children in developing resilience and celebrating humanness in its many manifestations. Sponsored by the MGH Center for Faculty Development.

Panelists:
Gwendolyn “Wendy” Adam, PhD, MSW, LICSW, Director of Integrative Wellbeing Services, Williams College
Peter Marcus, PsyD, Staff Psychologist, MGH Department of Psychiatry
Rev. Elyse Nelson Winger, University Chaplain, Tufts University


The Ins and Outs of Paternity Leave

This panel presented the logistics as well as the lived experience of taking paternity leave. This benefit has receives less attention than maternity leave, but it is also of crucial value and importance. Sponsored by the MGH Center for Faculty Development.

Panelists:
Daniel L. Hall, PhD, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, HMS
Mitchel B. Harris, MD, Professor of Orthopedic Surgery, HMS
Darshan H. Mehta, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor of Medicine and Psychiatry, HMS
Virginia C. Rosales, CEBS, Manager, Professional Staff Benefits at MGH/MGB

 

 

Parental Wellness Advocate (PWA) Resources

Emergency Lactation Supply Program

Did you forget something essential for your breast pump? Click here to see if your site has available backup pump parts.

Learn More

Request a PWP Consultation

Schedule a 1:1 consultation with Director Laura Dichtel for advice on parenting-related topics, including parental leave, lactation, and childcare.

Request a Consultation

Parental Wellness Facebook Group

This private Facebook group is a safe space for faculty and trainees who are parents to connect and exchange ideas and kid-related items.

Join the group

Peer Mentoring Groups for Parents

Join one of four informal, virtual discussion groups for parents of children at various stages.

Sign up here