Mothers frustrated breast pumps are not tax deductible

Oct 27, 2010 5:59pm

(NECN: Anya Huneke) - Breast feeding has many strong proponents, and advocates say as health care reform is implemented, new mothers need more support. They are frustrated by the fact that breast feeding supplies are not tax deductible.

As a mother of two - soon to be three - children in Essex, Vermont, Amy Jacobs dedicates a lot of time to breast feeding. She says she wouldn't have it any other way.

She rattles off a list of benefits: reduced risk of cancer and obesity... increased immunity. She touts them often, as a leader for 'La Leche League.'  She says she is also frustrated there's not more support for women who want to breast feed.

One obstacle: money. Breast pumps - which enable women to pump their milk for later use - are not classified as medical expenses by the IRS. So while certain items, such as band-aids and acne cream - come with a tax break, breast feeding supplies do not.

Tags: vermont, IRS, Anya Huneke, breast pumps, tax sheltered

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