The Lactation Station Provides a Helping Hand during Motherhood

The lactation station is a private space where nursing mothers can pump breast milk for their babies privately. Doctors all around the world recommend new moms to breastfeed their little ones for at least a year if possible. However, when maternity leave ends for working mothers, they find it difficult to keep up with breastfeeding. The lactation station provides a secure place for these working moms to pump a mile while they are at work.

How does the lactation station work?

There are many states where the law says that employers must provide a safe and private space for new moms where they can pump breast milk, and this space shouldn’t be a bathroom. Besides that, the space should not face any intrusion by other employees or the general public.

Moreover, bathrooms are not acceptable as a lactation station because they are not hygienic enough for preparing or handling food. Furthermore, the law also strictly forbids employers from allocating a bathroom as the lactation station.

In addition to that, employers must ensure that they give reasonable breaks to breastfeeding mothers during their workday so they can easily travel to the lactation station and take the time needed to pump milk. Normally, a new mother returning to work with a newborn at home needs to express breast milk at least two to three times every eight hours. However, the amount of time required to pump milk and the frequency of pumping varies from mother to mother.

Requirements for the lactation station

The lactation station should be private, which means others cannot come inside or see in. Additionally, it should have a comfortable chair for the nursing mom to sit in and a table or a flat surface where the mother can place the breast pump. Privacy can be achieved with the help of a locking door and properly covered windows. Plus, a sign indicating that the lactation station is in use currently would be extremely helpful.

While the following are not a necessity or are not required by the law, employers might consider providing:

· Electrical outlets

· A breast pump

· A small refrigerator for storing breast milk

· A sink

· A microwave for sanitizing the parts of the breast pump

Benefits of the lactation station

Having a secure, private lactation station helps nursing moms have a relaxed pumping session and it also helps in completing the session faster. It gives them a safe place to carry out this important task while being on the job.

Other than that, supporting a nursing mother like this has a positive effect on both the mother’s and her baby’s health. Nursing mothers face lower rates of postpartum depression and have a reduced risk of cancer, diabetes, obesity, and asthma.

It is not only a matter of health but supporting lactating mothers also reduces employee turnover, boosts morale, and lowers absenteeism.