The Purpose of Lactation Station

Lactation stations provides a comfortable, secure, and private space for mothers to breastfeed or pump. They are also referred to as a nursing room where mums can feed their little ones.

Lactation Station

· Ideally, a lactation station must have hand washing facilities with important supplies like liquid soap, water, sanitizer, and paper towels. Besides that, the taps should be able to dispense water without the use of hands i.e. automatically.

· It is extremely important to have a cold storage system in a lactation station; it can either be a freezer or a fridge. It will help mothers preserve breast milk until it is fed to the child. To ensure the system remains hygienic, it must be at least 20 centimeters from the floor.

· Above all, a lactation station should have a comfortable chair. Rather than a sofa, an armchair with an individual seat is a better option. It has an adjustable height and great back support. The chair must be made from a material that can be easily disinfected or washed.

· Respected authorities should make all efforts to ensure breastfeeding activities are conducted in a safe and normal way. Although natural light is preferred, if it is not possible due to space constraints, then proper artificial lighting, ventilation, heating, and air-conditioning should be provided.

· Cleaning of the lactation room should be done using odorless and food-safe products made especially for breastfeeding rooms. Other than that, the furniture present in the breastfeeding room must have smooth surfaces and should be made from material that can be washed. Carpets and fabric curtains can be avoided as they attract dust.

Create a Task Force

If it is the first time you are creating a lactation station in your organization, it is best to take help from current and former breastfeeding mothers who can aid you in developing lactation room guidelines. You can also include lactation consultants, your staff from HR, and your facilities management.

Nursing mums usually carry a lot of stuff with them such as a breast pump, an insulated bag with a freezer to store breast milk if the fridge is not available, and a lot more. When creating the nursing room, make certain you provide the best equipment. New moms should feel supported in their choice to breastfeed their little ones.

Needs and Benefits of the Lactation Room at Workplace

A lactation station provides a private space for breastfeeding mums. Nursing mothers can take a break time to get to the lactation room whenever they want to breastfeed or pump milk. A typical breastfeeding session is 20 minutes every 3 to 4 hours. However, it can differ depending on the needs of each mum and baby.