Lactation Room Design for Inclusive Workplaces
Breastfeeding employees have the legal right to break time and a private (non-bathroom) space to pump breast milk at work. But pumping at work can be uncomfortable, frustrating, and challenging when lactation rooms aren’t designed for the needs of breastfeeding parents. Here are four important considerations to creating thoughtful, user-centered workplace lactation rooms.
1) Provide lactation room essentials
Lactation is a physical and a physiological response, so it’s important that breastfeeding employees have a private, secure place they can plug in a breast pump, relax, and express milk. And, of course, breast milk is food, so the space also needs to be sanitary and easy to clean. To learn more about what lactation rooms need, click here.
Decorate a lactation room with furnishings that create a welcoming, relaxing environment for pumping. Avoid carpeting or absorbent fabrics and make sure surfaces are easy to clean. Additional amenities add value and demonstrate an organization’s understanding of breastfeeding employees’ needs. Click here to learn more about lactation room supplies.
The best-in-class lactation accommodations, also include the following:
A sink or nearby access to running water
Access to a refrigerator near (but not inside of) the lactation room so employees can collect their breast milk even if the room is occupied
HV/AC to ensure a comfortable interior atmosphere
Depending on the organization and venue, however, additional elements such as plumbing or a refrigerator may not be feasible or practical.
2) Consider the number of breastfeeding employees (and guests)
How many breastfeeding employees will use the lactation room? Will the room also be used by guests? The National Institute of Health (NIH) recommends at least six milk expression stations for every 1000 female employees. But consider the perennial problem when it comes to women’s bathrooms: There are never enough. Don’t let the lactation room replicate this problem. In workplaces, a limited number of lactation spaces—or lactation rooms that are far from where employees actually work—can lead to loss of time and productivity. The best lactation spaces are easily accessible by breastfeeding parents when and where they need them.
3) Assess organizational resources and space constraints
If you’re building a new lactation room, take a lactation-first approach by involving all stakeholders early on, understand traffic and use patterns, and identify site locations that are centrally located. Keep in mind, however, that new construction involves permits, plumbing, electrical, and—potentially—the loss of available square footage. In addition, construction can cause disruption, be time-consuming, and often exceed the allocated budget. If building out a new lactation room is not an option for your facility, consider freestanding lactation pods that can be easily moved as needs change.
4) Retrofitting a room? Think beyond the storage closet
All too often workplace lactation rooms are an afterthought, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t help breastfeeding employees feel comfortable and supported. If you’re thinking of repurposing existing spaces such as a storage closet, empty conference room, or a borrowed office, keep in mind that temporary solutions don’t communicate a clear message of lactation support. Forward-thinking organizations recognize that designing appropriate lactation rooms is a crucial amenity for a truly inclusive workplace.
Two other important things to consider if you’re turning an existing room into a lactation room: privacy and ease of access for breastfeeding employees. Adding a smart lock to an existing room is a simple way to guarantee privacy and streamline access management for both employees and facilities teams.
Not sure what kind of lactation solution is right for your organization? Talk with one of our experts about our auditing services.
Mamava designs solutions to empower breastfeeding and pumping parents on the go, like our freestanding lactation pods, Mamava’s lactation space locator app, and other helpful resources.
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