American Society for Cell Biology Meeting: Milk Lounge
Breast pumping. Does the word make you queasy? I’m a nursing mom and I feel a bit weird about it.
That’s a problem. Too many women are denied the opportunity to breast pump at work –and at conferences –when they are away from their baby. This is not some scary hairy-legged feminine beast- roar. Given the numerous benefits of breast milk, it’s a real public health issue.
I’m happy to report, though, that the folks at the American Society for Cell Biology have a clue!! I brought my baby to the poster session (she loved it--the colors!). So I was drawn to a room that said “Baby changing room.” It was serviceable as a changing room, although the bathroom was better since it had a sink. But what the room was really good for was breast pumping. It had electrical outlets and discreet curtains all set up. Some moms were in there, making milk for their babies.
I applaud the organizers for keeping moms in mind. I must admit though I wish they had made it clear that the room was also good for pumping. If the organizers were going to bother using a euphemism, something like “Milk Lounge” might be appropriate.
The American Academy of Pediatrics advises women to breast feed for one year—the World Health Organization advises two. Nursing women away from their babies need to express milk to keep up their milk supply and to avoid pain.
But not everyone has gotten the message. Even in work environments that should be enlightened, I’ve seen women relegated to bathroom stalls, for some reason, when perfectly good utility closets were available. Another friend had four days of breast milk confiscated at the airport when flying back from a conference. She watched in horror as the agent spilled her milk into a garbage can.
How many moms out there have had such a room at conferences they have gone to? Would you like to see them more often? Has anyone stopped nursing because traveling or working was too hard to do without good facilities for pumping?