New Options for Nursing Moms

By Colleen DeLory I October 10, 2005

At UCSD, new moms looking for a quiet, private place to express milk for their babies now have more options than ever. Two new lactation rooms - Price Center and Torrey Pines Center North - join the four previously established locations on campus (see sidebar for locations).

"The university has a legal obligation to provide appropriate space and a reasonable amount of time for a woman to express milk," said Emelyn dela Pena, director of the Women's Center and chair of the Steering Committee on UCSD Lactation Services and Facilities. "However, we wanted to look at issues beyond compliance to assist nursing mothers. By establishing designated lactation facilities at convenient locations around campus, we hope to make it easier for new moms to continue to express milk after returning to work."

Leanne Besachio, a student affairs officer, has appreciated the addition of the new lactation room at the Price Center, which is handy when she's in between meetings. "I do like the relaxing atmosphere of the lactation room," said Besachio. "I'm also thankful for the awareness it brings to the issue." A sentiment Caroline Nievergelt, a project scientist in the Polymorphism Research Laboratory, echoed when she saw the lactation room announcement.

UCSD Neurosciences graduate student Mary von dem Bussche with son Elias. von dem Bussche uses the lactation room at the Basic Science Building during breaks in lab.

Nievergelt spent almost a year expressing milk for her two babies in her office, which she shared with two other people. Coming from Switzerland, she was accustomed to breastfeeding as part of the culture, but she could see that in the U.S. many women might give up on it if too many obstacles are placed in their path.

"It would have been nice to know that other women were facing the same challenge I did," said Nievergelt. "Expressing milk is something you don't really hear about." Nievergelt returned to work two weeks after giving birth so she could work part time for a longer period.

Paramount in her decision to continue feeding her baby human milk were the health benefits to herself and the baby, including the high nutritional value of human milk and its added ability to protect against infections. Alia Partida, a student affairs coordinator, also did the math to show that her investment in a good breast pump was well worth it. On the low end, powder-based formula can cost up to $1,000 per year while ready-to-feed formula can cost up to several thousand dollars per year. In addition, women who only use the designated lactation facilities to pump incur even fewer expenses. The lactation rooms come equipped with hospital-grade breast pumps so women can simply purchase a pump kit for under $40 and not have to worry about the expense or movement of the pump itself.

Graduate student Kathryn Herbst-Damm is planning to use the Price Center room this quarter when she takes a class nearby. She's impressed with the university's efforts to promote the health of and bonding for families. It makes sense to her as "a less stressed out parent is much more likely to come up with brilliant ideas!"

"The lactation service pilot program is a work in progress," said dela Pena. "We're encouraging women who are using the rooms to sign in so we can track usage, and anyone can contact the committee with suggestions for additional locations. We also want to encourage people to speak to their supervisors about accommodation if there's no lactation room nearby - perhaps an empty office or meeting room could be fitted with a lock. By opening a dialogue, we're hoping to show new moms that there are more options than a restroom stall." To contact the Steering Committee on UCSD Lactation Services and Facilities, e-mail lactation@ucsd.edu