Mother’s Room in HHS

It doesn’t take a significant amount of funding to create or improve a space for mother’s to pump or breastfeed.  With the support of the $250 Breastfeeding Mini Grant through the Wisconsin Breastfeeding Coalition (WBC), the lactation room within the Waukesha County Health and Human Services Center received tremendous improvements. The room originally included two chairs, a side table and a baby changing station. Through the grant the additional items purchased included a wall mounted mirror, nursing stool, and a shelf. A Bluetooth capable phone docking station with included speakers was mounted to the shelf. Mothers can use the lockable shelves to store their breastmilk in a personal cooler and to store their breast pumping supplies.

Through the grant implementation process we received additional items for the room provided by Waukesha County including a waste basket, recycling basket, wall mounted paper towel holder, hallway signage to identify the lactation room and a hand sanitizing station. Additional items were donated, including wall art, a lamp, a noise machine, and childrens toys.

The initiation, development, and implementation of the workplace lactation policy received abundant support from the organization’s leadership team. Facilities Services has been designated to maintain the cleanliness of the room. Users of the room are also instructed to sanitize the area after use.  With a written workplace lactation policy and procedure in place and positive support from leadership, we are confident this project will be sustained.

If you are interested in implementing something similar at your place of work, please reach out to the Coalition.

Before

After

Mamava Pod

Another alternative to providing a private space for mothers to breastfeed is the use of a Mamava Pod. The Mamava Pod pictured below was generously donated by Froedtert Health. Through the Waukesha County Breastfeeding Coalition’s (WCBFC) connection and collaboration with Public Health we were able to arrange to have the Mamava Pod placed on the Waukesha County campus in the Administration Building/Courthouse. The pod is located near the cafeteria and is available for public use and by staff.