A Call to Action for Lactation Support at Colleges of Pharmacy

Empowering Students Who Are Breastfeeding a Child While Enrolled in Pharmacy School

“…10 Additional amenities that should be strongly considered include a computer workstation to allow for studying and/or remote learning, a hospital grade pump, comfortable seating and temperature, lighting which can be dimmed, a sink for cleaning and disinfecting supplies, and a clean, designated refrigerator or freezer for storage of breast milk. 9 Consideration should also be given to creating dedicated lactation spaces and ensuring enough space is available should multiple students need to pump simultaneously. Ideally, lactation spaces should be positioned near lecture halls to allow for convenient access during class sessions, and signage should be utilized for easy identification.…”

“…In our recent commentary, A Call to Action for Lactation Support at Colleges of Pharmacy, we highlighted the benefits of providing lactation support to faculty members, with strategies for implementation of much-needed services. 9 While some of these measures will benefit students, their lactation support needs and the challenges they face in voicing and securing these needs are unique. In this article, we examine the challenges breastfeeding students face, highlight the importance of breastfeeding and lactation support for students, and provide actionable steps to assist institutions in not only supporting breastfeeding students, but empowering them.…”

“…15 To maximize resources and gain financial support, colleges can establish internal and external partnerships. 9 External collaborators may include local Le Leche Leagues and hospitals, while internal partners could include Student Affairs, Human Resources, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion offices. 9 Example policies and resources are listed in Table 1.…”