PBSC debuts new lactation room at Lake Worth campus
Palm Beach State College has opened a new lactation room at its Lake Worth campus to support breastfeeding mothers.
Currently, employees use a private office or space to express milk when nursing. A dedicated room on campus gives employees another option. The facility, which was announced during National Breastfeeding Month, is a welcomed and essential amenity for new moms.
“It means so much that our Human Resources department understood the need for a lactation room and acted,” said Vayola Delva, outreach program specialist. “It is refreshing to know that PBSC moms now have a dedicated, private space for breastfeeding, and one less worry in returning to work.”
PBSC’s Grow Talent Strategy Team, a committee established to provide input on enhancing the work environment, turned to employees who nursed while on campus to determine essential items needed for the room. The lactation room features comfortable seating, shelving, hooks for personal items, a full-length mirror, extra lighting, a cleanup station, a water fountain, and serene pictures.
“The decision to establish a lactation room communicates the college’s commitment to caring for employees holistically, particularly for women. It says, ‘what matters to you matters to us,’” said Debra-Anne Singleton, learning and professional development manager. “Although not every employee will need to use the space, we should all feel good about working in a community where the well-being of employees is a priority.”
According to the Office on Women’s Health, a subdivision of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, breastfeeding is a biological need. If moms do not have the time and space to pump throughout the day, their bodies may stop producing milk, or they can experience pain and infection. A dedicated room ensures a relaxed and secure environment for a productive breast milk flow.
The lactation room opened on Tuesday, Sept. 6 in the Administration Building (Room 112), and may be booked by employees through an online reservation portal. Planning is underway to add a lactation room at the Belle Glade, Boca Raton, Loxahatchee Groves and Palm Beach Gardens campuses.
