New Year, Same Mission: Why Breastfeeding Advocacy Matters More Than Ever in 2025

January is a time of change, new resolutions, and new political administrations. Generally, I like change for the opportunities, inventions, and fresh starts it opens us to. But this year at Mamava , we are resolute in our commitment to not change—we remain focussed on the same mission that has driven us for more than 10 years, driven by the belief that breast milk is a superfood, best for both infant and maternal health outcomes, and that breastfeeding should be a right not a privilege. We are lactivists working hard every day to remove all barriers to breastfeeding and increase lactation infrastructure at work and in the world

This year, we resolve to continue being a voice for breastfeeding families in public spaces, workplaces, and in the halls of government. We will keep expanding access to and awareness of lactation spaces, celebrating breastfeeding experts on The Bodacious Optimist podcast, and fighting for the rights of breastfeeding families. We won’t waver from our dedication to supporting new parents, building more partnerships that improve breastfeeding resources, and cheering on other lactivists.

In 2025, we plan to continue removing barriers through legislative, workplace, and public initiatives including:

Advancing Awareness of Federal Lactation Protections

We are two years into the implementation of the PUMP Act, a federal requirement for lactation break time and space for nearly all working Americans. Has the 2022 legislation resulted in real change for breastfeeding workers?

If you spend any time speaking with breastfeeding parents, chances are you’ll find many who still struggle to find the time and space to pump at work, slow to no enforcement, and even some employers who are challenging the law. According to our 2024 survey, 43% of parents remain unaware or unclear about the PUMP Act and its legal requirements for workplace lactation support, and one in three parents lack reliable access to a dedicated lactation space at work.?

Other issues under 2025 for federal review include an amendment to the Bottles and Breastfeeding Equipment Screening (BABES) Act to require hygienic handling of breast milk by Transportation Security Administration and private security companies during travel or other security screenings.

With this new administration and Congress, there is a shrinking female representation in Washington. The number of women serving in the Senate and House declined for the first time since 2011—with women lawmakers making up just 28% of the 119th Congress. One notable exception is Representative Brittany Pettersen (D, CO) who is about to give birth to her second child. Rep. Pettersen has introduced the Proxy Voting for New Parents Resolution which would change House rules to allow new parents in Congress to designate a colleague to cast votes on their behalf. Rep. Pettersen’s resolution is a powerful example of the importance of making care responsibilities visible.

Only time will tell what these new dynamics in Congress will mean for other legislation that impacts women—we have worked with many male lactivists at Mamava.? We will continue to keep women’s issues, especially those impacting how we work, travel and live, central to the political discourse.

Improving Office Life for Working Moms

The Federal Government and many of the largest employers in the United States are requiring employees to return to the office. Amazon, Walmart, JP Morgan, Bank of America, AT&T, and more are jumping on the return-to-office bandwagon. (And, of course, essential workers from warehouse workers and teachers to medical workers have always had to report to a workplace.) With this RTO movement, it’s more important than ever that workplaces provide the lactation accommodations and support breastfeeding employees need.?

Thanks to the PUMP Act, employers are required to provide dedicated time and space for breastfeeding employees to pump at work. This is not on their lunch break in the bathroom. Employers need to get ahead of this to create a welcoming (and legally compliant) work environment.

While employees should speak up to office and HR managers if accommodations are not provided and have recourse to file a lawsuit, Mamava is more committed than ever to educating employers on federal requirements and options for providing clean and private lactation spaces. Beyond this, all HR leaders should incorporate opportunities to educate employees on breastfeeding rights and promote a culture of awareness and respect.?

Expanding Public Access to Lactation Spaces

All 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the Virgin Islands have passed legislation that explicitly allows women to breastfeed in public. Culture is slowly catching up.

Over the last 10+ years, Mamava has placed more than 5,000 lactation pods for free use in airports, convention centers, private businesses, government offices, libraries, museums, sports stadiums, and other public locations. The idea has always been both to provide a space and to start a conversation about the fact that breastfeeding parents go everywhere—again, you can’t be what you can’t see. As awareness of, and advocacy for, breastfeeding has grown, we applaud the many businesses and public spaces that are creating their own dedicated lactation spaces. Because more spaces means more support!

If you are a new parent, the Mamava App is a free way to find more than 10,000 lactation spaces around the country (including our public pods). Which means you can navigate the complexities of travel and have confidence that you won’t have to resort to a dirty bathroom or stairwell to pump or nurse your baby.

Elevating the Health and Societal Benefits of Breastfeeding

The health benefits of breastfeeding are well-documented for both babies and mothers. Babies who receive breast milk have a reduced risk of asthma, Type 1 diabetes, and SIDs. Mothers who breastfeed have a reduced risk of Type 2 diabetes, ovarian cancer, and breast cancer. Improved health outcomes for babies and mothers is clearly a win for public health. And employers who provide lactation accommodations benefit from higher retention rates, which translate to higher savings and better bottom lines. (According to data from the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), the average cost per hire is nearly $4,700. But many employers estimate the total cost to hire a new employee can be three to four times the position's salary.)?

Breastfeeding is a win for families, workplaces, and society—and as a nation we need to prioritize providing the systemic support individual breastfeeding parents need to continue making milk. So here’s to a new year where Mamava will continue to advocate and celebrate what has sustained humans since the beginning of time.??