A world designed for breastfeeding.

Thank you to my colleague and friend Megan Fulwiler for crafting this response to a recent NYT article “What It Really Takes to Breastfeed a Baby” The stories and images in the article are equally heartwarming and heartbreaking. Their stories are a true testament to the intention, effort, and logistics it takes to nourish an infant with breast milk. These images put in stark reality how our modern life in the United States has lacked design to support this most fundamental of human experiences, sustaining the life of a new baby. They're also a searing indictment on the lack of public policy this country has to support breastfeeding parents. Two bills in particular would have done a great deal to improve the situation— a federal paid family leave act and the PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act, which expands workplace protections for employees who need space and break time to express breast milk. And yet neither survived the 2022 Congressional session.?

The benefits of feeding breast milk for both maternal and infant health are well documented, and thus benefit society as a whole. While many new parents aren’t able to breastfeed or choose not to, for those who want to nurse their babies—according to the CDC’s 2022 Breastfeeding Report Card, 83% of babies start out receiving breast milk—the obstacles are legion. As the women in this story share, breastfeeding takes a lot of time. And when work is factored in, not only does pumping take time, it requires a private and well-designed space. The situation of Dr. Ma, who has her own office, is difficult. But the situation for Lauren, a public-school teacher who pumps in a closet, is dire. My heart and gratitude goes out to each of these four women who shared their individual stories of struggle, as their experiences reinforce how essential good policy and thoughtful design are to support breastfeeding parents and the new humans who rely on all of us.??

We have a responsibility as a society to not let these parents' vulnerable stories be shared in vain. Each of us should do what’s in our power to make these stories a thing of the past. It’s not too late to pass the PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act and provide lactation accommodation protections for all breastfeeding employees! Contact your senators here and urge action on this essential protection.? #workingparents #breastfeeding #workplacedesign