Lactation Rooms and Stations

A dedicated lactation room can help increase rates of breastfeeding, contributing to improved health outcomes for mothers and their children.

Key Terms

• A Lactation Room is a private and dedicated space, other than a bathroom, which includes a table, seating, sink, refrigerator, and an electrical outlet, and that can be used by regular occupants to express breast milk.
• A Lactation Station is a private and fully enclosed area or pod, other than a bathroom, which includes seating, a table, and an electrical outlet, and that can be used by regular occupants to express breast milk.

Strategy Insights

• Lactation rooms and/or stations must be provided as an enclosed room(s). Curtain, partitions, or other non-structural dividers may not be used in lieu of designating a private room(s). Lactation stations within a designated lactation room may be separated by curtains and partitions, however.
• Lactation rooms must be a dedicated space used solely for lactation. They may not share functions or be used for any other purpose. 
• The required ratios enumerating the number of lactation rooms and/or stations is set based on research. Projects may not deviate from the ratios as stated based on the current and/or presumed number of female regular occupants.
• While lactation rooms are only required to be available for regular occupants, if they are in a space and accessible for use by other occupants, the number provided must meet demand based on the total number of occupants with access.

Documentation Guidance

• Include annotated photographs that show clearly the context and show where and on which floor the lactation room(s)  is located within the project.