Enabling Nursing Students to Achieve Their Breastfeeding Goals
Ana Maria Linares1, Doraine F Bailey2, Kristin Ashford3
1College of Nursing, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY.
Clinical Lactation (Amarillo, Tex.)
|November 4, 2021
Summary
Faculty and students collaborated to establish a lactation room and develop breastfeeding support guidelines for a nursing college, creating a more inclusive environment for student parents.
Area of Science:
- Higher Education Policy
- Public Health
- Women's Health
Background:
- US workplace laws mandate lactation support for employees, but exclude students in higher education.
- Students often lack dedicated spaces and policies for expressing breast milk on campus.
- This gap impacts student parents' ability to continue breastfeeding during their studies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the process of establishing a lactation room and guidelines at a university.
- To highlight the collaborative efforts between faculty and students.
- To advocate for breastfeeding-inclusive policies in higher education.
Main Methods:
- A survey was administered to nursing students (N=135) to assess needs.
- Data from student parents (n=41) informed the case for policy development.
- Collaboration with college leadership and faculty facilitated implementation.
Main Results:
- College-specific "Guidelines for Lactation Support" were developed and integrated into student handbooks.
- A dedicated lactation room was established within the College of Nursing.
- Student and faculty advocacy was key to achieving these outcomes.
Conclusions:
- Joint faculty-student initiatives are effective in creating breastfeeding-friendly higher education environments.
- Implementing lactation support enhances inclusivity for student parents.
- Policy development and dedicated spaces are crucial for supporting breastfeeding students.
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