One Pump at a Time: A Wearable Lactation Pump Pilot for Graduate Medical Education Trainees

Despite the known benefits of lactation, lactating graduate medical education (GME) trainees encounter difficulties when returning to work. Wearable lactation pumps are known to be beneficial in lactating physicians, but the benefit for GME trainees in clinical care and education has not been explored. The objective of this study was to examine the benefits of wearable lactation pumps on education and clinical care for GME trainees. In 2022-2023, all lactating GME trainees at a large academic center were invited to participate in a wearable pump pilot. Participants completed six baseline surveys with questions on lactation practices and individuals' perceptions before receiving the pump, repeated the six surveys after receiving the pump, and completed a monthly survey for 6 months after receiving the pump. A linear mixed methods model was used to compare reported experiences before and after receiving the wearable pump. Twelve trainees participated in the pilot, with 10 completing pre- and post-surveys. When compared with experiences before receiving the wearable pump, there was a significant decrease in the perceived impact of lactation on clinical care (p = 0.03), medical education (p = 0.004), and missed pumping sessions (p = 0.02) after using the wearable pump. All participants who used the wearable pumps reported that it helped them to meet lactation goals. Wearable pumps are beneficial to trainees and may decrease the barriers to education and clinical care. GME sponsored pump programs may better support lactating trainees on their return to work.