It’s National Breastfeeding Month and GEA is happy to support moms who breastfeed with renovated lactation rooms to keep options flowing.
One employee continues breastfeeding after returning to work from maternity leave – something she couldn’t do with her first two children.
7-month old Ezra and mom, Ebony. His older brother makes an appearance, too!
As a working mom through the birth of three kids, Ebony Wilson knows the importance of lactation rooms. She took breaks during her workday to pump breastmilk for her son, Ezra. But pumping while at work wasn’t always an option for Ebony.
“My last place of employment made it impossible to continue breastfeeding,” says Ebony, production operator at Appliance Park. Because her former employer didn’t offer lactation rooms to employees, she says that forced her to switch her first two children to formula when she returned to work. It’s a simple case of supply and demand. To keep a supply of breastmilk, a breastfeeding mom must pump every few hours.*
For the first time with her third child, Ebony continued to breastfeed since returning from maternity leave because she can pump at work. “It makes me feel good that I can still have this bond with Ezra,” she says. GEA provides two 45-minute break to pump in addition to an employee’s standard break.
Upgrades to Lactation Rooms Make Moms More Comfortable
Even better, recent renovations to the lactation rooms at Appliance Park give moms like Ebony an improved experience. Because Ebony’s job moves her from building to building (each building has a minimum of two lactation rooms), she’s tried out all the rooms – pre- and post-renovation.
Before the renovations, she says it felt a little like sitting in a closet to pump. Now, she says the rooms are clean and calming. “They make it comfortable for you, so that means a lot — to see where it was then and what it is now.”
The rooms are now furnished with a full-length mirror, welcoming wall art and decor, new paint and a comfortable chair. The upgrade also included supplying items necessary for the task at hand: a microwave for sterilization of pump supplies, a small refrigerator for secure and safe storage of breast milk, badge access control, and a private scheduling mechanism. The rooms are cleaned regularly and spot checked daily. All 11 room renovations throughout the Park are set to be completed by the end of the year.
Using the rooms daily, Ebony knows the value of a clean, quiet place to pump. Coming from a job where she didn’t have a room to take care of this new mom task, she says it means a lot knowing GEA cares to not only provide the space that benefits her and her son, but also invest in making it feel a little more like home.
To find the lactation room nearest you and gain access, click here.
*https://www.healthline.com/health/pregnancy/how-often-should-i-pump