Just outside the children’s section of the Lebanon Public Library, there’s a locked room with a sink, a mini fridge and a bin of toys — a thoughtful space for mothers to pump breast milk or nurse in private.
Indiana and federal laws offer some protections for lactating parents, particularly at work: Most moms are guaranteed the right to take breaks to pump during work and you must have access to a private place to pump. Women in Indiana have a right to breastfeed a baby “anywhere the woman has a right to be.”
But finding a comfortable, private place to pump or nurse can be a challenge when you are out in public. A good pumping spot typically has privacy, a lock on the door and access to an outlet. A great one has more amenities, like the one at the Lebanon Public Library.
“We all deserve to have a safe, comfortable, clean, locked door space when we need it,” said Lindsay McGuire of The Milk Bank, an Indiana nonprofit that provides access to donor milk.
FPI News crowdsourced from our staff and spoke to McGuire for ideas to make it easy to pump in unfamiliar locations.
💻 Research — and reach out — in advance
Many large venues have dedicated pumping spaces. If you are going to a zoo, sporting event or theater, there will likely be a place for you to pump, McGuire said. Large conference centers also often have spaces.
Start by checking the venue’s website. Search for terms such as mother’s room, lactation space and nursing room. If details are not listed, call or email in advance. And if you are on site, always ask. Sometimes spaces are unmarked or hidden out of sight.
🏛️ Check the local library
If you find yourself on the hunt for a private spot in an unfamiliar town, libraries are a great first stop. Ask a librarian if there’s a lactation room in the building and if you need someone to unlock it for you.
Some libraries, like the Downtown Monroe County Public Library and several of the Indianapolis branches, mention private nursing, pumping or comfort spaces on their websites. But others may have a pumping spot that you won’t find on a quick Google search.
Anderson Public Library, for example, has a Mamava pod in the children’s section.
📱 Search for a pumping “pod”
You might have seen a Mamava pod in an airport or hospital. The pods create a private space within a larger room, and they typically have seating and power outlets, and some are wheelchair accessible.
You can look for nearby Mamava pods on the company website or app. Read closely: the pods are used at warehouses and other workplaces, and some of those listed online are not open to the public.
🧳 Pack essentials
Make sure you have a plan for cooling your milk — from a cooler full of ice packs to a dedicated chiller. And if you don’t know where you will pump, consider bringing the tools you would need to feel comfortable pumping in an imperfect spot, like your car. That could mean bringing a battery-powered pump or a wearable one.
For McGuire, those essentials included a portable pump, a pumping bra and a knit poncho.
“I just kind of figured out — what did I always need to have accessible if I found myself in a situation where there was really nowhere to go?” said McGuire, a mom who breastfed her children.
🙋 Speak up
If you need pumping space and you can’t find it, ask for help. Even if a location doesn’t have a dedicated pumping room, they may give you access to a private office or other out-of-the-way spot.
Finally, McGuire said: “If you go somewhere and you have a bad experience or they don’t have accommodations or those accommodations do not meet expectations, don’t be afraid to say something to someone.”
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FPI News reporter Dylan Peers McCoy covers pressing issues throughout the state and how local communities are tackling those challenges. Reach her at 508-259-4809 or dylan.mccoy@fpinews.org.
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