The Tulane Breastfeeding Support Program

Program History

The Tulane Breastfeeding Program began with Dr. Jeanette Magnus, former Chair of the Community Health Sciences Department and Director of the Mary Amelia Women's Health Education Center (MAC).  Several years ago, Dr. Magnus designated two rooms on the Tulane University Downtown Campus as pumping rooms for faculty, students and staff. Each room, one located in the Tidewater building and one in MAC, was equipped with a multi-user breastpump.

In an effort to increase Tulane's support for breastfeeding and the number of lactation rooms campus-wide, a group of interested faculty, students and staff was created to discuss the university's needs and to develop a plan. In the summer of 2008, MPH student Marci Brewer took on this initiative to increase breastfeeding support at Tulane. During that time, the Louisiana Women, Infants and Children's (WIC) Program was offering a grant opportunity to provide businesses who were establishing workplace breastfeeding programs with a chair, breastfeeding educational materials (i.e. posters and pamphlets), a multi-user breast pump and attachment kits.

The Tulane Provost's Office was contacted about the need for increased breastfeeding support at Tulane and the grant opportunity. After meeting with Deans in the Provost's Office, additional space for lactation rooms on campus were identified and the WIC grant was pursued for two specific sites.

Tulane University was the recipient of the WIC grant and was able to furnish two additional rooms on campus (in the Law school and Medical school) with chairs and multi-user breast pumps. Other rooms/spaces for breastfeeding mothers were identified throughout campus at the Reily Fitness Center and the Student Health Center uptown. A brochure detailing all the locations was created and distributed across campus. Current efforts include raising awareness of the program.

In June 2010, a Coordinator was hired that oversees the Tulane Breastfeeding Support Program, but students still carry out the daily operations of breastfeeding advocacy at Tulane.

Through collaboration with and support from the Tulane Women's Association and the Elmwood Building Manager, November 2010 marked the addition of a lactation room on the Elmwood Campus. Available for staff and students the room is located on the second floor of the School of Continuing Studies. It is equipped with a chair and a table filled with breastfeeding literature and a nearby kitchen. This room is not currently in service.