Stanford
Cardinal at Work

Lactation Support

Did you know?

Under the Affordable Care Act, your Health Insurance covers 100% of the cost of a breast pump, the attachments as well as any appointments with a lactation consultant. Please call your Health Plan for more information.

Stanford seeks to provide an accommodating and supportive environment for employees and students who wish to carry out their breast/chestfeeding goals after returning to work or study.

Returning to work or study: essential lactation support tips

Here are a few tips to support your lactation journey upon your return to work or study.

  1. Review relevant lactation policies. Stanford's lactation program offers resources and support to help make your transition back to work easier (see Administrative Guide Memo 2.2.5: Requesting a Lactation Accommodation and Graduate Academic Policies & Procedures 5.9.1: Pregnancy, Childbirth, Adoption and Lactation: Policy).
  2. Plan your return day. Consider returning to work toward the end of the week (on Wednesday or Thursday). This will allow for fewer days away from your baby during your first week back and a more gradual transition for both you and your baby.
  3. Think about your lactation needs and make arrangements. Once you've identified a comfortable space, calendar your pumping sessions as part of your daily activities. Remember that a short pumping or breastfeeding session is better than no session at all. Your milk supply will decrease if you skip too many sessions.
  4. Build a back-up milk supply. While on leave, freeze and store the milk you pump to use once you return to work. Consider storing milk in small amounts (2-3 ounces) for unexpected situations or delays in regular feedings.
  5. Bring a reminder of your baby. Many nursing parents find that their milk production increases when they have a reminder of their baby during their pumping session. Consider bringing a photograph, an item that smells of your baby, such as a blanket, or a video of your baby making cooing sounds.
  6. Take care of yourself. No matter how you feed your child, being a working parent can be tiring. Get as much rest as you can, eat nutritious foods throughout the day, and drink plenty of water. Consider joining a nursing parents group to share experiences and get support. Be proud of any amount of breast/chestfeeding that you and your baby share during your breast/chestfeeding journey.

Resources

Find a space to pump

You may express milk wherever you feel comfortable. To prepare for your return, you should become familiar with the campus spaces that may be used for lactation. Check with department, building, facility, or space coordinators for information about space options and whom to contact for permission to use a space.

Stanford University, Stanford Hospital and Lucille Packard Children’s Hospital have identified a total of 30+ rooms—which are for the most part multipurpose spaces—that may be available for lactation purposes. 

View a list of lactation spaces at Stanford

View a campus map of available lactation spaces under Life on Campus. Click Wellness Rooms. 

Any space that is private and not located in a bathroom can be considered a lactation space. Employees should contact their supervisor, manager, or Human Resources Manager to work out arrangements for meeting their lactation space needs, which might include support for the following:

  • Scheduling conference rooms
  • Using an unoccupied office (with permission)
  • Hanging temporary blinds or curtains to create a private space

The WorkLife Office is available to provide consultation to building managers related to specific building needs and options. Funding may be available to support lactation room enhancement projects in zone-managed buildings. Please contact us by Support Request.

Supporting lactating employees: manager resources

Managers and supervisors play an essential role in an employee's successful transition from baby bonding leave to work. Here are a few resources to help you support your employee during their lactation journey:

Additional resources

Successful breast/chestfeeding requires planning and patience. You can do several things to help ensure successful breast/chestfeeding after returning to work. Below are resources to support your lactation journey: