Self-Assessment for a Breastfeeding Friendly University

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Leadership within the university plays a crucial role in creating a culture that supports nursing families. This commitment begins with a formal, written lactation policy that signals the university’s dedication to breastfeeding support. Creating a welcoming atmosphere is essential, where breastfeeding is normalized and supported across all campus spaces, from classrooms and libraries to student centers and outdoor areas.

Leadership Commitment:

The 2024 Title IX regulations have expanded protections for pregnant and lactating students and employees, emphasizing the need for universities to adapt and enhance their policies and practices. Key updates include: 

  • Does the university have a formal, written policy supporting breastfeeding, chestfeeding, and human milk feeding?
  • Is this policy prominently displayed on the university’s website and communicated to all students, faculty, and staff during key events like National Breastfeeding Month and new student/staff orientation?

Welcoming Atmosphere:

  • Are “Breastfeeding Welcome” signs placed in key locations across campus, including classrooms, libraries, and student centers? 
  • Are there designated lactation spaces on campus that are clean, private, and accessible to all who need them, including students, visitors, and employees?
  • Is information on breastfeeding, chestfeeding, and human milk feeding support included in campus orientation materials and promoted on university websites and social media (handouts)?

Informed Pregnancy and Parental Support:

  • Are compliance officers, classroom instructors, and all university staff with power over students informed about Title IX protections related to pregnancy and breastfeeding?
  • Are pregnant and postpartum students informed about their rights and available resources?
  • Are culturally appropriate, non-commercial breastfeeding materials posted and distributed through health services, student organizations, and online platforms?

Breastfeeding-Friendly Health Services:

  • Are health services designated as “Breastfeeding-Friendly” and staffed with trained lactation consultants?
  • Do health services collaborate with the Title IX Coordinator to handle accommodations?

Community and Peer Support:

  • Does the university facilitate access to lactation support groups and partner with local organizations to provide lactation information and support for students?

Inclusive Campus Environment:

Diverse identities are a crucial part of this work. Empowering lactating parents includes welcoming Black women who identify as having breasts to feel as comfortable feeding their babies openly on campus as their counterparts. There is a perception within the US that Black women’s breasts need to be more concealed than those of white women. We also want to be mindful and use terms like “lactation,” “chestfeeding,” or “human milk feeding.” We want to acknowledge that people have the right to feed their babies on campus benches, with their breasts uncovered if they choose. Acknowledging intersectional identities is critical as we work to reduce infant mortality and morbidity.

  • Are university policies and practices inclusive of all identities and family structures?
  • Are the needed faculty and staff informed about inclusive practices related to human milk feeding and parenting?
  • Are materials reflecting diverse family structures and parenting experiences distributed across the campus?

Compliance with the Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes:

  • Does the university avoid promoting infant formula?
  • Is lactation support information prominently displayed near infant feeding products and in other relevant areas?

Workplace Accommodation:

Universities must provide lactating employees with breaks and private spaces for expressing milk, in line with both Title IX and the PUMP Act. HR policies should be regularly reviewed to ensure compliance with these requirements.

  • Are lactating employees provided with adequate breaks and private spaces, not bathrooms, for expressing milk?
  • Are HR policies up to date with federal and state requirements, and is information on lactating employee rights distributed annually to all departments?

Breastfeeding-Friendly Curriculum:

  • Are students trained on the importance of breastfeeding, chestfeeding, and human milk feeding?
  • Is lactation support education incorporated into all relevant curricula across disciplines, such as early childhood education, social work, all health related fields, and HR management?
  • Do the breastfeeding, chestfeeding, and human milk feeding education courses in nursing, medical, and other health-related programs align with WHO and AAP guidelines?
  • Does the university partner with local breastfeeding coalitions, support groups, and lactation consultants to provide opportunities for students to learn about the intersection of their field of study with lactation (workshops, seminars, etc.)?

Helpful Links

Here are some helpful links that can be included in your blog article to provide resources and support for readers interested in creating a Breastfeeding Friendly University:

  1. U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, Title IX and Sex Discrimination
    • Title IX and Sex Discrimination
    • This link provides detailed information about Title IX, including the new regulations and protections for pregnant and parenting students.
  2. The Pregnant Scholar
    • The Pregnant Scholar
    • A resource dedicated to helping pregnant and parenting students understand their rights under Title IX and access the support they need.
  3. Coalition for Lactation Friendly Schools
  4. National Institutes of Health: Lactation Spaces
    • Lactation Spaces Information
    • This site offers guidance on the number of lactation spaces needed per population and how to ensure they meet the needs of users.
  5. PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act
  6. The International Code of Marketing of Breast-Milk Substitutes
    • WHO Code
    • The full text of the WHO Code, which provides guidelines on the ethical marketing of breast-milk substitutes.
  7. La Leche League International
    • La Leche League
    • A global organization that provides education, information, support, and encouragement to breastfeeding parents.
  8. Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine
    • ABM Protocols
    • Clinical protocols and guidelines developed by the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine for healthcare providers to support breastfeeding.
  9. National Association of State Boards of Education
    • NASBE
    • Information on state boards of education and their role in supporting breastfeeding-friendly curricula in schools and universities.
  10. Best Start Resource Centre: Prenatal Education in Ontario

Fundamental to Health Equity

Breastfeeding is fundamental to health equity, providing vital health, immunological, and social-emotional benefits for both the parent and child. However, many lactating students and employees face significant challenges to continuing to provide their milk for their children after returning to the academic and workplace environments. Universities are uniquely positioned to create supportive, inclusive spaces that both comply with legal requirements and also go beyond them to truly advocate for breastfeeding, chestfeeding, and human milk feeding families.

Educational institutions that train future healthcare providers, child development professionals, and human resources (HR) managers are particularly important in this effort. By integrating comprehensive breastfeeding, chestfeeding, and human milk feeding education into their curricula, universities can ensure that graduates are well-equipped to advocate for and support lactating parents in their professional careers. Additionally, providing informed pregnancy and parental support ensures that expecting and new parents on campus have access to the resources and information they need.

University health services should also be proactive in offering breastfeeding-friendly care, including access to lactation consultants and support groups. By partnering with local breastfeeding coalitions and community organizations, universities can extend this support beyond the campus, ensuring that all lactating parents have the resources they need.

An inclusive campus environment is key to supporting all families, regardless of gender, family structure, or background. Universities should review and update their policies to ensure they are inclusive and aligned with the latest Title IX regulations. Adhering to the International Code of Marketing of Breast-Milk Substitutes, universities can avoid promoting infant formula and instead focus on providing clear, supportive information on breastfeeding, chestfeeding, and human milk feeding.

The 2024 Title IX regulations will expand protections for pregnant and lactating students and employees, emphasizing the need for universities to adapt and enhance their policies and practices. Key updates include:

  • Protections Against Discrimination: The new regulations ban discrimination based on pregnancy, childbirth, lactation, and related conditions, ensuring that all students and employees are treated equitably.
  • Lactation Spaces: Title IX now requires that educational institutions provide clean, non-bathroom spaces for lactation that are shielded from view and free from intrusion. These spaces must be accessible to all who need them, with the number of spaces reflecting the campus population.
  • Reasonable Modifications: Educational institutions are required to provide “reasonable modifications” for pregnant and postpartum students, ensuring they have equal access to educational programs and activities. This includes access to lactation spaces, excused absences, and academic adjustments as needed.
  • Support for Non-Birthing Parents: While Title IX primarily protects those with pregnancy-related conditions, universities are encouraged to offer support for non-birthing parents, ensuring that all caregiving students are treated equitably.

Workplace Accommodations: Universities must provide lactating employees with breaks and private spaces for expressing milk, in line with both Title IX and the PUMP Act. HR policies should be regularly reviewed to ensure compliance with these requirements