Dallas College Brookhaven Campus launched a lactation room for nursing mothers in K-Building. Finding a private, clean and safe place to pump breast milk is a big challenge for most nursing mothers.
Raytosha Jones, senior director of campus administration at Brookhaven, said the college is providing this room for nursing mothers who need a private space to pump their milk. The room is open to all Brookhaven students, staff, faculty and campus visitors.
Jones said, “We have one room, K255, and it’s already set up and open for use. We really do want to cater for our parenting students. We want them to feel comfortable coming to campus, even if they bring their child.” Other initiatives benefiting parents include highchairs in the Treetop Café and diapers available in the campus food pantry in room J104.
Brooke Hunt, a Brookhaven student, said, “The new lactation room is safe and convenient for mothers in school. I will definitely use this room for lactation because I don’t have to walk to my car for pumping.”
The room has a rocking chair, screen and a small speaker for moms to connect their phones and listen to music while pumping. “The room has space for two people, but it depends on how private somebody wants to be,” Jones said. “So, if one person is already in there, we will allow just that person.”
Mothers who need to use the room can get access by calling campus police at 972-860-4290.
Michelle Joubert, chair of the board of directors of Stork’s Nest Charity Fund of Dallas, said their organization sponsored the funding and supplies needed for the room. Stork’s Nest is a Dallas-Fort Worth area nonprofit that supports and creates programs that uplift women and families, according to their website. “We were very fortunate to receive a small grant that is helping us to fund Dallas College lactation rooms,” Joubert said. The organization offers a private room with a sink, supplies to sterilize the rooms, a microwave and refrigerator for milk storage.
“The official opening of this lactation room and ribbon cutting will be this semester, but a date has not been determined,” Jones said.
Joubert said: “We are part of the global giving movement, and we are seeking donations from the community. We do fundraise and get private donations.” The organization is also seeking grants that can help them fund more lactation rooms for all of the Dallas College campuses. Eastfield and Mountain View campuses also have lactation rooms available now. Joubert said work has started on a room at the Cedar Valley campus and they are currently looking for space at El Centro.
Joubert said Stork Nest is hoping Dallas College will allow them to have more lactation rooms at each campus. The organization also offers prenatal educational classes for low-income mothers in the Dallas area. “We want to make sure we have healthy moms and healthy babies,” Joubert said. “We also offer prenatal, postnatal, car seats, diapers and transport vouchers for doctor appointments to low-income mothers.”
In addition to the lactation room, Brookhaven Campus also has a Mamava lactation pod in the S Building lobby near the Financial Aid Office. To access the pod, mothers need to scan a QR code.
