Do American Colleges and Universities Support the Lactation Needs of Students?

Abstract

The vast majority of the sample did not have a policy for lactating students, and almost half of the schools did not have designated space for milk expression accessible to students. Lactating students will likely encounter challenges in simultaneously sustaining breastfeeding and meeting their educational goals in these contexts. To meet the recommendation of the American Academy of Pediatrics of 6 months of exclusive breastfeeding and continued breastfeeding for 1 year or more, American colleges and universities must establish not only designated spaces for milk expression but also policies to support lactating students.