There is change in the wind

[redhotmama]

So my local, previously and completly UN-child and birth and baby friendly hospital has a new chief OB who is changing the tide for the better. She wants to turn an empty room on the L&D ward into a pumping/nursing room for employees, moms and customers. She has asked for design ideas.: :

So hit me ladies. What does every good pumping room need?

[gwynthfair]

Water cooler, nursing pillows, comfy chairs, tv/reading materials...

The great thing about nursing...you don't need much!

[ladybugchild77]

Might I add: a cool picture of a nursing baby? My dd's day care has one and when pumped there it helped with let down plus it was cool to look at! Also a clock - funny suggestion, I know but there isn't one in the room and I totally lost track of time and was late for class...

[krisw]

I don't pump much, so I might miss stuff... BUT

comfy chairs with nearby outlets for pumps
reading material
tv/radio
sink for washing pump parts
play area for other children
nearby changing area
blankets--for those mommies who get cold while sitting nursing
drinks/snacks

[Mom2J]

nak

fridge for storage
radio w/relaxing music
nice lighting-pref w/dimmer (more relaxing imo)
Something encouraging-like 101 reasons to bf
area to dry/store parts
nice hansoap- for washing up before/after
trash can- for used paper towels, etc- pref one that.s open or has a foot pedal
print out pumping tips, leave some links for more info/pump support groups on some cards tgat women could take w/them
# for LLL and a good LC

Have fun! it will make a huge difference for the mamas that benefit.

[Thalia the Muse]

This may be stating the obvious, but -- OUTLETS! I know people who have work-provided "pumping rooms" with no electrical outlets.

[kalirush]

Meh about the radio; I would have found that irritating when pumping. Different people have different music tastes. This is what I liked in my old pump room:

Private, curtained booths
comfy chairs
desks with hospital grade pumps/outlets on them
telephones! I used to call and talk to my husband/daughter when I pumped.
Sink, with counter space for laying pump parts on
Milk fridge (kept at optimum temp)
bins with spare pump parts
cupboards for regulars to store pump kits.
stack of magazines
bulletin board for pics of babies

It also had a TV, but I never cared about it. Couldn't watch it and pump anyhow, with the curtained booths.

Oh, and one of the pump stations was wheelchair friendly.

Julia

[Meiri]

Everyone's covered the practical necessities.

How about breastfeeding art posters: modern stuff, old masters, art photography.

[laurdsed]

Originally Posted by Meiri

Everyone's covered the practical necessities.

How about breastfeeding art posters: modern stuff, old masters, art photography.

Oh, now that's an excellent suggestion. There are pictures, just pencil drawings, of a mother holding a newborn-all wrinkly and floppy, that makes me letdown just looking at it.

Laurel

[dukeswalker]

Not just outlets - but outlets near shelves, near the chairs to put the pumps on

[tanyalynn]

lockers for storing some of your pumping gear, paper towels, spray cleaner for cleaning the table (esp since it's a hospital), chairs that adjust in height for both the chair itself and the arms (arms on the chairs are really nice)

[Equuskia]

Perhaps several hospital quality pumps, so that employees would only have to bring their parts, instead of dragging them to and from work. If there is going to be more than one woman using the room, then curtains that can seperate so that everyone has privacy?

[redhotmama]

Thanks for all your ideas and wisdom nursing/pumping mamas!
I will put together a proposal and keep you all updated...

[peilover010202]

For the mamas who sterilze with those microwaveable steam bags, what about a microwave? I often wished we had one here at work that didn't require my toting used pump parts to a shared microwave. (so, I just wash and dry instead.)

[julie128]

How about a poster of that pic that someone just posted of the baby nursing off the statue?