Improving Lactation Support Through Stakeholder-Driven Change in an Academic Medical Center

Abstract

Returning to work or school after childbirth presents significant challenges for lactating individuals, particularly in high-pressure healthcare environments. This Insights into Policy and Practice article describes how institutional leaders, staff advocates, and student collaborators partnered to improve lactation accommodations at a large, land-grant, R1 Carnegie-designated university in Central Appalachia. Guided by a facility audit and a 15-item electronic survey, the Chief Wellness Officer, Employee Experience Board, and Women’s Resource Center identified barriers related to room availability, comfort, and privacy. In response, the institution implemented a series of changes, including furniture upgrades, enhanced privacy features, signage, educational materials for supervisors and staff, and systems for monitoring room use and cleanliness. This process underscores the importance of stakeholder engagement, cross-unit collaboration, and data-driven advocacy in developing replicable improvements to lactation support that can be scaled within academic medical centers and adapted internationally.