Breastfeeding Support Services
Supporting Lehman Moms and their Choice to Breastfeed!
Breastfeeding Support Services (BSS) are coordinated by Lehman Wellness for faculty, staff and students. BSS provides lactation room accommodations and workshops for expectant and new mothers resuming classes and work.
These services are free and open to the entire Lehman Community.
Click to request Breastfeeding Accommodations
Statement on Breastfeeding
Lehman College and The City University of New York (CUNY) supports a mother’s right to breastfeed their child. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that mothers breastfeed exclusively for their baby’s first six months of life and continue breastfeeding through their baby’s first year of life. AAP reports numerous health benefits of breastfeeding for both the baby and the mother.
CUNY policies support an employee’s and student’s right to express milk at work and in college settings. The CUNY policy, in addition to New York State Labor Law § 206-C (established in May 2008), requires employers to allow working women to use unpaid break time or paid meal time to nurse their babies or express milk for up to three years after the birth of their child. It also requires employers to make a reasonable effort to provide a space where an employee can express milk in privacy and prohibits employers from discriminating against an employee who exercises this right.
In efforts to support our employees and students, Lehman College provides a clean, safe and private space for returning mothers who need to express milk. The lactation room is located in Carman Hall, room 187. The space contains a chair, table, a sink, cleaning materials and resources. The room locks from the inside and indicates when the room is in use.
Women may access the lactation room only for the purposes of expressing, collecting and storing breast milk. We ask women to limit their time to 20-30 minutes maximum.
Directions
Enter the southernmost entrance of Carman Hall and take Staircase B up to the First Floor Landing. The lactation room is on this landing; to the right of the staircase leading to the second floor.
Services
The lactation room is available by request to all students enrolled at the college as well as faculty and staff. The lactation room is located in Carman Hall, room 187.
To request access, complete the lactation request form.
OR
Contact the Director of Lehman Wellness via email at ashmini.hiralall@lehman.cuny.edu or 718-960-2415. You will still need to complete the access form.
Please Note
Once you have completed the lactation room request form, please allow 5-7 business days to process the request and have your key made. We advise that you make your request 7-10 days in advance of when you need to start using the room.
We will contact you to pick-up your key once it’s ready.
For immediate use, you may sign out the lactation room key from the Lehman Wellness office (Old Gym Room 007B). Note that this key is only available during Wellness office hours and must be returned before the office closes for the day.
All individuals must register prior to usage of the lactation room. For questions, please contact Ashmini Hiralall at ext. 2415.
STUDENTS: All keys must be returned at the end of the semester, then picked up again at the start of the new semester.
FAILURE TO RETURN THE LACTATION ROOM KEY WILL RESULT IN A $25.00 FEE.
- AVAILABILTY: Room usage is on a first come, first served basis; however, if you have a continuing conflict with other users, please contact Lehman Wellness to assist with scheduling.
- BREAST PUMPS: We do not provide breast pumps. Breastfeeding mothers should bring their own pump to and from the lactation room on a daily basis. Please do not leave your personal pump in the room. We are not responsible for securing personal items left in the rooms against theft or use by others.
- REFRIGERATION/STORAGE: Refrigeration/storage is not provided in the lactation room. Please be prepared to store your breast milk as needed. We suggest carrying cooling packs to store milk throughout the day. Some tips on how to store breast milk can be found on this website.
- CLEANLINESS: All Lactation room users are expected to clean up after each use of the room. This is not only out of respect for the next user, but to prevent contamination and illness transmission. Each user should allow enough time within a visit to clean breast milk spills and dispose of trash properly. Antibacterial sprays/wipes and paper towels are provided for cleaning.
- PRIVACY: Upon accessing the room, lock the door. The lock will indicate that the room is OCCUPIED, once unlocked the sign will read VACANT. Do not prop open the door at any time.
- TIME: Currently, the space is meant for one person at a time. Please respect your fellow mothers and limit your time to 20-30 minutes maximum as others may be waiting for the room. If we have more demand than usual, we will implement an appointment system for use of the room.
Resources
The following is a list of New York organizations that offer breastfeeding information, workshops, and support groups. Please visit each organization’s website for more detailed information. Lehman College has no affiliation with these organizations; the links below are for information purposes only.
Choices in Childbirth: A New York City-based consumer advocacy group that educates the public about women's rights and options for childbirth. Choices in Childbirth offers "the New York Guide to a Healthy Birth" at no cost, which provides a comprehensive listing of childbirth-related and breastfeeding service providers in New York. This group also offers workshops on giving birth and breastfeeding.
La Leche League: An international, nonprofit, nonsectarian organization dedicated to providing education, information, support, and encouragement to women who want to breastfeed. All breastfeeding mothers and pregnant women interested in breastfeeding are welcome to come to the series of informal discussion meetings or call the Leaders for breastfeeding help. In addition to the series meetings, the League offers special meetings for working mothers, and mothers of twins, and toddlers. Children of all ages are welcome.
New York Lactation Consultant Association: The New York Lactation Consultant Association provides a searchable database of breastfeeding support groups and individual lactation consultants in the New York area.
92nd Street Y-First Steps Program: First Steps is a New York City based, comprehensive program for parents to be, including breastfeeding information and support. This organization offers a breastfeeding support group to meet with other parents, babies and a lactation specialist. Breastfeeding workshops are also offered by 92Y. Please visit the 92Y website for details about cost, meeting times, and locations.
- WIC Program – Woman, Infants, Children: The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) offers nutrition education, breastfeeding support, referrals and a variety of nutritious foods to low-income pregnant, breastfeeding or postpartum women, infants and children up to age five.
- Visit the New York State Department of Health website for more information on eligibility for the WIC Program.
- American Academy of Pediatrics: Information and recommendations about breastfeeding, advocacy materials, and more.
- American College of Nurse-Midwives: The professional association which represents certified midwives and nurse-midwives in the United States.
- American Pregnancy Association: Information on becoming pregnant, common questions surrounding pregnancy, labor and delivery, childbirth education, infertility, and more.
- Association for Safe Alternatives in Childbirth (ASAC): created to encourage alternatives to the technological approach in the hospital, at home, in a birthing centre and with professional care givers of their choice.
- theBUMP: A site for mothers and nursing professionals who want support and advice. Features tips for working mothers, research articles, FAQs, message boards, and more.
- Breastfeeding Bill of Rights: Available for print in several languages through the New York State Department of Health
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: The CDC breastfeeding recommendations site has information on the optimal temperature for storing breast milk, travel guides, and nutrition/vaccination information.
- Childbirth and Post-partum Professional Association (CAPPA): comprehensive pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum organization of those caring for women before, during, and after birth through education and support.
- Childbirth Connection: a not-for-profit organization that has worked to improve maternity care for mothers, babies and families since 1918. Promotes "safe, effective, and satisfying evidence-based maternity care" to help you maintain the health of you and your baby.
- Choices in Childbirth: A New York City-based consumer advocacy group that educates the public about women's rights and options in childbirth. Explore The Guide to a Healthy Birth online, national, fully searchable database of mother-friendly providers.
- DONA International: an international doula association which offers certification programs, workshops, and informational resources.
- Medline Plus "Childbirth": definition of terms and explanation of the process.
- NYC Doula Service: a New York City-based doula service organization, operating in the NY metropolitan area.
- Your Guide to Breastfeeding: This publication is published by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Women's Health. It offers breastfeeding information, advice, tips and more.
- The New York Times publishes regular columns on everything parenting-related, including: homework, sex, baby sitters and the work-family balance on Well | Family