Lactation rooms improved following criticism

Utrecht University has lactation rooms available for breastfeeding mothers but, as an employer, it must make sure that those spaces meet certain standards. For example, the place must be clean, ventilated and offer comfortable seats. It must also guarantee the user's privacy. 

The lactation rooms offered by the Faculty of Science did not meet these requirements. A year and a half ago, PhD candidate Savannah Turner told DUB that the spaces designated for breastfeeding reminded her of prison cells because they were unpleasant and dirty. In addition, they were not always available for mothers because they were also used as quiet rooms.

Cosier and more functional
The university took the complaints seriously. After talking to breastfeeding colleagues and former employees, employees of the Faculty of Science and the Facility Service Centre upgraded the five lactation rooms offered by the faculty. 

Project Manager Aletta Moonen explains: "Based on the feedback and my own experiences as a breastfeeding mother, it was clear that the decor and ambience of our lactation rooms had to be improved. But we also had to improve their accessibility and make them easier to use."

According to Moonen, the spaces are now cosier, cleaner and more functional. "By giving them a coat of paint and adding paintings, plants and mood lighting, we've managed to make them a lot more pleasant." 

The rooms also got functional pieces of furniture, such as a mobile screen to ensures users' privacy. "There are also cabinets where breastfeeding accessories can be stored. But that's not all: we've arranged for the rooms to be cleaned regularly."

Different names
In addition, the five lactation rooms in the Faculty of Science now feature an electronic lock. "To enter those rooms, one needs to have been granted permission first, which is why users will need their UU badge to get in. The rooms can also be used only once, if need be. In that case, a special pass can be collected at the nearest Service Centre. It is also possible to reserve the rooms online," explains Moonen. 

The name of the rooms has been changed as well. They used to have all sorts of names, such as "lactation and quiet room", "rest, first-aid, lactation and quiet room" or simply "multifunctional space". Due to all these different names, it wasn't always clear which rooms breastfeeding mothers could use or not. That's why the Faculty of Science now has two types of rooms: 'lactation and repose rooms' and 'quiet rooms.'"

Positive response
The faculty has received compliments about the new lactation rooms. Moonen noticed that the spaces could be improved thanks to her own experience.

"Last year, when I got back to work after maternity leave, I used all the lactation rooms at least once. That's when That's how I realised we still needed some finishing touches, such as the need for approval to use the space. Additionally, everyone uses the same reservation system, Outlook Agenda. We didn't do that before."

According to Moonen, an evaluation is scheduled for May and June. "It's important to make students and employees coming back from maternity leave feel welcome. It can be tricky to breastfeed and work at the same time. But this is also a special time in their lives, so we hope they will look back on these spaces fondly."

Curious about where you can find the lactation rooms? Click here.