- Leslie Valle
- May 16, 2022
Photo Credit: Leslie Valle
NORTHRIDGE, CA - Breastfeeding mothers often make headlines for being shamed and kicked out locations. Cal State University, Northridge is making sure there’s a change that helps nursing parents feel comfortable as they install their first Mamava Pod.
Cassidy Butow, Administrative coordinator for Cal State University, Northridge Institute of Community Health and Wellbeing was a start of that change that led the university to expand on their lactation room access.
Butow said, "there was a little bit of a delay because covid and being off campus, but it took about a year, after the campus quality fee was funded for us to get the pod."
A Mamava Pod can be described as a small trailer, where nursing parents can lactate in a private sanitary area. Inside it has electrical outlets for breast pumps with other lactation supplies available. All the user has to do is download the Mamava App to unlock the pod, control the lighting and ventilation.
Kayla Kaiser, mother and Cal State Northridge professor, felt relief knowing she had a welcoming space when coming back to work from the pandemic after having her baby. "Its nice to have a quiet space...to let them latch and eat as much as they would like to," she said.
All fifty states including Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands have laws allowing women to breastfeed in any public and private areas. From those fifty, thirty-one exempt breastfeeding from public indecency laws.
On January 1, 2020, the state of California imposed the Lactation Accommodation requiring employers to provide lactation rooms and other facilities, along with policies and procedures to ensure nursing parents have their space.
Unlike CSUN, not all areas have a pod or comfortable lactation rooms to nurse. Some mothers might need to immediately lactate wherever it is they are to provide for their baby.
Cindy Gonzalez, mother of two says for her having no rooms was no problem. Gonzalez said, "I dont care what other people say, I dont care if someone's bothered or saying "eww why is she doing that in public" I dont care. My baby's hungry, my baby comes first."
The Mamava Pod is located in Bayramian Hall and is offered to any nursing parent visiting the campus at a first come, first serve basis.
"Having the lactation pod that has the convince of walking up when you need it, is really helpful," Kaiser said.
Video Credit: UNICEF
AUDIO
Cassidy Butow speaks about the pod location
By, Leslie Valle
Contributions from UNICEF, California Department of Industrial Relations, Women's Health
Photo, Leslie Valle
Audio, Leslie Valle
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