Hempstead Town Opens Breastfeeding Rooms In 3 Town Buildings

The Town of Hempstead announced on Thursday that it had created nursing/lactation rooms at three town buildings for employees or visitors who need to pump or nurse their children and may want privacy.

“As a working mother who nursed my own children, I know how difficult it can be when you return to work but still want to continue breastfeeding," said Councilwoman Erin King Sweeney. "I also know that we have hundreds of residents who come to Hempstead Town Hall each day ... many of them with their young children in tow,” said King Sweeney.

The rooms will have comfortable chairs for nursing mothers, as well as refrigerators to store milk and a sink to clean nursing supplies.

“Mothers are certainly welcome to nurse wherever they would like, but we want to give families the option if they would prefer a bit more privacy,” King Sweeney said.

The rooms are located in Town Hall, Old Town Hall and the Town Hall Annex.

“I had a career in the medical profession as a registered dietitian for decades and I nursed both my daughters, so I know the benefits of a mother breastfeeding and believe that we should do everything we can to make it easier for a woman if she wants to breastfeed her child,” said Councilwoman Dorothy Goosby.

It is anticipated to cost less than $7,500 to create and equip the three rooms, the town said. King Sweeney said that she has asked departments to look for space in other town facilities where rooms like these might be needed in order to expand the offering in the future.

Earlier this year, the town passed a resolution to allow breastfeeding anywhere in town parks after a Levittown resident saw that the town's pool rules stated breastfeeding was only allowed in certain areas.

“Returning to work after having your children can be one of the hardest decisions that a mother has to make,” King Sweeney said. “If our Town employees choose to nurse, I want to ensure that we make it as easy as possible for them to continue to do so in their workplace. We can’t take away all the stress of working mothers but this is one small gesture that I think will alleviate a major concern.”

Photo courtesy Town of Hempstead