Tulane Breastfeeding Program

The Tulane Breastfeeding Program aims to increase awareness of the benefits of breastfeeding for parents, children, and the wider community. Through campus-wide education and dedicated lactation spaces, the program supports a breastfeeding-friendly environment that encourages exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life and continued breastfeeding for at least one year.

History

The Tulane Breastfeeding Program was founded by Dr. Jeanette Magnus, former Chair of the Community Health Sciences Department and Director of the Mary Amelia Women’s Health Education Center. Dr. Magnus began by designating two pumping rooms on Tulane’s downtown campus, each equipped with a multi-user breast pump.

In 2008, Tulane expanded this effort with support from faculty, staff, and students to increase lactation spaces across campus. A grant from the Louisiana WIC Program provided additional equipment, educational materials, and furnishings for two new rooms in the Law and Medical Schools.

Today, several lactation spaces are available across Tulane’s campuses, including the Reily Fitness Center and Student Health Center. The program continues to raise awareness and promote breastfeeding-friendly spaces for all Tulane community members.

Connect with Us

Follow Tulane Breastfeeding Support on Facebook or email tubenefits@tulane.edu with any questions.

Additional Information

Campus Lactation & Family Rooms

Mothers are encouraged to breastfeed anywhere on campus and pump wherever they feel comfortable. The rooms below are available to all faculty, staff, and students. Some amenities are made possible through the Tulane University Women’s Association.

Downtown Locations

Tulane Tidewater Building

Address: 1440 Canal St, New Orleans, LA 70112
Room Number: 1219

Hutchinson Memorial Building, Tulane Health Sciences Center

Address: 1430 Tulane Avenue, Room M064, New Orleans, LA
Private room with a chair, refrigerator, and table with nursing magazines; located near a women’s bathroom.
No key required. If locked, security on the 1st floor (main entrance) can open the door.

Murphy Building

Address: 131 S. Robertson St., New Orleans, LA 70112
Located on the 7th floor; labeled “Mothers’ Room.”
Equipped with a table, chairs, sink, and baby changing station.

Uptown Locations

Howard-Tilton Memorial Library (HTML)

Address: 7001 Freret St
Private, locked lactation/changing room in the HTML basement at the bottom of the front stairs, near the student lounge (labeled “Changing Room/Mothers Room”).
Equipped with a sink, chair, bench, power, and lockers; locks from the inside.
Accessible with a key card requested at the Circulation Desk.

Mussafer Hall

Address: Near Gibson Hall, Room 108, New Orleans, LA
Open to anyone from 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., Monday–Friday.

Reily Student Recreation Center

Address: 31 Janet Yulman Way, New Orleans, LA
Several comfortable locations for breastfeeding; single-user restrooms include a changing station, shower, and toilet for members and guests.
Contact Member Services: reilyctr@tulane.edu or 504-865-5431.

Weinmann Hall, Tulane Law School

Address: 6329 Freret Street, Room 1RRA, New Orleans, LA
Private, locked lactation room inside the first-floor women’s restroom; includes seating and a table with nearby bathroom amenities.
Key card access only after 7 p.m. The mailroom (Room 120) holds a key and is open 7:30 a.m.–5 p.m.

Lavin-Bernick Center (LBC)

Address and Map: 20 McAlister Place, New Orleans, LA
Located on the 2nd floor in a private women’s single-stall bathroom; labeled “Lactation Station.”
Equipped with a sink, chair, and table with literature; available 24/7 and locks from the inside.
Contact: tubenefits@tulane.edu

Newcomb Institute (The Commons)

Address: 43 Newcomb Place, 3rd Floor, New Orleans, LA
Private, locked room in the 3rd-floor restroom suite (labeled “Mother’s Room”).
Equipped with a chair, sink, lap desk, large counter, drying rack, changing pad, and outlets; stocked with unscented dish soap, hand lotion, baby wipes, and disinfecting wipes.
Key available at the front desk in suite 301.
Contact: 888-327-0009 or newcomb@tulane.edu

A.B. Freeman School of Business

Address: 7 McAlister Dr, New Orleans, LA
The first-floor women’s bathroom changing room near classroom 180 has been converted into a lactation room.
Key checkout from Room 421; employees may keep a key. Students may check out and return.
Contact: Alysia Loshbaugh at akravitz@tulane.edu

Returning to Work/School

Before Your Maternity Leave

Plan your maternity leave strategically. More time at home after birth can improve breastfeeding success.
Explore options on Tulane’s Leave of Absence webpage (flex schedules, remote work, etc.).
Discuss breastfeeding intentions with your supervisor. Tulane’s Staff Handbook and federal law secure reasonable break time; about 30 minutes every 3 hours is a good starting point.
Select a place to pump with an outlet, fridge, and nearby sink. Tulane’s lactation rooms offer various amenities.
Time the walk to your pumping location and include that in your break time.
Select a pump (see resources below for help choosing).
Plan childcare; ensure your childcare provider supports breastfeeding.

While on Leave

Establish a good milk supply; contact a lactation consultant if needed.
Practice using your pump to reduce troubleshooting when you return.
Build a freezer stash. La Leche League suggests pumping once or twice a day after breastfeeding a few weeks before returning to work.
Introduce a bottle shortly before returning (after breastfeeding is well established—about four weeks). Have a partner or friend offer the bottle.
Do a trial run of your routine to prepare for the first day back.

Returning to Work

Babies ~6+ weeks often take 2–4 oz. per feeding. For a full workday, send six 2 oz. portions and adjust with your daycare as needed.
Label milk with date pumped and baby’s name. Breastfed babies may not continually increase total volume like formula-fed infants.
Wear nursing/pumping-friendly clothing (e.g., two-piece outfits).
Consider returning midweek to ease the first week transition.
Prep the night before (lunch, baby’s bag, pump parts).
Short sessions are better than skipped sessions—supply follows demand.
The CDC does not classify breast milk as requiring special handling for shared refrigerators; shared storage is allowed.

Local Breastfeeding Support & Help

GNOBAC: Greater New Orleans Breastfeeding Awareness Coalition.
Louisiana Breastfeeding Coalition (LBC): Statewide resources and information.
La Leche League of Jefferson (Mom-to-Mom Support): Open meetings for breastfeeding discussion.
Partners for Healthy Babies: Louisiana and New Orleans resources for breastfeeding mothers.
WIC: Supplemental foods and support for pregnant/breastfeeding women, infants, and children up to age 5.
ZipMilk.org: Search local breastfeeding services by ZIP code.
ZukaBaby: New Orleans boutique with breastfeeding accessories and more.