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University of Maryland School of Nursing Opens New Lactation Center

September 25, 2013

Faculty, staff, students and guests of the University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) joined University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) President Jay A. Perman, MD, and Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN, dean of the School of Nursing, for the grand opening of UMSON's s new lactation center on Sept. 25.

The lactation center provides a private space for nursing mothers to pump breast milk. It has three stations with two hospital grade Medela pumps and a refrigerator to store milk. It is the seventh lactation center to be opened on the UMB campus.

Research shows that breastfeeding is important because it not only provides babies with the vitamins and nutrients needed, but also helps protect against disease. Carmela Coyle, president and chief executive officer of the Maryland Hospital Association, and Delegate Shirley Nathan-Pulliam, BSN ’80, District 10, representing the governor, lieutenant governor and Maryland General Assembly, were also in attendance to help Perman and Kirschling lead the charge in advocating for breastfeeding and the addition of more lactation rooms on the UMB campus.

“Breastfeeding provides a protective effect against many early childhood illnesses so that children don’t get sick as often. You also get your permanent employees back to work sooner and they have to take less time off of work,” Perman said. “It’s a win-win situation for all. Let’s keep stressing the importance of breastfeeding.”

The grand opening concluded with a tour of the new lactation center, located on the second floor of UMSON.

For more information on lactation centers on the UMB campus, visithttp://hr.umaryland.edu/Current_Employees/Work_Life_Wellness/Lactation_Centers