U of M fundraising $30K for dedicated breastfeeding space

The University of Manitoba is fundraising $30,000 for a lactation pod in an effort to address gaps in academia which have led to a “leaky pipeline.”

The metaphor is used to describe the loss of female students in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) due to systemic barriers.

The “leaky pipeline” is most commonly found in transitions between degrees as well as graduate studies and entering the workforce. That often lines up with women starting families, said Ayush Kumar, associate dean in the faculty of science at the U of M.

“Some of the barriers that exist just really make it difficult for women to thrive in academia,” Kumar said.

A 2019 study from the American-based National Institute of Health found 43 per cent of women leave full-time STEM employment after giving birth to their first child, owing to a lack of support and resources. New mothers are more likely than new fathers to leave STEM, to switch to part-time work and to exit the labour force, the study showed.

The faculty of science at the U of M has more than 8,100 students, faculty, staff and researchers. About 49 per cent of the faculty’s population are women.

“And we have heard from faculty members ourselves that for new mothers there is usually no space for breastfeeding or expression,” Kumar said.

The university has several rooms between the Fort Garry and Bannatyne campuses that offer areas to breastfeed, and the university is considered “family-friendly” in that breastfeeding and breast pumping can be done anywhere on campus. The pod would be the first private space that doesn’t require swipe card access or permission from staff.

The pod would be accessible with keyless entry through a mobile app, so users don’t need to track down a key or rely on staff availability.

Kumar believes this would be the first “pod” of its kind in Winnipeg.

“We need more accessible spaces. The campus is quite large, so having one space in a building somewhere is not helpful for everyone,” he said.

Whether a mother is breastfeeding or not, the milk must be pumped regardless, said Dr. Meghan Azad, co-director of the Manitoba Interdisciplinary Lactation Centre at the U of M.

Students or faculty without their own office are forced to use bathroom stalls or sit in their cars, which isn’t ideal during cold winters.

“Especially if you have a younger baby, you can’t just go eight hours without pumping your milk. Your breasts are constantly making milk and you’ve got to empty them,” she said.

Azad’s research specializes in the importance of breastfeeding and the composition of breast milk, which is often hailed as a “superfood” for newborns. Babies who are breastfed have lower rates of infections and see lower rates of obesity and diabetes later in life, Azad’s research shows.

“It’s your choice how you want to feed your baby, but the point here is, if you did make the choice that you want to breastfeed, then our sort of institution and society and community should be there to support you,” she said.

The University of Winnipeg is building a dedicated child-feeding room as part of library renovations that will be completed later this year.

At Red River College Polytech and Canadian Mennonite University, semi-private and private spaces on campus are available. Providence University College & Theological Seminary does not have a dedicated breastfeeding room, but it is welcome anywhere on campus.

The U of M wants to raise the funds by the end of the month, at which time the pod would be purchased and shipped to Winnipeg. As of Wednesday, the school had raised $2,725.

nicole.buffie@freepress.mb.ca