Published on March 15, 2022
Read Time: Two Minutes
New mothers who need a space for breastfeeding their babies can now use a Mamava lactation pod that was recently installed at Phelps Health.
The free-standing, 26-square-foot Mamava Original breastfeeding pod is located near the registration desk and waiting area at the main entrance to Phelps Health Hospital in Rolla, Missouri. The pod is a private, secure room that Phelps Health patients, visitors and employees can use.
“The Mamava pod provides a clean, safe and comfortable environment for breastfeeding and pumping with no distractions,” said Phelps Health Senior Vice President/Chief Nursing Officer/Chief Operating Officer Keri Brookshire-Heavin. “This pod is an additional resource available at our hospital to support mothers who are nursing.”
The pod includes the following features:
- Two benches
- Fixed shelf
- Locking door
- Mirror
- Hook for coats or jackets
- Exhaust fan
- Ceiling vents
The lights automatically turn on once a person steps inside the pod. The Mamava pod also includes outlets to plug in breast pumps.
This breastfeeding pod is large enough for one mother and her child. The pod allows new mothers a space for breastfeeding and pumping, rather than using restrooms or other spaces.
While Phelps Health has a lactation room for breastfeeding employees at the hospital and provides rooms for breastfeeding visitors, when needed, this new Mamava pod offers additional space to meet growing needs.
The health benefits of breastfeeding are numerous, according to Jamie Manley, RN, a lactation counselor with the Phelps Health Obstetrics/Nursery Department.
Babies who are breastfed have shown decreased chances of developing the following conditions:
- Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
- Ear infections
- Asthma
- Diabetes
- Childhood leukemia (blood cancer)
Manley said mothers who breastfeed also have lower chances of developing the following:
- Breast cancer
- Ovarian cancer
- Diabetes
Instructions for accessing the Mamava pod can be found on the outside of the pod, or users can download the Mamava app to their smartphones to access the lactation pod. The app can be used to control the lighting and airflow while inside of the pod, too.
According to mamava.com, Mamava pods can be found in all 50 states. The closest Mamava pods in Missouri are in the Springfield, St. Louis and Kansas City areas.
The Mamava breastfeeding pod was purchased, thanks to donations made to the Phelps Health Foundation, specifically for maternal/child services and from the Mission Fund.