Accompanying measures are implemented in the room, like online sessions to raise awareness among women about the benefits of breastfeeding, a hotline in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Health. (Credit: LAU)
The Lebanese American University’s Beirut campus has introduced a dedicated breastfeeding support room, providing mothers a clean and supportive environment to breastfeed or express milk in privacy. The space, available by reservation, is equipped with essential facilities, including a refrigerator for milk storage and sterilizers for breast pumps and bottles.
“With this initiative, we enable mothers to continue breastfeeding without constraints while promoting equal opportunities and gender parity,” said Bahia Abdallah, assistant professor and director of the nursing care program at LAU’s Alice Ramez Chagoury School of Nursing. “Working mothers should not be deprived of their right to breastfeed and provide healthy nutrition to their babies.”
The initiative is led by the Arab Institute for Women (AiW) in collaboration with LAU’s health-related departments. “The breastfeeding support room embodies a fundamental human right and reflects LAU’s responsibility to support breastfeeding mothers,” said AiW Director Myriam Sfeir. She emphasized that the project aligns with the institute’s mission to foster an inclusive and gender-equal environment. “This is a natural step in our commitment to ensuring that all university community members have the resources they need to thrive,” she said, adding that a similar room will soon be introduced at LAU’s Byblos campus.
Addressing challenges for working mothers
The breastfeeding support room seeks to address challenges faced by working mothers, whose numbers have significantly increased in recent years, even as workplaces remain largely unaccommodating to their needs.
“When mothers return to work, they often struggle to find time and space to express milk, forcing some to use restrooms or abandon breastfeeding entirely due to painful engorgement,” Abdallah said. “Many women want to continue breastfeeding but face logistical and psychological pressures that push them to stop.”
The breastfeeding support room offers a solution by providing a dedicated, comfortable space where mothers can breastfeed or express milk without interruption. “This is a step toward a more progressive, family-friendly campus,” Sfeir added.
Beyond supporting breastfeeding women, the initiative also aims to encourage breastfeeding for the recommended duration. “We promote exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of a baby’s life, followed by continued breastfeeding up to age 2, in line with recommendations from the World Health Organization and UNICEF,” Abdallah said.
To maximize impact, the room’s administrators have introduced additional support measures, including online breastfeeding awareness sessions, an emergency hotline in collaboration with the Health Ministry, access to lactation consultants for personalized support, informational brochures, and plans to install a screen displaying educational videos.
Part of a larger commitment to gender equality
LAU is also ensuring that breastfeeding-related topics are integrated into the curricula of its health faculties, including pharmacy, medicine, nursing, and psychology. “The goal is to equip future health professionals with the knowledge and skills to support breastfeeding women in their practice,” Abdallah said.
According to Sfeir, the breastfeeding support room reflects LAU’s broader commitment to inclusivity, family support, and the well-being of mothers and children. “This initiative aligns with our mission to advance gender equality, empower women, and achieve sustainable development goals,” she said.
LAU has taken multiple steps toward gender equity, including establishing infrastructure such as its Title IX office and the AiW. In 2022, following a collaboration between the AiW, LAU’s administration, and researchers on the "Equality for All" project, the university implemented Lebanon’s first family leave policy. This reform extended maternity leave to 15 weeks, introduced 10 days of paternity leave, and established flexible working hours, making LAU the only academic institution in Lebanon to adopt these progressive policies.
“The breastfeeding support room is just one step in our journey toward a more inclusive, family-friendly campus,” Abdallah said. “Through these initiatives, LAU is creating a supportive environment for parents, helping them balance their professional lives with family responsibilities.”
