Lactation rooms and “Lactation Friendly” locations are available in many UW–Madison and UW Health buildings to provide a welcoming environment for employees, learners, and guests. Such rooms provide private space where lactating individuals are welcome to pump or nurse. Most of these spaces are equipped with a comfortable chair, a small table and an electrical outlet. Each lactation room is operated by the building manager of the specific building. The following list summarizes information for several buildings on the western side of campus as of July 2023. Additional information is available through the UW–Madison Office of Child Care and Family Resources.
Federal law supports lactating parents: The 2022 PUMP Act
Signed into law on December 29, 2022, the Providing Urgent Maternal Protections for Nursing Mothers Act (PUMP Act) expands the rights of nursing employees. Under the PUMP Act, for up to one year after the birth of a child, employees are entitled to:
- Reasonable break times to express breast milk each time the employee has a need and
- Private space, other than a bathroom, that is shielded from view and free from intrusions by other coworkers or the public to express milk while at work.
When taking break time to express breast milk at work, employees must be completely relieved from duty. Otherwise, they must be paid for the break time.
If you have any questions about the PUMP Act, please contact the SMPH Leave Specialist at smph-fmla@med.wisc.edu.
Resources:
UW–Madison/SMPH buildings
- Health Sciences Learning Center (HSLC), 750 Highland Avenue: Room 2120 and Room 3208. Request access by contacting Hayley Mettel at studentservices@med.wisc.edu, (608) 263-4920
- Wisconsin Institutes for Medical Research (WIMR), 1111 Highland Avenue: Room 3402B, Room 6007 (East Tower), Rooms 7402A and 7402B, and Room 7432. Reserve time online for Room 6007 using “Make Appointment for WIMR 6 Health Room.” Room 7432 uses a sign-up sheet.
- Medical Foundation Centennial Building (MFCB), 1685 Highland Avenue: Room 1103A. The room does not require a reservation and is first-come, first-served.
- Additional locations are available at the School of Nursing, School of Pharmacy, and many other facilities on campus. See a map
UW Health and VA buildings
This is a partial list of locations in Madison. For lactation room information at additional UW Health facilities including ambulatory clinics, see U-Connect (requires UW Health login). Please note that UW Health procedure rooms, including ultrasound rooms, are not permitted for pumping or breastfeeding. RoomWizard is a touch display located at some UW Health lactation rooms that shows availability in real time and allows you to sign in locally. An asterisk (*) indicates that the lactation room is equipped with a hospital-grade, Medela Symphony breast pump. To safely use the breast pump, bring your own Medela Symphony Pumping Kit. Pumping supplies are available at a discount through AFCH Outpatient Pharmacy. Pumping kits are also available online at Medela or Amazon. Send questions or feedback regarding the UW Health Lactation Support Program to Employee Wellbeing at employeewellbeing@uwhealth.org.
- University Hospital*, 600 Highland Avenue:
- B4/415
- B5/503
- B6/367a (inside TLC Locker Rm) Check in with RoomWizard
- B6/642
- D4/413
- E2/238 (near ED) Check in with RoomWizard
- E5/528
- E5/628
- E5/736
- F5/510
- F8/416
- H6/303A and H6/303B (Surgical Services Women’s Locker Room, badge access required)
- American Family Children’s Hospital (AFCH)*, 1675 Highland Avenue: Rooms do not require a reservation and are first-come, first-served.
- 1st Floor – Room 1430 (Available for public access – no pump available)
- 3rd Floor – Room 3222A (Surgical Services Women’s Locker Room, badge access required)
- 4th Floor – Room 4302 (Preference given to PICU/P4 families and staff)
- Rooms are first-come, first served. Please do not use Room Wizard to reserve the room in advance.
- Rooms are first-come, first served. Please do not use Room Wizard to reserve the room in advance.
- 5th Floor – Room 5111
- 7th Floor – Rooms 7210 and 7302
- 8th Floor – Room 8316 (Preference given to NICU/P8 families and staff)
- 700 University Bay Drive: Room 130
- 800 University Bay Drive: Available for reservation via Outlook: UBD – Lactation Room 300-60-UWHC. Contact: Therese McHenry, (608) 263-9174
- Wisconsin Psychiatric Institute and Clinics (WisPIC), Department of Psychiatry, 6001 Research Park Blvd.: Room 1532. Contact: Brenda Hafenbrack, (608) 232-3357 or BHafenbrack@uwhealth.org
- Wisconsin Sleep Clinic, 6001 Research Park Blvd: Space available as needed. Contact: Shannon Shields, (608) 262-3307
- William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital, 2500 Overlook Terrace: B wing, Room 1064
If you have questions or feedback regarding the UW Health Lactation Program, please contact Employee Wellbeing at (608) 890-8557 or employeewellbeing@uwhealth.org.