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When Caitlin Peterson, manager of orientation and transition programs, returned to work from maternity leave, she faced the familiar concerns that countless working parents navigate daily. Questions about childcare logistics, worries about missing important moments and concerns about maintaining milk supply are just some of the thoughts that can occupy a parent's mind during this transition. 

"Coming back to work from maternity leave, even in the most supportive and amazing workplaces, is still a major life transition for families," Caitlin explains. "Any bit of support during this transition is helpful and can make things just a tiny bit easier as you settle into a new routine."

When Caitlin heard about the opening of a new lactation pod on the ground floor of the Students' Union Building, she was glad to see the U of A taking another step to support parents. 

“When I was on leave and had to come back to campus for appointments, it was challenging to find a space to feed my baby – especially since babies follow their own schedules and you can't always plan for when a space is needed!" 

Though she was no longer chestfeeding by the time the lactation pod opened in May 2025, she understood the importance of having appropriate spaces for those who needed them.

“Initiatives like this are the difference between spaces being open to parents and being welcoming to them," Caitlin says. "It helps to break down barriers for people to study, work and participate in the community and normalizes the experience of those choosing to breastfeed or pump on campus."

For Monisha Alam, a staff member, student and parent, finding suitable nursing spaces was a challenge she remembers well. “Having this type of resource reduces the stress of trying to find a suitable space to pump or nurse. It allows you to stay on campus longer and be more engaged without compromising your child’s needs.”

A welcoming space opens its doors

The new lactation pod is located on the ground floor of the , outside the central elevators. 

The installation, a joint initiative between the Office of the Dean of Students and the ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½’s Students’ Union, includes comfortable seating and a changing station and is designed to accommodate wheelchairs and strollers. Users can access the private space through the . Users can also obtain an access code by calling the Office of the Dean of Students at 780-492-4145 during office hours.

“While I’m personally past the breastfeeding stage, I can say that I was very impressed by the space – it felt clean, private, thoughtfully designed, and accessible," Monisha says. Even just seeing it gave me a sense of reassurance that parents on campus are being considered in meaningful ways."

Looking forward

The new lactation pod joins other welcoming spaces already available in the Rutherford Library Family Corner, Education Centre South and Triffo Hall. To make campus navigation even easier for families, the Office of the Dean of Students is also collaborating with the vice-provost of Access, Community and Belonging and other university partners to create an interactive map that will help parents and caregivers quickly find child-friendly areas, quiet spots for pumping and nursing, and convenient changing stations. These additions build on initiatives like the Culture of Care, Student Experience Action Plan and People Strategy.

"We want to make sure we have spaces for all members of our community," says Kevin Friese, assistant dean, Student Health and Wellness. "We recognize that our campus includes staff and students who are parents, and we want to support them." The pod provides a private space for chestfeeding and pumping, though students and staff have the flexibility to do so anywhere on campus, he noted.

For parents like Caitlin and Monisha, the pod represents more than a facility. "These kinds of initiatives help create an environment where parenting is supported, not sidelined," Monisha observes. “And even those who don't use the space benefit from knowing their institution values and respects the diverse needs of its community."