It can be a lot of work for nursing mothers to get through the airport and to their gate with a baby, especially when trying to find a place to breastfeed.
"Any of us that have traveled and seen moms trying to work their way through the travel experience with a little infant, it's a lot of work, and hopefully this eases their burdensome," explains Rick Piccolo, President & CEO of the Sarasota Bradenton International Airport.
The new Mamava pods provide a quiet and clean place for mothers to nurse or pump.
"These special facilities not only provide comfort and privacy but provide electrical outlets for their devices or breastfeeding pumps as well," says Piccolo.
The Mamava app shows users where the pod is located and unlocks it for the traveling mom.
"It provides some privacy, so you're not sitting in a restroom and people going back and forth in and out while you're trying to breastfeed. And this way it offers the privacy and serenity and ease for that person that's bringing babies along," says Piccolo.
Childbirth education and lactation services specialist, Mary O'Connor, says the health benefits are leading more women to choose to breastfeed, they know it’s in their baby’s best interest.
"There's reduced risk up to 30 percent in adolescent and adult obesity. Just that alone is significant for women, there is a reduced risk of breast and ovarian cancer," says O'Connor.
Providing a clean and quiet space for a mother helps show the community is supporting them, O’Connor says mothers can get relief for a moment from the stress of traveling.
“If they're traveling with other children, the children are in a safe space with them. The mother can concentrate on feeding her baby or expressing her milk," says O’Connor.
The pods are also used by airport employees who are working mothers.
Mamava pods are available throughout the United States: in airports, stadiums, convention centers, hospitals, and schools.
In our area, they’re located in Sea-Tac and Spokane airports as well as North Seattle Community College.
