In Anne Arundel County, a new resource has emerged for breastfeeding mothers right amid a bustling mall environment—specifically, within the walls of the Discoveries: The Library at the Mall, moms now have access to a dedicated lactation pod courtesy of the Anne Arundel County Library Foundation, as reported by WBALTV.
The pod is a trailblazer, being the first of its kind in a Maryland library, and came to be after the library foundation listened to the requests from families wanting a dedicated space for breastfeeding and pumping, with the Foundation shouldering the cost through a $31,500 grant, The Library Branch Manager Rachel Myers noted, "We have people ask all the time if there's a space, or where is there a good place in the mall to breastfeed or pump," she shared, as per WBALTV, in hope to enhance the support the library offers to families, the installation of the pod is a tangible manifestation of such support.
This tranquil and private haven for mothers can be found and accessed using the Mamava app, which helps locate the pods across the country and provides necessary security codes, according to WMAR2News, this app also allows users to leave feedback on the condition of each site. Mothers, including new mom Brooke Schoenbeck, have welcomed the addition, with Schoenbeck mentioning that the pod aids her son in focusing during feedings without distractions inherent to public settings.
As reflected upon by one library-goer, "I'm really excited about it," Stacey Fitzgerald stated, WBALTV detailed, "I've always thought of the library as a place that meets needs, and this is just another one where, whether you're in the library or walking around the mall, knowing this is a safe place to come for anything, even beyond lactation, but that especially. I'll spend a little more time at the mall now." The library also supports the community by offering a pantry stocked with baby supplies, diapers, menstrual products, and essential hygiene items such as toothbrushes.
