PregnantData: a weekly guide for a more informed and empowered pregnancy. Now updated for 2025! Sign up for a free trial.

Emily Oster

2 minute read Emily Oster

Emily Oster

Does Quality of Pumping Space Impact Breastfeeding Length?

Q&A on accommodations at work

Emily Oster

2 minute read

I had my first baby in April and just went back to work in September. My pumping situation is technically legal, but … it’s a gym equipment closet. I’ve learned from talking to friends recently that there are lots of people dealing with subpar pumping situations at work. I’m curious if there is any correlation between the quality of pumping space in the workplace and length of breastfeeding. While I feel maternity leave should be improved in the U.S., I also wonder if there’s a correlation between quality of pumping space and rate of returning to work or length of leave taken.

Pumping Among Jump Ropes

This is a great question. It is very surprising what counts as a legal pumping space. At a past job, I once had to tape paper over a large window that was part of the door to the pumping room I was given. I digress! A gym closet sounds … problematic.

Canva

This is obviously tough to answer because the quality of pumping accommodations closely lines up with other supports. My experience suggests that Big Tech firms often have extremely nice pumping locations. But they also have six months of paid leave, and a workforce with many advantages. 

There is one study (from 2016) that shows that women who have adequate break time and a private place to pump are 2.3 times as likely to be breastfeeding at six months. This isn’t quite the question you are asking, since it’s not differentiating the quality of the location, and we’re still concerned about correlation versus causality. Still, it points to the idea that pumping location could matter.

I can find no evidence on worker retention. Unfortunately, I suspect this is because what suffers when people do not have a comfortable place to pump is breastfeeding, not work. I would love to see someone do some high-quality research on this, because I think that’s what it would take to push employers to invest in making it better.

In the meantime, I suppose, enjoy the jump ropes.

Community Guidelines
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
A freezer door shows bags and bottles of frozen breastmilk.

Updated on Jan. 6, 2025

2 minute read

Should I Throw Away Unused Thawed Breast Milk?

Question about breast milk storage! Per the CDC, you should not use breast milk that’s been thawed for more than Read more

A parent breastfeeding a child

Aug. 6, 2024

8 minute read

Hormones During Breastfeeding and Weaning

If you have ever had a baby, you have experienced the roller coaster ride of various hormones rising and falling, Read more

adult breastfeeding a kid

Sep. 20, 2024

2 minute read

How Long Is Too Long to Breastfeed?

What are the benefits, if any, of “extended” breastfeeding? As someone who’s doing it at 10 months and not planning Read more