Breastfeeding is a wonderful way to give your baby a healthy start in life. But just because it is normal and natural, doesn’t mean it’s always easy. Mothers who nurse their babies in public often experience negative reactions from others, and many mothers feel uncomfortable feeding their babies outside of their home.

Parkview Health knows that for those who breastfeed, it is a natural part of motherhood. In support of our Parkview moms, Ashli Pershing, birth planner and lactation consultant, Parkview Wabash Hospital, sought out a solution to support mothers out in the community. A mom herself, Ashli understood the importance of having a private space that is comfortable for all.

With the new Wabash Hospital providing OB services, this is the first time in 14 years Wabash Hospital has delivered babies. The facility is also lending support to many family-friendly activities and events in Wabash County.

At these events, such as the 4-H Fair, mothers now have access to a portable, free-standing breastfeeding pod. The pod is hard to miss, with our bright “Parkview green” and the words, “I’m a Parkview mom.” It’s designed to be comfortable and relaxing for mothers with magnetized closures featuring a “vacant” or “occupied” sign and plenty of space for bags and strollers.

“I want this to be very comfortable for mothers. I had a mom ask if she has to breastfeed in there and I told her absolutely not. She can pump, bottle feed her child, clean up the child, or, if a child has autism, it can be a great space to help them desensitize. It can be used any way to help mothers and families,” Ashli explained.

August 1-7 is National Breastfeeding Awareness week. For information on breastfeeding classes in your community, see the schedule here.