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More Lactation Rooms and Changing Tables Coming to US Airports

Oct. 13, 2018
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3 min read
Woman traveling with her baby
More Lactation Rooms and Changing Tables Coming to US Airports
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Speaking from experience, one of the more challenging elements of breastfeeding a baby is keeping it up once travel (re)enters the picture. When traveling returns to your schedule, you have a couple of choices. Either your baby or toddler has to come with you on all of your trips so they can continue to nurse at regular intervals -- which isn't simple if you are traveling for work. Or, pumping will become a steady and unyielding fixture in your routine no matter where you are or what else you have going on. Not staying on a regular feeding schedule can very quickly have negative implications for milk production, clogged ducts and even potential infections.

Nothing can erase some of the inherent logistical complications that accompany those realities, but there are things that can make it easier for moms to nurse and pump milk when traveling. While you may have noticed some nursing pods and lactation rooms in airports, there is still plenty of room for improvement when it comes to meeting the needs of nursing moms and their children.

Help is thankfully on the way, as language from the Friendly Airports for Mothers (FAM) Act was signed earlier this month by President Trump, as a component of the FAA Reauthorization Bill. This will require all large- and medium-sized airports in the United States to provide private, lockable, non-bathroom places to pump milk or nurse babies in each terminal. Additionally, the bill also requires those same sized airports to maintain baby changing tables in at least one men's and one women's restroom in each passenger terminal building. While changing tables in women's restrooms are pretty much standard-issue, the same is not true in many men's rooms.

airport lactation room
Nursing room at the San Diego Airport (Photo by Summer Hull / The Points Guy)

Changes of this nature won't take place overnight, but these elements that were included in the FAA Reauthorization Bill should set in motion changes that will bring appropriate nursing and pumping facilities complete with a place to sit, table and electrical outlets within each terminal at airports that are categorized as medium-sized airports and larger. Examples of medium-sized airports include: Fort Myers, New Orleans, Omaha, Albuquerque, Raleigh, Nashville, Austin and Houston-Hobby.

Statistics indicate that over 81% of mothers in the United States breastfeed at least once, a rate that has been on the rise for a number of years. However, less than a third of US mothers are still breastfeeding when their child turns one-year-old, so efforts such as this are important in normalizing breastfeeding so that young children and their mothers can enjoy the multitude of benefits of nursing as they return to the workforce or simply take vacations.

When planning out your next trip as a pumping mom, note that pumping devices are considered medical devices by the airlines and thus do not count against your included carry-on items. We've also put together a flying with a baby checklist to get you on your way.

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  • Solid welcome bonus

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  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
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  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
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