Philadelphia Airport Just Got a New Breastfeeding “Pod” for Nursing Moms

Photograph courtesy Philadelphia International Airport.

Ask any nursing mom, and she’ll tell you: finding a quiet, clean, private space to nurse a baby or express milk on the go is a frustrating, tiring experience.

It’s this very frustration that Mamava, a Vermont-based company, seeks to address. Mamava, which produces free-standing lactation pods, was founded by two working mothers who’d had their own experiences of “having pumped at trade shows, airports, corporate retreats, baseball games, and even the back seat of a male client’s car.”

These pods, or “suites,” connect to a Mamava app, which shows the locations of all Mamava pods and whether or not they’re in use. By downloading the app, a nursing mother can find an available pod and unlock the door using Bluetooth technology. Inside each pod is a bench, a fold-down table, an electrical outlet for plugging in a breast pump, and enough space to bring in a stroller or bags. Plus, the door locks for privacy.

Photograph courtesy Philadelphia International Airport.

“Nursing should be a right, not a privilege” is the Mamava motto, and it’s this right that they’re enforcing by bringing their pods to the Philadelphia Zoo, the Wells Fargo Center, Temple University, the Philadelphia Convention Center, CHOP, and now, the Philadelphia Airport.

Previously, nursing moms at the airport could head to the Minutes Suites in the A-B terminal connector. The suites — which aren’t just for nursing moms; any passenger can book one for a nap or take a phone call — are free for the first 30 minutes for moms who need to breastfeed or pump. After that, the suites’ time-based pricing comes into play.

In contrast, woman can now always access the airport’s new Mamava suite, which is located in Terminal F, free of charge.

“We’re thrilled to support breastfeeding mamas at Philadelphia International Airport,” said Mamava co-founder and CEO Sascha Mayer, in a press release. “We believe that all mamas deserve a clean, comfortable, and dignified place to use a breast pump or breastfeed distraction-free—anywhere, anytime.”

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