US Airports Are Now Required to Offer Lactation Rooms for Breastfeeding Moms

Pumping moms, rejoice! All large- and medium-sized airports are now required to provide clean, private, non-bathroom lactation rooms.

It’s all thanks to the Friendly Airport for Mothers Act (FAM), a bill commissioned by Illinois Senator Tammy Duckworth, who became the first sitting senator to give birth this year. The bill was officially signed by the President on Oct. 5.

The senator and mom took to social media for a well-earned celebratory post.

“I’m so proud my bipartisan FAM Act was signed into law. This long-awaited law will help improve children’s health and help hard working mothers across our country find clean and accessible spaces to express breastmilk when traveling,” she triumphanntly shares.

The best part, these lactation rooms have to be offered in every terminal, meaning no running around the airport like a chicken without a head looking for a place to feed.

The bill also includes measures to protect people with disabilities, offers aid to small airports in Illinois to update their infrastructure and requires airports to provide a baby changing table in one men’s and one women’s restroom in each passenger terminal building. Basically, it’s a major win for all parents.

While the FAM Act will go a long way for moms who have to juggle breastfeeding and traveling all at once, check out a handful of other ways to make breastfeeding while traveling as stress-free as possible.

Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.