One-Third of Working Parents Still Lack a Place to Pump

Heading back to work after baby isn’t easy. Outside of the emotional toll of leaving baby with another caregiver and the physical demands on those who have given birth, those who decide to breastfeed face another hurdle—finding a place to pump at work.

In the new 2025 State of Breastfeeding Survey over 3,000 parents shared with Mamava and Medela about their feeding journeys, challenges and support systems. Across the board, they found a lack of much-needed support.

One in three parents said they don’t have consistent access to a lactation space at work—even though 3 out 4 parents reported working full or part-time and more than half practice combo-feeding through breastfeeding and pumping.

When asked what kept them from reaching their feeding goals, two-thirds of parents pointed to challenges around pumping, from managing equipment logistics to simply finding a place to pump or nurse while away from home.

The good news? Parents have legal protections to back them up and it’s important to get to know them. Only 55% of respondents were aware of their rights under the PUMP Act—a 2022 federal labor law that mandates workplace lactation accommodations. Learn more about the PUMP Act and your rights—because every parent deserves to feel good about their feeding plan, at home and at work.