For a few years I volunteered at the nursing mothers' lounge at The Big E, the multi-state New England fair held in Massachusetts each September. It's a big fair - more than 1.2 million people attended this year.
When I've posted about this a number of you have commented that you wish you had something like this at your own fair. So I asked Lezlie, the La Leche League leader responsible for organizing the lounge, to answer a few questions about how she does it. Her responses are below.
Can you describe the nursing mothers' lounge at the Big E? What does it look like, and how does it
work?
The Nursing Mothers' Lounge is a quiet place in the New England
Center where mothers can relax in comfy chairs to nurse their babies.
There is also a changing table available. The space is surrounded by
curtains, open at one end, to ensure privacy.
How many mothers use the station, and what kinds of comments do they make about it?
The mothers that have used the area are very grateful for a chance
to get away from the crowds for a little quiet nursing time. In the
past few years, we've had over 1000 mothers either use our booth or
stop by to ask questions or take information. This year our numbers
were down to about 700 but that was because I wasn't able to fill all
the time slots with volunteers. The moms were still there, but we just
didn't get to count them.
How did this station get established?
Four years ago the Big E contacted me as a representative of La
Leche League, to see if we would staff the Nursing Mothers' Lounge. In
past years, they had the space available, but there was a real problem
with privacy. People that should not have been in the booth were, and
others were peeking through the curtains. The Big E felt it was
important to provide a private space for those that wanted it. Woman
are still able to nurse anywhere on the fairgrounds, but for those that
don't want to, this space is there.
How do you manage the setting up and staffing of the station?
I have been collecting old upholstered chairs for a few years now,
and the Big E has been able to let me store them in the New England
Center for the winter. Chapin's Furniture also donates the changing
table and a rocking chair. The Big E provides the carpet, the curtains
and the table space. I am able to come in a few days before the fair
starts to set up the booth.
Staffing is the challenging part. Mid summer I start emailing LLL
Leaders and people that have volunteered in the past. This year I set
up a Google calendar so that volunteers could see which time slots were
open. I am able to give out a free ticket and parking pass to anyone
who helps for 4 hours or more. I can put 2 people on at a time so I
always encourage people to bring a friend. As the date of the fairs
gets closer, I start asking people to spread the word to other groups
that might be able to help. In the past we've gotten volunteers from
mothering support groups and WIC.
Is there any advice you'd give to others who would like to set up a station at their own fairs?
Be sure that you and the fair organizers are on the same page.
You may want to email your comments so you have written documentation
of things promised. The first year I did this, there were staffing
changes which led to misunderstandings for the next two years.
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