PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. -- Carrying bags and kids while trying to feed a baby can be challenging for moms. Palm Beach International Airportis doing something that could make their trips a little easier.
Traveling moms now have the option to step inside a lactation suite for a clean, private area to nurse or pump. The 9-foot by 5-foot unit has been in place for a week and is already a hit.
"I walked through security and I saw the pod," explained traveler Claudia Riegelhaupt. "I was like that's amazing. I have to go check it out and it just happened to be that my little guy needed to eat so I went in there and used it and it was wonderful.
Riegelhaupt said she was overwhelmed with joy when she walked in, "usually it's like a grimy bathroom or like a chair in front of a gross looking room, so this is wonderful."
PBIA is the only airport in South Florida with a lactation suite for nursing mothers.
"It's very important for us to respond to the demands of our traveling public," said Lacy Lueck. "We feel that a private, clean comfortable place to be able to breast-feed or nurse outside of a restroom is really important."
It's so important the airport is looking to add more lactation suites. Good news for moms on the go like Riegelhaupt traveling with two kids.
"They were both happy definitely, the big one even said, 'hey mommy I think maybe they put this here because they we needed to feed the baby,' " Riegelhaupt said laughing.
The door on the suite locks and shows when it's open or occupied. The site also has power outlets inside for moms needing to plug in a breast pump.
