After the birth of her daughter in December, Jenny Gao (graduate-chemistry) has to balance being a college student and a mother. Now, she incorporates a stop at a Penn State lactation station twice a day.

The Penn State Breastfeeding Support Program, which offers classes to teach women to breastfeed, also offers mothers who are returning to work or school the option to breastfeed their infant in private room via one of six lactation stations.

In Pennsylvania, where there is not law regarding breast-feeding in public, debate surfaced when breast-feeding advocates protested when a woman was asked to "cover up" at a Reading Mall in February. State Representative Babette Josephs, D-Philadelphia, plans to introduce legislation prohibiting local governments from enacting ordinances that would ban nursing mothers from breastfeeding in public.

Lynn Tomsho, senior research technologist, said she uses a lactation station located in Frear to pump breast milk for her child.

"I work in a lab and there is no private place, so I probably would have had to use the bathroom," Tomsho said.

Lactation stations, located in Frear, Henderson South, Noll Lab, the Bank of America Career Services Center, the Pasquerilla Spiritual Center and Outreach Innovation building, provide a private room with a breast pump, where Penn State students, faculty and staff can either breastfeed or pump breast milk for their infant. The Breastfeeding Support Program also provides a free clinic that is open to the public, also located at 207 Noll Lab.

Associate Director of The Center for Children with Obesity Cynthia Bartok said two hour-long classes are held every month. The prenatal class teaches soon-to-be mothers how to breastfeed their infants and is next scheduled at noon Thursday at 207 Noll Lab. The return-to-work class teaches women what to do when they are away from their baby and is scheduled at 12:30 p.m. April 28.

"We can make a difference here at Penn State by having this service," Bartok said, adding they also are looking to include a class on feeding options in the future.

Bartok said she sought a grant to fund the program because she felt a desperate need for a support. She said women are less likely to return to work or school when they do not have the proper resources to breastfeed their infants.

Kay Hoover, a lactation consultant, said breastfeeding reduces the chances of women getting breast cancer, thyroid problems and cervical cancer. She said it is also a plus because breastfeeding saves money on food and healthcare.

"Moms chose to breastfeed in large parts because they want their babies to be healthier," Bortak said.

Bortak said babies who are breastfed develop a stronger immune system and decrease their chances of having cholesterol and obesity problems in the future. Infants also get more nutrients. Bortak said the vitamins and minerals found in breast milk are absorbed more easily, and the proteins are more digestible compared to formula milk.

Research Associate for Childhood Obesity Jenny Edmondson said women can purchase bras and breast-pumping kits at a subsidized price at the clinic and also borrow books on breastfeeding and child care from its library.

Edmondson said since its inception last March, the program has serviced a total of 40 women, and there are currently 27 women actively using the six locations on campus.