Ribbon cutting celebrates first of 3 new expressing pods for nursing mothers at PSNS & IMF

Ribbon cutting celebrates first of 3 new expressing pods for nursing mothers at PSNS & IMF

By Ben Hutto, PSNS & IMF Public Affairs

Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate & Intermediate Maintenance Facility is seeking to improve the lives of new mothers working at the shipyard by adding three expressing station pods inside the Controlled Industrial Area.

The pods will give nursing mothers a self-contained, private, clean and quiet place designed specifically for them. One of the pods debuted in a ribbon-cutting ceremony in Building 844, Nov. 22, 2024.

The other two expressing station pods are expected to be available in Buildings 1247 and 856 in early 2025. With these three additions, the shipyard now has 30 available expressing stations in the CIA.

"These mobile stations are a cost-effective way to help our working mothers here," said Lynn Grellner, Command Culture & Engagement Program Manager, Code 1100. "When you factor in the cost it takes to make permanent changes to our buildings, these stations made more sense. Many of the buildings are set to be changed as the shipyard continues its transformation. It does not make sense to invest that money into a room that may not be there in a few years. These pods will ensure that our working mothers will not be without expressing stations regardless of the changes."

It is welcome news to employees like Lindsey Miller, training instructor, Code 139, Nuclear Inspection. Seven years ago, she was a new mother working at the shipyard. Having difficulty finding an appropriate place to pump, she worked with the Family Matters support group to help get expressing stations installed in the shipyard.

"The expressing station initiative has been one of the most impactful and successful initiatives I've had the privilege of witnessing in my 16 years here at the shipyard," she said. "This ongoing initiative has been incredibly successful thanks to the dedicated individuals driving it, including top leadership, Code 980 facilities, and the members of the employee resource groups. By introducing innovative solutions like portable pods for expressing stations, we're finding creative ways to better support the needs of pumping employees."