Mamava opens its 500th lactation station, this time at Hollywood Burbank Airport

Photo Gallery: Newly installed Mamava pumping and breastfeeding station at Hollywood Burbank Airport

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Glendale Mayor and Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority President Zareh Sinanyan, with his campaign assistant Elen Asatryan, with The Stark Group, get an unplanned tour of a Mamava pumping and breastfeeding station from Director of Public Affairs and Communications Lucy Burghdorf, a new feature at the Hollywood Burbank Airport on Monday, August 13, 2018. There are 500 of these around the country, but not only at airports. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

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A traveller passes a Mamava pumping and breastfeeding station, a new feature at the Hollywood Burbank Airport on Monday, August 13, 2018. There are 500 of these around the country, but not only at airports. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

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Director of Public Affairs and Communications Lucy Burghdorf keys in a passcode to open a Mamava pumping and breastfeeding station, a new feature at the Hollywood Burbank Airport on Monday, August 13, 2018. There are 500 of these around the country, but not only at airports. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

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The interior of a Mamava pumping and breastfeeding station, a new feature at the Hollywood Burbank Airport on Monday, August 13, 2018. There are 500 of these around the country, but not only at airports. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

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Glendale Mayor and Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority President Zareh Sinanyan, talks with Director of Public Affairs and Communications Lucy Burghdorf with his campaign assistant Elen Asatryan, with The Stark Group, as she gets a cell phone ready for a photo, as they get an unplanned tour of a Mamava pumping and breastfeeding station, a new feature at the Hollywood Burbank Airport on Monday, August 13, 2018. There are 500 of these around the country, but not only at airports. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

By Anthony Clark Carpio

Aug. 14, 2018 6:10 PM PT

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Nursing mothers who travel through Hollywood Burbank Airport now have a more sanitary and private location to breastfeed their child or pump milk.

As of Thursday, the airport became home to the 500th lactation suite created by Mamava, a Burlington, Vt.-based company that specializes in private pods where mothers can lactate in private.

The station measures about 7 feet tall, 9 feet wide and 5 feet deep. It has two benches, a side table and two electrical outlets where a breast pump can be plugged in.

The pod also features grab handles, motion-activated lights, ceiling vents and a smart lock that can be unlocked using the company’s smartphone app.

However, the suite does not have running water. Those who need to use a sink can do so in the restrooms located just steps away from the pod, said Lucy Burghdorf, spokeswoman for Hollywood Burbank Airport.

Before the pod’s installation, nursing mothers had to use the airport’s restrooms to breastfeed or pump.

“We’ve received comments from passengers asking us why we don’t have a separate lactation room,” Burghdorf said. “The problem is that we can’t build one. We have no room. Even if we could, we don’t have any room. So this was the next best thing.”

Christine Dodson, co-founder and chief operating officer of Mamava, said it has been the company’s mission to provide breastfeeding mothers with choices on where they can pump or breastfeed.

Mamava’s pods can be found throughout the country and have been placed in stadiums and arenas.

A second lactation station is scheduled to be installed in Terminal B sometime in September, Burghdorf said.

Dodson said it is important that there are spaces for mothers to breastfeed or pump, especially sanitary locations.

“That’s why we’re advocates for this,” she said. “Moms travel, so the significance of places like Hollywood Burbank Airport getting these acknowledges that they are doing something for these travelers and that it’s a great amenity.”

anthonyclark.carpio@latimes.com

Twitter: @acocarpio