Prenatal and Postnatal Well-Being Resources
UVA offers services for employees and their spouses on the UVA Health Plan or UPG Anthem Health Plan who are expecting so that you can learn about, plan for, and have the healthiest pregnancy possible.
Support for New and Expectant Parents
UVA offers services for employees and their spouses on the UVA Health Plan or UPG Anthem Health Plan who are expecting so that you can learn about, plan for, and have the healthiest pregnancy possible.
For UVA employees and their spouses on the UVA Health Plan: Prenatal and newborn educational materials are available to learn what to expect before and after delivery.
This program is already included with your Aetna health benefits and insurance plan - there is no extra cost to you.
Enroll by your 16th week of pregnancy and, if qualified, the UVA Health Plan subscriber should receive $100 in the subscriber’s paycheck (taxable income) by the end of the month after the month of enrollment.
Your breast pump may also be covered by your insurance provider. Please call the Aetna One Advocate team for details 1-800-987-9072
Delays can occur due to payroll cycles and other issues. Please contact the HR Solution Center if you have questions. Call 800.272.3531 or visit the Aetna website for more information.
Visit Aetna's WebsiteYou want the best for your baby. Come see a registered dietitian with Northridge Nutrition Counseling Center for individualized guidance on how to nourish yourself during and after pregnancy.
Employees and spouses on the UVA Health Plan or UPG Anthem Health Plan are offered two free visits!
To learn more, contact HWNutrition@virginia.edu or 434.243.4749.
UVA supports all employees who are lactating. Below you can learn more about lactating as a UVA employee and resources available for your support.
If you have questions or need assistance, please reach out to HR: askhr@virginia.edu.
The Breastfeeding Program offers lactation consultants and pediatricians who can provide you with the support you need to breastfeed your baby.
Prenatal visits are available where a parent can meet one-on-one with a lactation consultant. Call 434-982-3316 UVA Breastfeeding Medicine Clinic to schedule a visit.
In March 2010, The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act amended the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) to require that employers provide reasonable break time and a private, non-bathroom area for those who wish to express (pump) breast milk for their child to have when they are apart.
Specifically, the Act requires that we provide a reasonable amount of break time (two or three lactation breaks per eight-hour shift may be reasonable) and a space as frequently as needed by the lactating employee, for up to one year following the birth of the employee’s child. The space provided by the employer cannot be a bathroom, and it must be shielded from view and free from intrusion by coworkers or the public (though the space can be temporarily created or converted for the duration of the mother’s need). Be aware that the frequency and length of breaks will vary.
Employers are not required under the FLSA to compensate lactating employees for these breaks. However, where we already provide paid breaks, a lactating employee who uses that break time must be compensated in the same way that other employees are compensated for break time, and they must be completely relieved from all duty during those breaks.
While this law specifically refers to non-exempt employees, the Department of Labor encourages employers to provide breaks to all lactating employees regardless of their status under the FLSA.
If you have not done so already, identify a private, non-bathroom space that can be used for lactation breaks, and train managers and supervisors about the requirements.
It is in all of our best interests to comply with these regulations. Breastfeeding not only helps keep moms and children healthy, it also helps families save money through reduced medical costs, lost time at work, and costs for formula and feeding supplies, which can total over $1,500 each year. Employers who support lactating employee describe the return on their investment as including lower health care costs, absenteeism and turnover rates, as well as higher productivity, improved morale, and greater job satisfaction.
To read more about these requirements you can read the Department of Labor’s Fact Sheet and its Frequently Asked Questions for Nursing Mothers.
Additional Resources:
U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
Wage and Hour Division, U.S. Department of Labor
UVA's Breastfeeding Program suggests the following resources for education and encouragement:
UVA will use and promote inclusive language to ensure all in need are able to access the resources available, including:
| Previous Language | Proposed Language |
|---|---|
| Mother’s / Moms / Women | Parents and Team Members |
| She / Her / Hers | They / Them / Theirs |
| Nursing Mother | Lactating Individual; Lactating Parent; Those Needing to Express Milk |
| Breastfeeding | Lactation |
| Mother’s Rooms / Nursing Mothers Rooms | Lactation Rooms |
| Breastfeeding | Breastfeeding; Chestfeeding; Lactating; Expressing; Pumping; Human Milk Feeding |
| Breastmilk | Expressed Milk or Human Milk |
| Nursing | Expressing Milk |
| Maternity / Paternity | Parenthood |
References:
NIH - Inclusive and Gender-Neutral Language | National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Johns Hopkins Lactation Support Program
In 2022, improving team members’ lactation experience was one of projects to come out of the Spark Innovation Competition. This policy is one of several initiatives from the project and formalizes and reinforces the University Medical Center’s commitment to providing a supportive environment for expressing milk in the workplace for the Medical Center employee, and facilitating compliance with applicable laws. The full policy is available on PolicyTech.
Key elements of the new policy are outlined below:
Below you will find a list of lactation rooms (commonly called "nursing rooms" or "pumping rooms") available across the University.
Current list of lactation rooms on Grounds.
Main Hospital
South Tower
Emily Couric Clinical Cancer Center
Education Resource Center
Battle Building
West Complex

1st Floor – Room 1505 (Cabell Room)
1st Floor Room 1125 (located in the Admissions Suite)
4th Floor – Room 4020
UVA Health Cancer Care, Pantops
652 Peter Jefferson Parkway, Suite 310
Riverside Pediatric Behavioral Health Clinic
Current list of lactation rooms off Grounds.
Current list of lactation rooms within Academic Buildings.
Room: TBD
Department/Division: Training Area
Address: 2400 Old Ivy Road
Persons of Contact: Michael Phillips
Phone Number: 434.982.5549
Key Access: No
Room: 3014
Department/Division: Human Resources
Address: 2420 Old Ivy Road
Persons of Contact: Front Desk
Phone Number:
Key Access: Yes
Room: TBD
Department/Division: Finance
Address: 1001 N Emmet St
Persons of Contact: Stacey Rittenhouse
Phone Number: 434.924.4294
Key Access: TBD
Room: 303
Department/Division: College of Arts & Sciences
Address: 409 McCormick Road
Persons of Contact: Aimee Steussy
Phone Number: 434.924.4027
Key Access: Card Reader. Contact POC for Access
Room: 311
Department/Division: University Libraries
Address: 1 Newcomb Road
Persons of Contact: Public Services
Phone Number: 434.924.3021
Key Access: Check-out key from Clemons 4th floor desk
Room: 200
Department/Division: Contemplative Sciences Center
Address: 403 Emmet St S
Persons of Contact: Matt Ellis
Phone Number: 434.982.6057
Key Access: The door is open and has a lock on it.
Room: Abbott Center Wellness Rooms 1 and 2
Address: 100 Darden Boulevard
Persons of Contact: Office of Student Affairs
Email: OSA@darden.virginia.edu
Phone: 434.924.3655
Room: Temp
Department/Division: Human Resources/Training
Address: 575 Alderman Road
Persons of Contact: Customer Support Desk
Phone Number: 434.924.1777
Key Access: Yes
Room: 053A
Department/Division: College of Arts & Sciences
Address: 1605 Jefferson Park Avenue
Persons of Contact: Aimee Steussy
Phone Number: 434.924.4027
Key Access: Card Reader. Contact POC for Access
Room: 201
Department/Division: School of Engineering and Applied Science
Address: Engineers Way (at Whitehead Road)
Persons of Contact: Computer Science Department Office
Phone Number: 434.982.2226
Key Access: Key in Rice Hall 527
Room: 257
Department/Division: School of Education and Human Development
Address: 405 Emmet St
Persons of Contact: Kelly Korrington
Phone Number: 434.243.9226
Key Access: No
Room: TBD
Department/Division: Student Affairs
Address: 580 Massie Road
Persons of Contact: Lisa Napier
Phone Number: 434.924.3737
Key Access: Call to receive room number and access code
Room:
Department/Division: Wellness Suite
Address: 550 Brandon Ave
Persons of Contact:
Phone Number:
Key Access: No
Room: A013
Department/Division: School of Engineering & Applied Science
Address: Thornton Hall 351 McCormick Rd.
Persons of Contact: Engineering Dean’s Office
Phone Number: 434.924.3310
Key Access: Key in Thornton A124 Dean’s Office
Room: Floating Space
Department/Division:
Address: 1400 University Ave
Persons of Contact: Latoria White
Phone Number: 434.982.2252
Key Access: No
Room: TBD
Department/Division: School of Continuing & Prof. Studies/ Conference Center
Address: 104 Midmont Ln
Persons of Contact: Kathy Roy
Phone Number: 434.982.5282
Key Access: TBD