Lawmaker mothers with children in tow are still few in numbers but bring often missing perspective

A lactation pod at the state Capitol. An official “baby of the House.” A makeshift nursery in a small office once reserved for freshman senators.

The landscape at the Georgia Capitol is changing as more women have been elected to the Legislature and as the work of caregiving is increasingly shared among spouses.

But the number of women serving in Georgia’s Legislature is still out of proportion with the state’s overall makeup, with women making up 34% of both chambers but half of the population. Women lawmakers with young children also continue to be a relatively rare sight under the Gold Dome, where decisions affecting education and families are being regularly made.