Taking breaks at work to pump

I am trying to plan ahead and figure out how I'm going to do this....

I plan on BFing for as long as possible. From my understanding I will have to pump as often as the baby would eat. So that is every 2-3 hours. This is probably impossible at work. I can probably take a lunch break and maybe 1 other break to run to the parking lot and pump in my car.

Can I pump and drive to and from work or is that really unsafe?? I could only imagine getting pulled over with pumps on my boobs! "I'm sorry officer my baby needs to eat!"

Also I guess I have to put it in the fridge at work? Is that weird?? haha. I just hope no one is weirded out that I have to store my breastmilk in a public fridge that everyone puts their food in.

I need some kind of system I guess to make this work.

BTDT Full time working mamas- how did you do it?

Re: Taking breaks at work to pump

What kind of place do you work in? There are laws that cover breaks and providing a place to pump, but it only applies to employers of a certain size.

My office has a private room with a door that has a lock and a mini fridge for pumping mothers.

I would not plan on pumping while driving. It is not safe, and you won't get good production that way. It is best to be in a place where you can relax.

Re: Taking breaks at work to pump

This is going to be my first time pumping at work as well. My job has a "lactation room", I am just dreading bringing the pump on the train! I plan on getting a small portable cooler type thing to keep the BM in the fridge at work until I go home.

Taking breaks at work to pump

I work in a very small office. When I was pumping I would go into the conference room and put a sign on the door. I put my milk in a cooler bag that I kept in the fridge.

Re: Taking breaks at work to pump

Taking breaks at work to pump

I'm pretty sure the law requires all companies to have a place for employees to pump and I think youre allowed to once every three hours.
I've been back at work for over a month and have had no problem pumping. There are days I miss a session bc I'm too busy I forget but it's my own fault. Get a pumping bra so you can be hands free - And I also use my nursing cover just in case someone tries to come in the office

I'm terms of leaving it in the fridge I do that and haven't had any problems.

don't pump and drive

Message edited 6/25/2013 10:21:01 PM.

Taking breaks at work to pump

It's not that my job won't LET me take breaks... it's just that sometimes it's difficult to take breaks throughout the day. My office is fairly small- about 30 people. I don't really feel comfortable doing it in the conference room at work. Plus there are always meetings going on in there.

I would have to only go to my car to pump because it's really the only place I can get any privacy, even though there are windows and people are constantly going in and out of the parking lot.

My direct manager is a man who is so far from understanding anything about breast feeding and I can only imagine how awkward this conversation is going to go when I tell him I have to leave to pump. As feminist as I am, I will never be one of those people who is outspoken about breastfeeding in public... I am just a very private person like that! I'd rather just sneak out when I can and not tell anyone where I'm going, and then discreetly put my cooler of pumped milk into the fridge!!

Taking breaks at work to pump

It is obvious that pumping while driving is not at all safe and it is difficult too, best way you pump in the morning and store it in your home fridge, if it is possible then go to home in your lunch break for pumping but make sure that you are giving time for your lunch also.

Re: Taking breaks at work to pump

I know your office is small, but do you have an HR rep you can speak to about this?
Also, just because people can be weirded out by bottles in a fridge with people's food I would bring a cooler to keep it discrete. I had a roommate once who was sick and put an IV bag in the fridge and people flipped out.

Re: Taking breaks at work to pump

I'm a teacher, so I was lucky in that I didn't have to worry about when and where.

I pumped 1st thing in the am before ds woke up.
I pumped at my lunch in my room
I pumped after school ended right before i went home

it was hard if we were on a field trip and I had to pump 2 hours later than I normally did. Oh that hurt.

Also, I have a frig in my class but the cooler inserts did their job and a sink to clean.

What helped was having extra supplies at work (shields, tubing, the little white discs).

Taking breaks at work to pump

I pumped at 4:30AM when I woke up
got to work at 6
Pumped at 10AM for 15m on break
Pumped at 12:30PM for 30m on lunch
Pumped at 2:00PM for 15m on break

After the first few days I realized I didnt need that 2:00 session so I just went home and pumped.

I never put my milk in the refrigerator, as my manager pointed out to me - would I really want every single person in my building to have access to my breastmilk? I used a cooler and it stayed cold all day. I also had three different sets of pump parts so I never had to wash them at work, just threw them back into a ziploc bag.

We havea special lactation room in the nurse's office.

Re: Taking breaks at work to pump

PLEASE READ

When I pumped at work I left the milk in the fridge. The medela set came with black storage bags that you can put them in. I work with all males. No on knew what was in them.

Re: Taking breaks at work to pump

Re: Taking breaks at work to pump

Taking breaks at work to pump

As Mrs Fathead said, the law REQUIRES your employer to allow you the time and space to pump. This is true regardless of the size of the employer.
I work with all males, and it is an awkward discussion for sure. But, I think sneaking out will only bring you troubles and possibly hinder you from pumping. If you are upfront with this guy, I bet he won't want to really discuss it (it is a "woman's issue" like AF-- guys don't want to talk about it, in my experience). Just tell him you need 3 short breaks during the day to pump (around 1030, 1 and 330 were my times).
As to storage, you can actually keep it in your office or desk if you have one, with an ice pack in an insulated bag, or as PPs suggested, just put it in the black medela bag and stick it in the fridge.
GL!

Taking breaks at work to pump

Just FYI--while your job legally DOES need to provide you with a place and opportunity to pump, I do think they are allowed to make you take this time as UNPAID. So if you're not salaried you may not be compensated for this time.

Re: Taking breaks at work to pump

i'll be pumping away!! I have my own office and own mini fridge so I will be closing the door every time I do it!!

By law THEY HAVE TO LET YOU PUMP! so don't worry about it

Re: Taking breaks at work to pump

If you are worried about talking to your male boss about this (i was too), speak to your HR person. I spoke to my HR (bc i needed to find out where Ii was supposed to pump) and they got me all set up. they then told me they will speak to my boss about it. I have a good relationship with my boss so i wanted to warn him that when HR called it wasnt a problem. so i told him that i met with HR and i need to pump while I am at work and HR said they would contact you to go over things. he totally was fine with it and i assume HR told him the law (being allowed to take brakes every 3 hours etc). and we havent had any problems

Re: Taking breaks at work to pump

Re: Taking breaks at work to pump

I have to figure this out too.

There are rooms they have designated for family visits so I'm sure I could use one of those and we also have a fridge where I could store things.

However, I work in the field a lot so I'm not sure how that would work. I don't have a problem pumping in my car and depending on where I am I can even go home for a little to do it. But, if I need to pump and I'm out in the field how in the world do I keep it cold? Or do I just pump and dump in that case?

Re: Taking breaks at work to pump

Posted by AScottWolf

I have to figure this out too.

There are rooms they have designated for family visits so I'm sure I could use one of those and we also have a fridge where I could store things.

However, I work in the field a lot so I'm not sure how that would work. I don't have a problem pumping in my car and depending on where I am I can even go home for a little to do it. But, if I need to pump and I'm out in the field how in the world do I keep it cold? Or do I just pump and dump in that case?

Image Attachment(s):

Re: Taking breaks at work to pump

Posted by MRsFaTThead

Posted by AScottWolf

I have to figure this out too.

There are rooms they have designated for family visits so I'm sure I could use one of those and we also have a fridge where I could store things.

However, I work in the field a lot so I'm not sure how that would work. I don't have a problem pumping in my car and depending on where I am I can even go home for a little to do it. But, if I need to pump and I'm out in the field how in the world do I keep it cold? Or do I just pump and dump in that case?

the set i got came with this
you can always buy one seperate if need be
keeps the milk nice and cool

Re: Taking breaks at work to pump

Posted by anskiv

Posted by MRsFaTThead

Posted by AScottWolf

I have to figure this out too.

There are rooms they have designated for family visits so I'm sure I could use one of those and we also have a fridge where I could store things.

However, I work in the field a lot so I'm not sure how that would work. I don't have a problem pumping in my car and depending on where I am I can even go home for a little to do it. But, if I need to pump and I'm out in the field how in the world do I keep it cold? Or do I just pump and dump in that case?

the set i got came with this
you can always buy one seperate if need be
keeps the milk nice and cool

Yes, the guidelines say that you can keep milk in insulated bags with a frozen cooler pack for up to 24 hours, believe it or not! LINK

Re: Taking breaks at work to pump

This is the kit I added to my registry:

Medela Pump In Style Advanced Breastpump - On-the-Go Tote



I like how the bag is very discreet. I know I have to have an awkward conversation with my manager and I'll just have to deal with it! I am just worried about if I'm in the middle of something and its hard for me to leave my desk. Even now I take very random lunch breaks. Does it have to be like clockwork or can it be like every 3 hours one day, every 4 hours the next... will that make me leak/bleed/hurt??

I am also worried about where the hell I'm supposed to go! There really is nowhere except the ladies room or my car.

I did also ask for a couple nice nursing covers and I can park in the back of the building where no one really goes.

Taking breaks at work to pump

When you talk to your manager/HR person, you can politely remind them that the law requires them to provide you a place to pump-- the link Mrs. Fathead sent lays out the requirements. Some offices give an empty conference room, office or even closet to pump...
In my experience, you can vary the times somewhat, but not that much-- even if you don't hurt (and it definitely hurts if you forget for too long!), you will damage your supply if you go for too long on a regular basis. On a daily basis, though, your boobs will probably remind you