Babies: 0 - 3 Months

Any advice for maternity leave meeting and breast pumps

So I set up an appointment to meet with human resources this coming week about my maternity leave. I can only think of a few minor questions to ask him.. Mostly pertaining to when my leave can start and when it ends (FMLA and pay type things).

I also want to find out if there is any sort of policy about breast feeding moms who need to pump when coming back to work. I tried looking online if there is a law about this in NH but can't find anything. I think it's up to the employers disgression. Has anyone run into the pumping at work talk, and what does your employer offer? I work in a large doctors office and can most likely ask to use an exam room in OBGYN (where I'm actually getting my prenatal care) but I'm concerned about getting enough time to be able to pump so my supply doesn't decrease. Does anyone know how long it usually takes to pump? I am planning on buying a double electric pump so I can pump both breasts at the same time. Also, does anyone have a suggestion for a great double electric pump that they love (quick, efficient, and Comfortable) and costs under $250 (or cheaper would be great!)?

 If you can think of any other questions that would be good to ask, please let me know. I would like to have a list to go in with but don't really know where to start...

TIA!!!

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Re: Any advice for maternity leave meeting and breast pumps

  • No advice for your meeting, sounds like you have it all covered. As for a pump, I love my Medela Pump in Style. It's $279 most places, but keep your eyes peeled for specials. BRU will run a 15% off coupon often, which would get it down to the price you want. I actually bought mine from ebay for $120 and I've never regretted it. I just had to buy new tubing and exterior pieces. Ask your hospital LC if they sell pumps. If so, wait and get it when you are in the hospital and it will go on your insurance bill!

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  • I agree with PP about the Medela Pump in Style. ?It is so easy to use and fairly inconspicuous to carry to and from work. ?I didn't know some insurances would cover it, but that's a great idea! ?

    As far as time for pumping, it is different for everyone depending on how fast your let-down is and how often you are pumping. ?I try to set aside 15-20 minutes per pumping session.

    GL!?

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  • imagejen_and_scott:

    No advice for your meeting, sounds like you have it all covered. As for a pump, I love my Medela Pump in Style. It's $279 most places, but keep your eyes peeled for specials. BRU will run a 15% off coupon often, which would get it down to the price you want. I actually bought mine from ebay for $120 and I've never regretted it. I just had to buy new tubing and exterior pieces. Ask your hospital LC if they sell pumps. If so, wait and get it when you are in the hospital and it will go on your insurance bill!

    That's a good thought about getting it at the hospital. I think they sell them there.. I know I'll get a free manual pump to go home with after I deliver but I'm not expecting it to be amazing or anything.. and it's manual. Free is good though when/if I'm in a bind. I was thinking about calling my insurance to see if they would cover the cost of a breast pump but I have a high deductible anyways and don't plan to meet the deductible until Dec. when I go in for delivery.. but I could reduce some of the deductible though when it's something I will have to buy anyways. My cousin offered me a Medela pump that she and my other cousin (her sister) both used. But I hear all these things about not using the same pump as another person.. I looked up new tubing and breast sheilds and it's really cheap, but I don't know if it's full of bacteria still....... I'm still debating but it would save a LOT of money!

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  • I would have an idea of what you want to do for your meeting regarding your leave.  Say what you are wanting (i.e. take 12 weeks of FMLA) and ask your questions.  I thinks its a little early for you to talk about pumping IMO.  I would wait until you discuss your return to work date AFTER the baby is born.  Then, once again, know what you want to do (i.e. I will need to pump three times a day for 15 minutes and would like to use an empty exam room).  The amount of times you will need to pump per day and how long it will take are something you won't really know until after baby gets here. 

    I also have a Medela PIS, and it takes me about 15 minutes total.  This includes cleaning the parts. 

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  • 1. I have the Medela Pump In Style and even though I don't have anything to compare it to, it works great! I have a friend who it also seems to work for. Plus, babies r us seems to carry a big variety of parts and accessories for it, so if you shop there, it could be convenient.?

    ?2. I had the pumping talk with my HR department. Basically I work for an electrical contractor and the guys in the field get 2 - 15 minute breaks and a??30 minute lunch. For some reason in the office, we only get the 30 minute lunch (no one takes the break). I basically just went to them and said that I'd like to be able to take the 15 minute break and my HR department didn't have a problem with it at all - he actually seemed thrilled that I'd be breast feeding my child and that I cared enough to pump. As far as having somewhere to pump, there are empty offices in my building that I can take - but in the event that they're full, we have a single bathroom with a little "sitting room" that I could take up if need be.

    3. when I pump (but I have an abundance of milk) I generally only need to pump for about 5-10 minutes (one breast produces more milk and has a quicker let-down so seems to be done more quickly, the other takes some time). But you'll need to consider time to set up/clean up. I think that 15 minutes if you have a good milk supply should be more than enough time - so using breaks/lunches should work out well. I have a friend who bought extra pump parts also to cut back on time when she went back to work. So, instead of taking time to clean the parts between pump sessions she can just clean them all when she gets home.?

    ?4. Sounds like you've got all your questions down. But one big issue when I was leaving was who would be doing my job for me while I was out. I work for a small office, so was the only one doing what I do - spreading out the work while I was gone was a big task that took some cooperation and coordination. It could be nice if you have a plan on what will happen with your work load while you're out.?

    ?

    good luck!?

  • I also use the medela PIS and I like it just fine. When we were in another hospital for DS PDA ligation, I tried an Ameda pump and I liked that way better, and from what I have seen online it is cheaper. I wish I would have bought that kind.

    In order to avoid clogged ducts, I have to pump for about 20 mins, and then another 5min for cleaning. I have worked it out to where I go every 2 hours or so to pump, and I just take a reduced lunch. I also 2nd buying addtl parts though, and just taking the galllon size baggies with you. Then when you are done just rinse them and put them in a bag to clean out later. 

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  • erbearerbear member
    I spoke with my principal about pumping at work and he was really great...told me that I'd have a free period sometime between 9-11 and 1-3 every day, that he would arrange for me to use someone's office. It's a huge relief!  My baby will be 6 months when I return to work, though, so I'm only planning to pump twice. I pump for abuot 10 minutes; with set-up and clean-up, it winds up being 20 minutes that I need. I use Medela Pump In Style too and I love it...it's about $270.
    "Hello, babies. Welcome to Earth. It's hot in the summer and cold in the winter. It's round and wet and crowded. At the outside, babies, you've got about a hundred years here. There's only one rule that I know of, babies. God damn it, you've got to be kind." - Kurt Vonnegut
  • Like PP, I love the Medela Pump in Style.  I got mine for $230 from BRU with a 15% off coupon combined with my completion coupon.  Also, every single lactation specialist I saw in the hospital (I think 4 different ones) said it was the best to have at home.

     Ask the LC in the hospital to pump there if you're comfortable with that - I got an extra set of parts, tubing, nipple shields, and different flange sizes and insurance paid for it all.  It was amazing to have once I got home - I don't have to wash every single time I pump.

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