pumping at work...

naflmj

I know people do it all the time so forgive me for being a little naive but I am starting a new job and am already getting nervous about how this will work once I have the baby. I work in a cubicle in a large school district SPED office...how does this work? Is it something they have to allow you to do? Sorry this is so stupid.

Quazel

At least here in NJ they legally have to give you a place to pump.  Our nurse's office has a back room that we pump in.

katlizabeth

Not a stupid question.  I'd research laws in your state, but I think they have to let you do it.  now, the place they give you might be a bathroom, but it's still a place.  I do it in my car!

jacobs32

I believe not all states have laws saying you have to be given time to pump.  Also not sure about providing a specific place. But from what I've see school district, due to the disproportionate number of female employees, are used to working with you on this.  I use a storage room in the nurse's office at our school.  Look around for any private (no interiour windows) places that have a locking door- conference rooms, break rooms, supply storage rooms, individual bathrooms.  Talk to someone in HR or who oversees the building about being able to use one a few times a day.  You can always do right before you begin work and on you lunch break at the very least.

Kaytee1087

katlizabeth:

I do it in my car!

Ditto! It's not so bad, I have the radio and a good book to keep my company.

mom2anangel

It's not a stupid question!  I had no idea what I was going to do but the director of HR was pumping when I started here several years ago so she was the perfect person to ask.  She let me know that we have a policy that allows it - but it's not the law here in MI.  You'll need to do research.  At first when I came back I used the old room she used to use but it didn't have a lock and was in HR (somewhere I didn't have access to all the time) so we worked it out after I found a location and put it in writing what I would need (a lock on the door and a table and chair).  It happened to be a small kitchen room that no one was using (except for storage) and it was a bonus because it had a sink!  After a few weeks it was all fixed up with a lock on the door and blinds on the skinny window and I was in business.  There was another new mom using the room at the time too so we just coordinated our schedules.  To be honest, I've thought about quitting pumping (I'm an EP'er as my daughter does not nurse anymore) but part of the reason I keep doing it is because when I'm at work I get to leave my desk every few hours and read a book or magazine (that took some getting used to as I double pump) and there isn't anything anyone can do to stop me!  LOL.  My guess is that there are probably other people who have been in the same situation - I would ask your supervisor or the HR department, I'm sure that if they can they will work with you.  But, you might have to do some of the leg work yourself if they don't have a place in mind already.  I had to do a little work to get my room but it was so worth it.  GL to you!

alison43

Quazel:

At least here in NJ they legally have to give you a place to pump.  Our nurse's office has a back room that we pump in.

I was told that NJ has no provisions for bf'ing moms.  The only bf'ing law here I'm aware of just says that you have the right to BF anywhere you are legally allowed to be.

I pump at work, in the back of my ambulance...time is not guaranteed and my schedule is often all wacky.  But I take what I can get. 

Poplin2007

I pump in my classroom.  My RT made sure no one else uses my room.  I have paper covering my window and I lock the door and put up a 'do not disturb' sign when I pump.