Where do you pump at work?

Brinnike

I'm planning on breastfeeding when our LO arrives. We want to continue to feed with breast milk when I return to work, but I'm kind of confused as to where mommies pump while they are at work.

I have a small office situation (5 full time, 1 part time) with only the restroom as a private option. I could walk home on my lunch hour, but I'm not sure if I will be pumping more than once each day.

 

Thanks for the help!

cwhitloc

I work for a large company, so i have a mother's room dedicated for this.  I pump three times a day.  I believe you shouldn't go more than 4 hrs without pumping in order to maintain milk supply.  I have a long commute, so i have to do this 3 times at least.  Others i know, use an office (their own with the door shut or kicking out their supervisor to use theirs...etc).  Conferences room work too if you have a lock on the door.  I would avoid using the bathroom at all cost if you can.  Who wants to make their lunch in a bathroom?  Also, with our bathrooms, it's a one seater, so people will wait by the door (annoying) until you are done which can add to the stress.  I looked into my options before I left on maternity leave, so everything would be set up for me when i got back (they installed a fridge in my office since the mother's room is in another building...i work in downtown boston, so the buildings are pretty close)

pitterpatter129

I work as a teacher in an open design school, meaning it has literally NO walls.  All the "classrooms" are open to each other.  So, I pump in a storage closet, which also doubles as the speech teacher's classroom.   She is only there twice a week, so when she is there, our site tech introduced me to a tiny room I never would have know existed.  It's the server room where all the behind the scenes computer stuff is!  It's always cool and the computer stuff makes enough noise to drown out my pump.   It's my new favorite closet.  If you ask around, I bet someone can find something similar for you.  It's amazing how many "secret" storage spaces there are.  I would ask the tech person at work where the computer servers are stored - if there is a closet.

lylipad

I work in a smallish company, and this  has been something I have been thinking about too. I know that other women who worked my position (customer service, at an open "front desk" were given new jobs when they came back from maternity leave...which also allowed them to have an office as well as a job that they could put on hold, like in the accounting dept. I have not brought this up to my boss yet, but I don't think any of those kinds of positions are coming available. luckily at my work there are a couple of "VIP lounges" with doors, so I am hoping that works out.

Brinnike

We do have a server room and a print room, but currently both are still awaiting their doors (we just moved into a new office that needs finishing touches). Hopefully by the time I'm coming back from maternity leave, those doors will be installed. The main space is completely open concept. The only office is my boss', and it has 100% transparent glass facing the main space. Same with the conference room.

Wish I would have thought of this when we designed the space! (I work at an architecture firm... Oops.)

Also, I walk to work, so that might be a little awkward to pump on the commute...

I'll be the first mom in our office, so I'll call HQ and talk with the HR department.

Worst case scenario, I can go around the corner to the maternity/children's consignment shop. I'm sure they'd let me borrow a dressing room for a few minutes.

dianadvargas

I work in  a cubicle, so no doors. 

I pump in the conference room or an empty office. But I really prefer the conference room, because is large, and the sound of the pump motor gets lost there. When I pump in the office I'm sure other people can hear since I can hear their voices too. Nobody has asked me anything yet when I pump in the office...but I'm sure a question will come soon....lol...That's why I just try to go to the conference room as much as possible. I also made a PLEASE DO NOT DISTURB SIGN even though both places have locks....the other day one of the cleaning people (a guy) try to open the conference room while I was pumping, after that I'm sure my sign is always at the door and that I have a blanket or towel handy to cover myself quickly if I hear someone trying to open the door....

 

march2008

I'm still out on maternity leave, but I checked into this topic while I was pregnant. There is a conference room that is usually vacant that the administration told me I could use whenever it's available. They told me to check on a week by week basis with the secretary and she would let me know if any meetings were scheduled there. If it's unavailable, my supervisor said he would lend his office to me. I was pretty surprised by that!

It's the law that a space other than a bathroom is provided for pumping moms for certain size employers. I have a government job, so I knew they would have to abide by that law, but I'm glad I didn't have to bring it up.

klibby707

I am a teacher, and I pump in a storage closet in our office (where everyone gets their water, oh well!).  I pump twice a day.  It's not ideal, but it works!

BeetleLinz1125

We have 2 dedicated mothers rooms at work.  I love it, except that I get no cell reception, so I just sit in there right now...I've started bringing a book and my crochet, but it's not always small enough to bring.

lauralovesbob

I work in different settings all week. I pump in a breastfeeding room at one location (yay!). My own office in another. Dirty bathroom where I bring sanitizing wipes and wipe everything down another day. I've pumped in the car a couple times. 

 

If you are working an 8 hour day, you need to pump 3 times to maintain supply.  

katlizabeth

I pumped in my car with ds (I work at a school, and my classroom had a curtain wall that people came in all the time, even if I locked my door) and with dd I will pump in our storage closet.  I've told my team this, and hopefully won't be bothered too much!  (I went back to work for 5 days and was walked in on twice...oh well, I was covered and didn't really care!)

mattsgirl515

I work for a large company and they have a nursing room on each floor. They are really nice with a recliner, small table, sink and fridge. It's perfect, I just reserve the room for 30 minutes 3 times a day.

desdemona39

I work in a doctor's office, so I close down one of the exam rooms (and disinfect everything). I pump @ work before I start, at lunch, and before I go home. The room doesn't have a lock, so I have to push the trashcan against the door- several patients have mistakenly tried to enter the room. Not ideal, but it works.