cleaning pump at work

Shauna07

I plan on pumping 3 times a day at work. ?How are you ladies cleaning the pump parts between pumping at work?

?I know I can wash them after with soap/water, but where do you dry the parts? ?Do you feel weird washing these items in front of co-workers? Is there a faster way? ?I feel like I'll be late to meetings, etc because of pumping, storing milk, then cleaning the parts -- the whole process sounds like it will take me 1/2 hr or more 3 times a day...

Thoughts? ?I guess I'm really nervous to return to work (I'm the only female IT manager for a huge vaccine company..).

?TIA

?

flyer23

I didn't wash with soap/water during the workday. It took too long and it's not necessary -- breastmilk is good for up to 10 hours at room temperature.

Instead, if I had access to a fridge, e.g. when I was working from home or out of an office that had a mini-fridge in the pump room, I rinsed out the pump parts (if there was a sink) and stuck them in the fridge. Many women on here also buy an opaque bag for their pump parts so they can stick them in the general-use fridge at the office.

If I didn't have access to a fridge, e.g. when I pumped in the bathroom while doing customer visits, I just rinsed out the parts and stuck them in the pump bag to dry.

On the rare occasion when I had neither access to a fridge nor a sink, e.g. when I pumped in the car during customer visits, I used the Medela quick clean wipes. They're pricey, though, so I tried to conserve them as much as possible.

Good luck! I'm in IT too and it can certainly be a challenge pumping in a male-dominated environment! But I achieved my pumping goal (1 year) and you can too

MrsSledge

I didn't clean the pump at work either.  I put the parts in a gallon size ziploc baggie and put them in fridge.  Every night they went into the dishwasher.

RoxyLynn

This doesn't answer your question, but I'm curious - how are you going to manage 1.5 hours during the workday?  Are you doing a 9-hour day?  I'm trying to think if I could accommodate an employee who asked for that kind of time every day, and I'm coming up with nothing other than a) she goes part-time down to 33 hours or b) she works a longer day.

Mrs.OL

I don't "clean" my pump during the day, but after each use I used the Medela Quick Clean wipes. 

flyer23

Roxy - In my case, it was far more than 1.5 hours/day. At my "peak," I was pumping 4x during the workday for 30-45 mins per session. But I usually worked while I pumped.

Many of my co-workers take 15-20 min smoking breaks a few times a day, so no reason why a mom can't do the same to do something that's actually good for her, and for her baby.

shannm

I pump 2-3 times a day at work (about 10-15 minutes each time).  I also used the Medela wipes until last week when I ran out.  For a few days I just blotted them off with papertowels, stored them in a ziploc bag in between sessions and then washed them really well when I was home.  Had no problems.

Don't be too nervous.  I pump in the ladies bathroom at work and therefore, everyone knows what I am up to.  I am also sure most of the guys know what is up when I carry my big pump into the bathroom.  It will be weird at first but then you will get used to it.

ecoppins

Roxy, I also just squeezed in the time. Some people are more productive than others, some people go to the bathroom more than others, so take coffee/cigarette breaks, so chat at the water cooler. ?This made me productive and manage my time more effectively than without. My boss was of the opinion that if I got my work done it was done. I pumped 2x a day at about 20 minutes a time and took a short lunch if?necessary. ?

ecoppins

I rinsed my parts at work, then cleaned them well at home.?

jennie13

I only pump 2x a day at work.  (And I'm usually back to my desk in 20 minutes or less.)  I've been using a Medela wipe to clean the parts after the first time, then I bring them home to wash after the 2nd.   

It is actually cheaper to buy an extra set of parts for each time you need to pump than it is to buy the wipes if you're going to pump for a long time.  This will also save you time when pumping since you can just throw the dirty parts in your bag and wash them at home.    You will not want to handwash every time you pump, especially at work.  It gets old really fast. 

Angela814

flyer23:

Roxy - In my case, it was far more than 1.5 hours/day. At my "peak," I was pumping 4x during the workday for 30-45 mins per session. But I usually worked while I pumped.

Many of my co-workers take 15-20 min smoking breaks a few times a day, so no reason why a mom can't do the same to do something that's actually good for her, and for her baby.

I totally agree.  Somehow smokers are entitled to their 15 minute breaks, and yet the rest of us aren't supposed to use them.?

I pumped twice a day at work for a total of about 30 minutes each time.  One of the bathrooms had a shower room with a sink, so I pumped in there, washed the parts with soap and water (had a small container of dish soap in my pump case), and then put them on paper towel at my cube to dry. 

I used a hands free bra to pump and brought my laptop with me so I could work for the majority of the time I was pumping.  There may have been 10 minutes of setup and cleaning each time, but that's about equivalent to a smoking break.

LMHCnewlywed

I want to recommend those Medela wipes as well. I just used those right after and then at night when I got home washed the parts. even though they are expensive it saved a lot of time and uneasiness of washing parts in the work sinks!!

eowynmn

I have a fridge, so I throw my parts in there between feedings but if I didn't, I'd just buy two extra sets of pump parts and be done with it.  IT's the same price as 2 cans of formula so why not.  also...it only takes 15 min once you get the hang of it, and any full time non-exept employee should get 2 15min breaks and a half hour break.

Shauna07

I work a 9 hour day (7am - 4pm), and I believe MA labor laws give employees: (1) 1 hour lunch break and (2) 20 min breaks every day. ?Every state has different laws, and a lot of states have laws that protect breast feeding mothers (MA has none unfortunately).

?

Shauna07

Thanks for the feedback everyone! I now feel comfortable about returning to work!