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Would you find it weird/awkward...re- pumping

if you shared an office with someone and they pumped in the room while you were there?

I'm asking because I share a very large office with someone. It's a guy that I have shared on office with him for the 6+ years that I have worked here. He's awesome and is also my gay boyfriend. lol.  He has no problem with me pumping. I go to the bathroom, put on my pumping bra, come back to my desk, throw a large shawl/pashmina over myself, attach myself to the pump, put the machine inside a drawer so it doesn't make noise when I turn it on and continue to work until I'm done pumping. This has been working fine for the last 3 weeks since I came back from maternity leave.

But, they now want to stick a third person in the room with us, since our office is so large. She's new. I don't know if it would be weird for her. I feel like if I ask her if she minds, she might just say she doesn't because she is new and doesn't want to stir the pot.

I would pump somewhere else but it would be a total mission. The bathroom doesn't have an outlet. Technically, I could go around and see if anyone with a private office is out and use that one. The big problem is that I would not be able to continue working while I pump.

I just wanted to have some of your opinions on the situation.

Thanks so much :)

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Re: Would you find it weird/awkward...re- pumping

  • Is she going to be facing you directly? If you put the pump in a drawer and you can't hear it and you're covered up, I don't see what the big deal is. But maybe that's just me. Sorry I'm no help =/
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  • I would find it wierd and awkward. Especially if it was someone new to me. Maybe if pumps were silent...?
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  • I really don't see what the big deal is either. If you are all covered up and you can hardly hear the pump anyway, then why should she care? I would mention to her directly that you need to pump in the office and your reasons for doing so in case she feels the need to ask someone else what's going on - I know office chit chat can escalate into bigger problems, but being direct is the best way to handle this sort of thing. I doubt she will have a problem with it anyway. It wouldn't bother me at all.
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  • If you weren't to say anything, is it completely obvious what you are doing?
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  • Also, after thinking about it, I wanted to add that if you sense that she might not be comfortable with it, you might want to let your employer know what's going on to feel them out on their position. As horrible as it is, it's their right not to let you take breaks to pump.You might want to explain to them that you've been pumping under a shawl in the office so as not to disrupt your working schedule. It's better if you have "clearance" to do so.

    The last thing you want is for the new girl to complain. She would probably win.

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  • You know, it cannot hurt to ask her but I would be concerned about her. You do not have the relationship with her that you do with your other coworker and you never know who she is going to talk to or complain to. Is it well known that you pump in there? Could this cause problems for you?

    Hell, you never know...maybe she is a mom who also nursed her kid and is totally okay with it?

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  • I have always struggled with pumping at work and would not do it in front of anyone, that's just me.  I too work in an open space - and would look for an empty office space which was a hassle, but it was more comfortable for me, to be alone in a quiet space.  How often do you pump at work?  I'd have an honest conversation about it with it.  And unfortunately, if she says it will make her uncomfortable, you'll have to respect that and go elsewhere. 

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  • Before I came back from leave I asked my supervisor if it would be ok. Everyone else knows I pump and have  even been praised by a lot at my determination for pumping and the sacrafice I am making. i originally was planning on doing the floating office route 3 weeks ago but my office-roomate is the one that insited that I stay in the room to pump. 

    I would never dare to just do it before asking the new girl. What I was wondering is if I should even ask her to see if I could continue to do it at my desk since it's great that I can work or should I not bother to ask and just find an empty room? I wasn't sure if asking her would be appropriate.

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  • imageMrsJessNJorge:

    Before I came back from leave I asked my supervisor if it would be ok. Everyone else knows I pump and have  even been praised by a lot at my determination for pumping and the sacrafice I am making. i originally was planning on doing the floating office route 3 weeks ago but my office-roomate is the one that insited that I stay in the room to pump. 

    I would never dare to just do it before asking the new girl. What I was wondering is if I should even ask her to see if I could continue to do it at my desk since it's great that I can work or should I not bother to ask and just find an empty room? I wasn't sure if asking her would be appropriate.

    If everyone knows you do pump and everyone is cool with it - then you're fine. If you ask her and she says it doesn't bother her - I would take her at her word. It will be too much of a hassle for you to have to disconnect from what you're doing every time you have to pump. If she says it bothers her, then unfortunately, you're going to have to do the floating routine - which sucks - and it will reflect really poorly on her. Either way, you'd have done the right thing.

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  • What Eli said.  ; )

     

    Chrissy and Jess est. 6.1.07 Baby Lena Born 8.31.10 Expecting Baby Jack - C-Section scheduled 9.14.11 image
  • I apoligize in advance because I know this is going to be offensive, but I would find that completely revolting.
  • I apologize in advance because I know this is going to be offensive, but I would find that completely revolting.
  • I think there's nothing to lose by asking, but give it a few days, a week even.  Don't spring it on her the first day. Also keep in mind that she may feel weird saying no even if she does mind, b/c she's the new girl and wouldn't want to offend you. 

    However, if it were me, I would be uncomfortable with it.  

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  • Andrea- no offense taken at all. I wanted honest opinions. My worry was exactly what Leanna said. I dont want her tothe uncomfortable d but say she was ok with it because she's new. I'm just going to avoid all the weirdness and go find another space. I will have to just take one for the team and read a magazine instead of working while I pump. Lol thanks for your help.
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  • I personally would not feel comfortable pumping in front of someone new and it may make that person uncomfortable as well. If it were me I would probably try to find another office for now and once you get a feel for what kind of person she is then introduce the possibility of pumping in your office to her.
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  • imageAlbah:
    I personally would not feel comfortable pumping in front of someone new and it may make that person uncomfortable as well. If it were me I would probably try to find another office for now and once you get a feel for what kind of person she is then introduce the possibility of pumping in your office to her.

    This exactly! 

    As a fellow breastfeeder I know that we become a bit desensitized and don't a find the big deal in nursing or pumping anywhere.  I think it's a good idea to get a feel for the new girl and go from there! 

  • I work at a structural engineering office..so there are lots of men and the first time around there was no where to pump except for my co-workers cubicle.  She had the only cubicle that was semi private.  So I setup camp every morning and faced the window while I pumped.  I told everyone, if you hear my machine don't come into her cubicle if your uncomfortable with me pumping.  For the most part, no one ever came in and if they did, they couldn't see anything since I faced a window.  I did this for 6.5 months ;)

     Of course the guys had fun with it and wouldmake comments like...oh Nat's pumping, let's make some coffee since we have milk now...

     The office has been rearranged since then, so it will be interesting where I'll pump when I go back. 

  • Hey you do what you need to do, it's your baby's food!
  • yeah, i would find it weird. it's not like it's your friend or family member...it's a coworker. maybe i'm just more shy about that stuff. i pumped at work for a couple of months, and it was bad enough for me that i did it in a locker room/bathroom.
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