Working moms-breast feeding on the job?

Jennifer80 · February 2010

I definitely want to breast feed. However I am concerned about how to do that once I return back to work. I travel around in my car all day for my job. I don't have an office. What are other working/breast feeding moms plans?

ToBeMcInerney · February 2010

I to work out of my car. Right now I don't have any tinted windows but I have already got approval from my supervisor that I can put really dark tint on the back windows and light tint on the front so that I can pump in the back seat. It is going to we wierd but she said that is what she had to do and after the first couple times of doing it you get used to it.

Azrayla · February 2010

Get a pump and go at it in the bathroom? I think the milk needs to be kept refridgerated (we have coolers at work though so that's where I'll be putting mine mayhaps in a lunch bag or something like that) for someone on the road..Maybe an ice trunk or something if you cant stop off at home? A lot of places will give free ice or cheap ice..Cheaper than buying it at a gas station..Not much help but that may be an idea >.<

jenniferueding · February 2010

I worked very long days when I had DD, so in addition to pumping on my breaks at work I would pump at home as well. Whatever side I BF'd on, I would pump the other side afterwards, and just switch with every feeding.

Angela814 · February 2010

I travel for work too now. I'll either be in a hospital or clinic or driving. I have a car adapter for my breast pump, and I'll probably buy a hooter hider or similar this time so I can pump in the car. I think it's going to be tough to find time, and since each day varies, I'm never going to know if or when I'll have time to pump. My plans are just to do the best that I can. I'll probably try to pump a bit more on maternity leave so I have a larger freezer stash.

ETA: Breast milk is good at room temp (68-72 degrees) for 10 hours or 24 hours in a freezer pack.

Jennifer80 · February 2010

I kind of wish my boss was a women/mother instead of an unmarried guy...lol

ToBeMcInerney · February 2010

I am sure you can request it still. I mean honestly my manager is a young unmarried man and when anything comes up about the pregnancy thing it's so out of his element that he is uncomfortable about it and just approves anything I need because he doesn't want to ask any further questions!

But yeah it does help that my supervisor is a woman.

cbee817 · February 2010

Fortunately, my office building has a dedicated lactation room for mothers- it has a door you can lock with a comfortable chair and a table with magazines.

CaitlinJ22 · February 2010

Azrayla:
Get a pump and go at it in the bathroom? I think the milk needs to be kept refridgerated (we have coolers at work though so that's where I'll be putting mine mayhaps in a lunch bag or something like that) for someone on the road..Maybe an ice trunk or something if you cant stop off at home? A lot of places will give free ice or cheap ice..Cheaper than buying it at a gas station..Not much help but that may be an idea >.<

please do not pump in the bathroom, thats gross.

OP-i have a friend who would wear a nursing cover in her car and double pump. Breat Milk can sit at room temp for 8 hours--but its better to refrigerate as soon as you can. I wouldnt leave it in a car when its warm outside. Def get a cooler and each day put new ice packs in it. You should be fine. Once you get into a routine you will probably only need to pump 2-3 times a day and BF when you are with LO. Find a breastfeeding class or LLL group to ask about breast ilk storage and pumping. GL

orienae · February 2010

I know people that get the handsfree pump and just do it while they are driving with a cover. Don't know if it's safe or not as I'm not sure what all is involved yet

niccole_e · February 2010

I have an office so I was able to do it in there however I also pumped every day on my ride home to get my son, I had the hands-free bra (was an actual bra not the girdle looking thing) and I'd hook them up and pump.My pump had a cooler bag and ice pack that lasted for several hours so if you have that you should be fine.

J Bean · February 2010

With my DD I went back to work when she was 3 months old. I pumped 3x a day until she was 9 months and 2x a day until she was a year old. I'm lucky to work somewhere with a nice, but small nursing mothers' room.

There are some moms on the Breastfeeding board that have experience pumping in their cars (there are even special car outlet power adapters for Medela pumps and I think Ameda pumps). I recommend doing a XP over there for tips.

GL!

winterOT · February 2010

I worked an hour from home when I returned to work with DS, I pumped in the car 1-2/day. If traffic was good I would wait and pump once I got to work in the parking lot, but sometimes I had to pump while driving, I had the hands free set up, car adapter and cooler with my pump. I had the Ameda pump. I wore nursing tanks and scrubs, and when nursing I tried to keep clothes loose enough on top just in case I would start to leak, I felt pretty covered because I could pull the scrub top over the pump pieces. I did have an office, but shared it with 6 others, and one day (totally desperate and on a major time crunch!) Pumped in there with all of them, not something I enjoyed but it was much better (as odd as that sounds) than pumping in the bathroom!! Good luck....and its definately more awkward in the beginning, after a year of doing it it felt like second nature to me!

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