Bitchfest aannndddd go!

MrsBlayne · August 2010

Sorry in advance for this... I am so fed up with my work re: pumping. The hospital I work for is supposed to be "family friendly" or some such nonsense. This means they made a designated pumping room and they are supposed to give us time to pump. Not to mention there is now a federal law that requires this. Well I can't ever get anyone to cover my patients so I can go to the fourth floor to use the pumping room. Not to mention that I could use a hospital grade pump if incould go up there. So I always end up pumping in the bathroom while hopefully my patients are ok. Well today I told my director that it wasn't working for me and she shows me another bathroom that is new that I didn't know about. No suggestions on getting someone to watch my patients. A couple hours later, it's time to pump and I'm getting hammered. I ask my manager for help and she can't because she has to go get her kids from daycare. I was boiling. I should also mention that our management isn't very good at... managing, so this is just added to a long list. But I think I am ready to throw a fit to get my right to a time and place to pump. Sorry guys but my kid is more important than my job. /vent over

MelVic · August 2010

You need to voice your opinion!! That is ridiculous!!! I am sorry you are going through this...some people are very insensitive to those that pump etc...especially if they have never done it OR have not done it in many years. If there is a law, now more than ever you need to be accommodated...

sillybiochemist · August 2010

I completely forgot what position you hold but if you're a nurse, try talking with the hospital nursing supervisor after speaking with the manager again. They allow nurses to get off the floor for smoking breaks so why can't you get off the floor to pump. (My mom's an RN so I know these little secrets.) And that's the argument that I would use also b/c very few people deny someone's smoke break and that's not required by law last time I noticed. I know Indiana has a state law for breastfeeding but I'm not 100% sure if the federal law is in effect yet (note, I haven't looked).

More than likely someone like a nursing supervisor will help you out more than HR on this type of issue. Especially since there is a legal liability of you leaving the floor without having your patients covered. Hope this helps and good luck.