Returning to work and asking about pumping

dizzycooks · April 2012

I am emailing my boss about pumping when I return. Any thoughts on this email? It is virtually impossible to get a mid-morning break, but I would like to ask anyway. Do you think that's ok? Any recommendations?

I am excited to get back into the swing of things at work and have been doing some planning. I will bring some copies in soon and plan on emailing my sub about where things will be at when I return. I am sure these last two months will be busy ones!
I do want to let you know that I have been breastfeeding and plan to pump when I return to work. Is there a space that is typically used or should I plan on locking my room's door? I am also wondering if there is any way I can get a short break mid-morning to pump during the first couple weeks. LO is still eating every 2 hours and it is going to be quite an adjustment during the first few weeks back. If not, I understand, but I would be happy to help out in some way during my prep to make up for that time if it's possible.

SoonToBeMsP · April 2012

Overall I think it looks good, but I would try and make it a bit more "this is what I am going to do" and less "can I do it". This is your body and your time and I think you should have some say about it. Getting a 10-15 min break in the morning shouldn't kill anyone.

Lhand11 · April 2012

SoonToBeMsP:
Overall I think it looks good, but I would try and make it a bit more "this is what I am going to do" and less "can I do it". This is your body and your time and I think you should have some say about it. Getting a 10-15 min break in the morning shouldn't kill anyone.

Totally agree.

dizzycooks · April 2012

SoonToBeMsP:
Overall I think it looks good, but I would try and make it a bit more "this is what I am going to do" and less "can I do it". This is your body and your time and I think you should have some say about it. Getting a 10-15 min break in the morning shouldn't kill anyone.

I would like to think so, but I need someone else to cover my classroom for me during this time and we don't have extra bodies floating around our building. It would probably be the dean who would have to step in and I am not sure she can due to IEP meetings, behavior issues and district meetings. I am also not tenured so I could be let go this spring without any reason and I'm concerned that BFing could be that 'reason' and I'll never be able to prove it.

greenet · April 2012

legally they have to provide you with breaks for it. I think it is three 15 min breaks per day with a room that you can pump in.

talitha712 · April 2012

I think your email sounds great! Good luck! I understand how hard it is to get a break as a teacher. I wasn't able to BF but when I talked to my principal about it before I went on leave I was told I had to use my lunch and prep to pump, and would not be able to pump while I had students. Seeing as how my lunch and prep are 30 minutes apart I'm not sure pumping would have lasted long after going back to work if I had been able to BF. Teaching is so different from an office job as far as being able to take a short break. I hope you're able to work it our!

dizzycooks · April 2012

talitha712:
I think your email sounds great! Good luck! I understand how hard it is to get a break as a teacher. I wasn't able to BF but when I talked to my principal about it before I went on leave I was told I had to use my lunch and prep to pump, and would not be able to pump while I had students. Seeing as how my lunch and prep are 30 minutes apart I'm not sure pumping would have lasted long after going back to work if I had been able to BF. Teaching is so different from an office job as far as being able to take a short break. I hope you're able to work it our!

Do you think it's reasonable to at least ask or should I assume I can't while I have students. My lunch and prep are back to back at the end of the day (12:30-1, 1-2:30).

Jessiree · April 2012

SoonToBeMsP:
Overall I think it looks good, but I would try and make it a bit more "this is what I am going to do" and less "can I do it". This is your body and your time and I think you should have some say about it. Getting a 10-15 min break in the morning shouldn't kill anyone.

This. I totally get that teachers are different from office or retail jobs, but legally they have to provide you with time to do it. You also can't be the only teacher that the principal has worked with who has needed to pump, so maybe ask what has worked in the past?

SoonToBeMsP · April 2012

I didn't realize you were a teacher, but I still stand by what I said originally I am sure it's easier said than done, but like Jessiree said- you can't be the first or only teacher dealing with this.

Put your foot down if you want to continue BFing. They have to accommodate. And if they fired you because you want to BF, then would you really want to work for them anyway? (Again, easier said than done since finding a job in this economy is hard...)

talitha712 · April 2012

dizzykates:
talitha712:
I think your email sounds great! Good luck! I understand how hard it is to get a break as a teacher. I wasn't able to BF but when I talked to my principal about it before I went on leave I was told I had to use my lunch and prep to pump, and would not be able to pump while I had students. Seeing as how my lunch and prep are 30 minutes apart I'm not sure pumping would have lasted long after going back to work if I had been able to BF. Teaching is so different from an office job as far as being able to take a short break. I hope you're able to work it our!

Do you think it's reasonable to at least ask or should I assume I can't while I have students. My lunch and prep are back to back at the end of the day (12:30-1, 1-2:30).

It definitely can't hurt to ask and to advocate for yourself!

Thinkerbelle80 · April 2012

It doesn't hurt to ask. Just don't use LO in the email. I'm pretty sure your boss will not understand that acronym. Can they move your plan period to earlier in the day to accommodate your pumping so that your lunch is midday- late afternoon and your prep is earlier?

oheck · April 2012

I am in the same boat. My prep period lines up to lunch every day except for Fridays. The only other time I have heard of admin covering a class at my school is during our tutorial period, but that also lines up to my prep period. I think I am planning on pumping in the morning before school, during prep and then immediately after school. I think I will be uncomfortable, but I think I can do it.

I am planning on pumping in my room and hanging up a sign to not come in. I am also going to wear my nursing covering just in case someone does walk in. It will still be awkward but at least they won't see anything.

I understand other peoples' comments about not asking but I am tenured and I think I would still go about it like you. I probably would talk to my admin face to face instead of an email. I think it is harder to turn you down when you are sitting right there. What grade(s) do you teach? It might be helpful if you ask for a specific time instead of just saying mid-morning.

I also don't understand how anyone pumps for 10 or 15 minutes. It takes me longer than that to hook up, pump and clean up.

dizzycooks · April 2012

oheck:

I am in the same boat. My prep period lines up to lunch every day except for Fridays. The only other time I have heard of admin covering a class at my school is during our tutorial period, but that also lines up to my prep period. I think I am planning on pumping in the morning before school, during prep and then immediately after school. I think I will be uncomfortable, but I think I can do it.

I am planning on pumping in my room and hanging up a sign to not come in. I am also going to wear my nursing covering just in case someone does walk in. It will still be awkward but at least they won't see anything.

I understand other peoples' comments about not asking but I am tenured and I think I would still go about it like you. I probably would talk to my admin face to face instead of an email. I think it is harder to turn you down when you are sitting right there. What grade(s) do you teach? It might be helpful if you ask for a specific time instead of just saying mid-morning.

I also don't understand how anyone pumps for 10 or 15 minutes. It takes me longer than that to hook up, pump and clean up.

I'll make it work if I am allowed to. I can pump about 8ozs in just under 10 minutes so I am hoping if I have everything put together and wear something SUPER easy, I can just take care of business and get back to my room. I will pump for a longer time at lunch and over prep, but I think anything I can do in the morning will be helpful.

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