Teacher going back to work...how/when to pump?

ColeMess5802 · July 2012

Any teachers out there? I am going to work in 5 weeks and my son will be 6 mons old. I exclusively breastfeed and would like to continue to do so.

How did you pump at work? When did you pump? Did you speak to the principal about a schedule change/modification?

My lunch is not unil 12:45. If i nurse before work, waititng until then will be too long so i will need to before that. He usually eats every 3 hours, so i want to stay on schedule.

Help? Suggestions?

Thanks!

waltzingmatilda13 · July 2012

I'm not a teacher, but I suggest either speaking with your principal or contacting your HR department to see what they recommend. I can't imagine that you're the first one needing some accommodations and hopefully they can help you figure out how it will work.

lasfresasrojas · July 2012

I had to go back for the month of May when DD was only 7 weeks old.

I would leave my house at about 5:45, and would pump before I left.

I teach middle school, and was able to pawn off my homeroom on another teacher so I would pump at 8:00. My lunch break was from 10:20-11:00 so I would pump then, and then I had plan from 12:50-1:15, so I would pump then as well.

I did talk to my principal about it, which is how I was able to get my homeroom handed off to another teacher. They are required to give you time to pump. I'd let him/her know about it, and then see if maybe an aide could cover your class. It sucks, because you need the kids to be doing something self-sufficient, but it is totally manageable!!

lindy27 · July 2012

I'm not a teacher, but my LO eats 3 times while I am at work but I can pump enough in only 2 sessions. So you might be able to get away with pumping less often than she is eating. It hasn't messed up her weekend eating so far.

krispy83 · July 2012

I go back in a couple of weeks. I plan to nurse DS before leaving the house to take him to daycare. Then, I will pump when I get to school (7:30). I teach from 8 to 11:45 straight through, so I don't have any opportunity to pump then. I will pump at 11:45 which is the start of lunch. Then I will pump immediately after school (probably only one side though) and pick DS up from daycare and nurse him on the other side.

When do you have to leave for work? Is there a possibility of pumping when you get to work before classes begin? I know that going from 8 to 12:45 would be too long for me to wait, so I would agree with pp's suggestions and talk to your principal or HR rep. They have to give you time to pump.

skibunny59 · July 2012

My DD will also be 6 months when I go back.

Here's what I'm planning to do

5:30AM - nurse DD

7:30AM - pump while driving to work.

10:30AM - pump during my planning period.

12:15PM - pump during lunch.

3:00PM - nurse DD.

I will be mentioning it to my principal so that he knows that my room will be locked and I will not be taking any parent phone calls or attending any meetings during those times. Depending on your school it may or may not be inappropriate to ask to change your schedule to accommodate pumping. I know for me if they change my schedule they would have to change basically the entire school's schedule and it would be very difficult. (I teach elementary school music so I see every grade.) I would at least let them know that they don't touch your planning and lunch period.

skibunny59 · July 2012

Hmm. After re-reading your post yes I agree that 12:45 would be too long. When is your planning period? Luckily for me my schedule just works out really well Maybe they can get a teacher's aide to cover for you for 10 minutes?

kimdw1 · July 2012

I keep seeing it posted that employers are required to give a pumping break--but I don't think that's always true. I looked on a website (forget which one) that lists pumping laws by state, and that law isn't listed for my state (PA). Is there a nationwide law that I don't know about?

I ask because I'm also trying to figure out what to do when school starts. I don't even know what our schedule will be yet, so I'll have to wait and see.

skibunny59 · July 2012

kimdw1:
I keep seeing it posted that employers are required to give a pumping break--but I don't think that's always true. I looked on a website (forget which one) that lists pumping laws by state, and that law isn't listed for my state (PA). Is there a nationwide law that I don't know about?
I ask because I'm also trying to figure out what to do when school starts. I don't even know what our schedule will be yet, so I'll have to wait and see.

I think there is a federal law. It's harder with us teachers because they have to find someone to watch our kids. I mean, if you work in an office you could probably excuse yourself and pump. It's not like we can just walk out of our classrooms and leave the kids there unattended. It stinks.

dancesign · July 2012

I teach high school and I started back today- I know your pain. My son is 5 1/2 months and eats every 3 hours but I only get to pump twice instead of the 3 times he eats while I am gone. My principal gave a prep that was more convenient (I feed at 6:30, pump at 10(prep) and 1(lunch) and then either race home and hope that my sitters have been able to hold him off, or use frozen milk. I would start pumping after every feeding in the mornings and freeze it. I never get enough for a whole feeding (4 ozs) after I have fed him, but I put the bottle in the freezer and add to it each time I pump until I have 4 ozs to put in a bag to freeze. I went back for May and usually used formula for the 3rd feeding because I didn't have much frozen, but if he is eating solids, I can stretch a couple of the feedings to 3 1/2 hours which gives me time to get home. Just be prepared that he might insist on being fed the minute you get home, whether he is actually hungary or not. Awkward at the in-laws when he is screaming and trying to reach up my shirt

. And drink tons of water so that when you pump, you might get more than one feedings' worth so that you can divide up the pumped milk into more feedings. Good luck!

dancesign · July 2012

I am seriously impressed by your pumping while driving!

skibunny59 · July 2012

dancesign:
I am seriously impressed by your pumping while driving!

Have you tried it? It's really not too hard. The key is to set everything up in the car before you start driving. And make sure you have a nursing cover on.

waltzingmatilda13 · July 2012

kimdw1:
I keep seeing it posted that employers are required to give a pumping break--but I don't think that's always true. I looked on a website (forget which one) that lists pumping laws by state, and that law isn't listed for my state (PA). Is there a nationwide law that I don't know about?

It is a federal law under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act that all employers must provide reasonable break time for new mothers to express milk anytime the need arises, for a period of one year after the birth. They don't have to pay for you that break time, but they must provide it along with a private space that is not a bathroom.

Here's a government website for references if your having problems with your employer providing that time: https://www.dol.gov/whd/nursingmothers/

Blue46912 · July 2012

I am also a teacher and my plan is the following:

Between 5:30-6:00 - Wake up DS and nurse and put him back to bed

I have 1st hour plan, so I will pump again between 7:30-8:00

Then I don't have another break until 11:30-12, so I will pump again then

And then depending on what is going on, I will either pump around 3 (if I am still at school) OR I will try to get home around 3, so I can nurse DS.

I told the Assistant Principal back in May that I was going to be nursing and needed time to pump so to please work that in my schedule.

GL!

Danielle

Meganequine · July 2012

I haven't started back yet-- but will in Aug. I only plan to pump 2x a day, but we'll see. I have am prep, but won't know when it is until we go back- hoping it's a consistent time, but who knows it isn't always. Then I've got lunch @ 11.45. If needed I could pump when I get to work or during pm recess (which is only 15 min. so I prefer not.)

Talk with you principal. We have a lot of moms at my school, and it is well known and accepted that they might be late to meetings during lunch or prep because of their mom duties.

kimdw1 · July 2012

waltzingmatilda13:
kimdw1:
I keep seeing it posted that employers are required to give a pumping break--but I don't think that's always true. I looked on a website (forget which one) that lists pumping laws by state, and that law isn't listed for my state (PA). Is there a nationwide law that I don't know about?
It is a federal law under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act that all employers must provide reasonable break time for new mothers to express milk anytime the need arises, for a period of one year after the birth. They don't have to pay for you that break time, but they must provide it along with a private space that is not a bathroom.
Here's a government website for references if your having problems with your employer providing that time: https://www.dol.gov/whd/nursingmothers/

That is super helpful! Thanks for letting me know. I haven't had problems yet, but I don't want to spout off about my rights being protected by law without being sure what the law is.

k.linn · July 2012

With DD I nursed at 6am, pumped at 10:50 (my lunch) and again at 1:20 (my plan).

This time around my schedule is different and I have lunch and plan all run together, so I will only be pumping once around 11:15, then nursing DS at 3 as soon as I get home.

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Teacher going back to work...how/when to pump?

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