Teachers I need your advice!

Madelinechild · January 2014

Hello Everyone,

I am not one to usually post on these boards (more of a reader), but to those of you who teach and are planning to breast feed; how to do you accomplish this duing the start of school? I am a high school teacher and I only get one hour conference during the day and my 30 minute lunch. I am worried that once school starts in the fall I will not have the time/place to pump. I really am just needing advice.

kbellizio3 · January 2014

I know that nurses offices usually let nursing moms pump (at least in the schools I've been in.) but maybe talk to your principal and see if you can work something out?

Jenn111211 · January 2014

This might not be what you want to hear, but my co-teacher returned to school last month and gave up on pumping after about a week. The only place for her to pump is in the secretary's closet and she was having to decide between eating lunch or pumping due to a lack of time. She still nurses in the morning and after school in the evening. I hope your school and schedule is a little more accommodating than ours! Best of luck

butterflymom2010 · January 2014

I locked my door, put black construction paper over the window of the door, and pumped in a corner of my classroom. I'd do it during my free period in the morning and then at lunch. Buy a hands free pump so you can eat while you do it.

Savvy122 · January 2014

I think it really depends on your specific situation and schedule. I covered my classroom windows and pumped in my room during my plan period and during my lunch. I pumped into storage bags and kept them in a small lunchbox that I just shoved in the faculty refrigerator/freezer until the end of the day.

Susanbeth85 · January 2014

butterflymom2010 said:

I locked my door, put black construction paper over the window of the door, and pumped in a corner of my classroom. I'd do it during my free period in the morning and then at lunch. Buy a hands free pump so you can eat while you do it.

This is what I am planning on doing. I am also going to ask a few women that I work with how they did it since they are on the same school schedule that I will be on.

erind228 · January 2014

I'm also a high school teacher. This is my third baby, and I have pumped at work with both of my previous babies. I nursed both babies to a year. It is not easy and can be a pain in the ass. I teach science ad have shared space with another teacher for science prep and storage and pumped in there most of the time. In the beginning, I would pump in the morning, would leave the last five minutes of my 3rd period class.(I just let a nearby teacher know), and pumped during my lunch. Do you have any friends that have storage space that you could use as your pumping room? Could you ask your principal? It is definitely a challenge, but it was worth it to me to figure it out.

kibean · January 2014

Can you go out to your car? A friend of mine did this with a cover and parked in the back of the lot.

Also, are there any itinerants in your school? I am a school psychologist and have offices in both of my schools. I have always offered my office up to people who have asked to use it at at times when I am not there. One girl even decided she didn't care that I was in there (working on paperwork and reports) and asked if she could just sit in the corner facing away. Didn't bother me any.

ema10 · February 2014

I'm a first grade teacher. I pumped for 2.5 months last school year. It was very difficult, but I made it work because I knew it would be temporary. I'll be honest I have a lot of anxiety about it for next year. I only have my lunch and planning period (which is frequently filled with meetings) as well. I would pump in my classroom before my students arrived, pumped in a spare office at lunch, and pumped in my room during planning. The nurse let me keep the milk in her fridge.

It's not easy, but it is doable. Good luck to you!

Isenhour · February 2014

I have told the scheduling people when I want my plan (3rd) and blocked all meetings by saying, "remember I'm breast feeding next year!" I think a lot of people just don't think of it and need a reminder.

Isenhour · February 2014

My problem is what to write on the door. Lots of people have keys to my room so I feel just covering the door wouldn't be enough.

Uptowngirl2009 · February 2014

At my school, we have a "nursing room" which is really just a closet in my classroom of all places. It will be convenient for me when the time comes. It's awkward right now be because while I am teaching people just randomly walk through my classes to go in the closet.

I believe that there is a law (affordable care act maybe?) that says that you have to be given a certain amount of time to nurse that is during your regular day and not during planning or lunch time. I know of situations where teachers have to cover for the BF teachers while they go pump. I also think under the ACA that places with a certain amount of employees have to provide a space for breast feeding. You may want to check into it.

nicolinab · February 2014

By law, they need to provide a place (not the bathroom, i.e. small room with sink aka not the nurse's office behind the curtain). They also need to provide coverage (not your prep time). I'm an SLP in CT and expecting my first, but this is the info I have witnessed and experienced in my district! Stick to your guns, you have rights.

kjohnson1002 · February 2014

Our counselor has a private room that she has offered up to be the pumping room. So I plan to use that room when possible.

MrsBuckholtz · February 2014

kjohnson1002 said:

Our counselor has a private room that she has offered up to be the pumping room. So I plan to use that room when possible.

Same situation here - we have a student assistance counselor who reserves her room just for this. But there's a good chance I'm using either my prep or lunch for it next year (especially if I'm assigned a schedule like I have this year.) I hope it all works out for you!

JRobertaccio · February 2014

I spoke with my principal and other colleagues and let them know that it was a high priority and I was determined to make it work. I pumped during my planning period and lunch, 9 and noon, also nursing before I dropped her off at daycare and any other time she wanted when we were together. Nursing though the night really helped keep my supply up during the times I needed to pump too. I would pump at my desk with a cover, blinds down and door locked or I would pump in a closet in a the nurses office, ugh!!! It was difficult at first because all other commitments during this time (meetings, copies..) had to happen at a different time. A couple months in, it just became the new norm. I didn't have a hands free pump so my hands free bra was a life saver. I could respond to emails and do some planning when I was at my desk. Good luck, you'll find a way to make it work.

evahankins · February 2014

Time needed to pump depends on the individual- I could set up, pump, and clean up in 10-12 mins. I have heard of women who need 20-30 mins but hopefully you'll be fast! I pumped 2x a day til DD was 7-8 mo than 1x per day til she was 13 mo. It's a pain, but honestly so is being engorged!!!

sketchedsoul · February 2014

Also a teacher and FTM but a co-worker of mine pumped during lunch in her room with something to block the windows (which is what I'm planning to do). She never complained about it. If it is a problem ask to have time in the nurse's office and have someone cover your class - they have to give you that right.

rileymiller · February 2014

I didn't even think of how I will be pumping at work until this thread! We don't have any private rooms in the nurses office or anything like that. I do have a cute little curtain on my (small) classroom door window (to close for our lockdown drills). I can close that, lock my door and have privacy during my lunch time. But that is going from 8:30-11 with kiddos in room. Which I am pretty sure I would need to pump before then? Luckily we have assistants that could cover for small periods at a time...but now where to go?! I need to look into all this now. Thanks for making me need to figure this all out! (Ironically still contemplating staying at home...but I need to see if I can handle being home all the time with baby over the summer first).

Bittycakes · February 2014

We have a supply closet (locks) w/ a sink. It has worked for years. Since we are on block schedule, the only appropriate time to pump is lunch. Most moms have said it takes all of lunch so be prepared to eat while pumping. We have four teachers due in June, so come next fall, it will be a pump party for sure!

ElTrain5 · February 2014

As PP said, most states (it varies based on state law) require ALL employers (including schools) to allow for a designated break time (paid or unpaid also varies by state), along with a designated private, lockable room that is NOT a bathroom. What state do you live in?

Madelinechild · February 2014

I live in Texas. As far as I know (mind you I have not really researched) there isn't any law that would help me. Many of my co-workers have mentioned lunch, but they quickly had to stop due to meeting and various things during lunch.

deepoceanmama · February 2014

This is honestly my biggest source of pregnancy stress right now. You ladies are helping me stay calm here! There is SO much good advice already in this thread. I'm a FTM and am really hoping to EBF/EP (no formula) for the whole first year if at all possible. Here's my plan:

I teach HS, and we get 1 planning period, 1 duty period, and a 20-minute lunch every day. I'm hoping that my (very sympathetic and kind) head principal will waive my duty period next year and allow me to have 2 PPs every day, during which I would pump. I'm thinking 2nd and 6th (around 9 AM and 1:00). I may have to pick up some extra detention duties, etc., but it's worth it if I don't have to try to scramble and pump during my (already way-too-short) lunch time.

STMs(+), do you think BFing around 6 or 6:30am, pumping at 9am and 1pm, then BFing when I get home around 3:30-4pm will be enough for a 3-month-old (and for me to not feel engorged/leak/etc.)? I teach 15-year-old boys and am particularly nervous about leakage, etc. during class. I don't have an aid or anything, and can't really leave during class...ever.

stch25 · February 2014

I am stressed about it too but hoping as most of you said to just lock my door, cover window and pump when I am on my breaks. I really hope it works out because I really want to breast feed until my baby is at least 8 months or so. Good luck to everybody.

cera27 · February 2014

Pumped for a whole school year w/ my first, it is pretty common in my school. I just let my dept head and principal know at the end of the previous school year exactly when in the day I needed to have my plan and lunch periods to make sure they were sufficiently spaced out...around 3 hours apart, give or take a half hour, worked for me. They had no problem accommodating me w advanced notice.

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