Pumping at work: Rant

Re: Pumping at work: Rant

• jen83mn member

  May 2016 edited May 2016

  Ugh, that would be piss me off! If anything, it's harder to keep up with LO now pumping! My supply has dramatically decreased since I got my period back 5 months post-partum, so now I'm having to pump three times to make two bottles (before I could pump three times and make three bottles). Thank goodness LO is eating more solids now or I would never be able to keep up with him!
  
  I'm glad you stood up for yourself! That's why the laws are there, and she wouldn't understand if she's never had kids before.
  
  As for you "changing," I think we all have! I still put 100% into my work when I'm there, but yeah, it doesn't matter to me as much anymore because there are more important things in life and baby makes you realize that! And getting to work on time has been a major struggle for me ... I wake up at 5 a.m. to be to work by 7:45 due to road construction because it now takes me 1-1.5 hours to go 20 miles. And I refuse to wake up any earlier than 5 a.m. So if I'm late to work a few days a week, I don't sweat it. I skip my lunch but refuse to stay late because I have a little guy at home waiting for me, and I refuse to sacrifice that time. 
  
  That being said, my work has been very cool about it and understanding and never once raised an issue. I also am able to work on my laptop when pumping though, so I don't think they really care how much I pump since I'm still working when I do it.

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• kkerner87 member

  May 2016

  I think i might invest one of those hands free pumping bras lol

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• Yiggle09 member

  May 2016

  I eped and the hands free bra was a life saver. In regards to your boss' opinion on what your schedule should be is completely inappropriate. I had alot of struggles at my job. One girl complained I was taking "too long" and I was like you cannot tell me how long it should take. I have to leave my area go to another floor in another building to get to a pumping room that may be full then have to go to the next one on another floor in another building. I work at Yale New Haven Hospital in Ct and the hospital is huge and has 4 building all together connected via hallway bridges etc. So please do not act like im taking too long when you have no idea how long it should take anyway? That was part of why I stopped pumping. People need to keep their noses out of things that do not concern them. Also I agree we all have changed and work just does not seem important like it did before. I think about going home and playing all day lol. My memory is horrible my scrubs arent always wrinkle free and I rock the mom bun in my sleep! You be you and don't worry about your boss. You just worry about that little one at home!

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• dmbfan46835 member

  May 2016

  Pretty sure she can't hold that shit against you. What a bitch! I also pump twice a day but I don't take a lunch to try to make up for it. I have been working at home to try to make up for the 5 hours a week I miss while pumping. I have noticed a drop in my productivity because of it. But my boss would never call me out on it. She has 3 kids and BFed them all so she gets it. So lucky to have an understanding boss. Sorry yours is a bitch!!
  
  i have also changed but I was the one to bring it up to my boss. My priorities have shifted. My life is no longer my career, it is my son. And I made that clear when I came back. Work/life balance is very important to me now. So don't load me up with special projects and testing systems and training my team. I'm over it. It's important to let people know where you are at so they have appropriate expectations of your role and intentions. 

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• jen83mn member

  May 2016

  kkerner87 said:

  I think i might invest one of those hands free pumping bras lol

  So worth it! I can't believe you don't have one yet! I forgot mine once and was bored out of my mind pumping and having to hold on to them ... I wouldn't do it any other way!
  
  This is the one I have: https://www.amazon.com/Simple-Wishes-Hands-Free-Breastpump-X-Small-Large/dp/B004S8MGGQ?th=1&psc=1
  
  Target also carries it

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• jwebbbber45678 member

  May 2016

  That is so rude of her, sounds like harassment! What line of work are you in? I gave up pumping at work, I'm a teacher and there's no way in hell admin would complain to me about it (we have such a great union!) But I stopped because people kept letting themselves into my room, maintenance and security men with keys. I yelled at them and told them to get out! It was getting stressful and my supply was diminishing so I just stopped. Fortunately I had a freemie pump that goes under the shirt and inside a normal bra so at a quick glance they couldn't tell what I was doing and probably wondered why I got so mad at them. 

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• thinkpink101 member

  May 2016

  When I worked full time and pumped for my twins I was lucky enough to have my own office, so I used a hands free set up and could work like normal while pumping. I had to pump at least every two hours so this was a life saver. I skipped my lunch to make up for extra time spent setting up/washing parts and everyone was happy. Definitely try being hands free!

  
  

  
  

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• TeacherMom210 member

  May 2016

  Late to the party here, but DH and I have both been discriminated against since our second was born (we work at the same place...for now). Things like people deciding we don't have enough time to devote to our jobs (we haven't cut back on performance) and both of us having our positions and schedules messed with. It sucks. (And I don't pump! Can't imagine what it would be like if we did.)

   

  
  

   
  

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