Question for working moms who pump

[6fsn]

I was just generally vague "I have a conflict from x to z" and generally the guys wouldn't ask more. They knew I pumped, but they didn't want details.

[chessie]

I know the girl in my department just says she has to go on break, no one questions her.

[anna7602]

I worked in a very small office when DD was younger and everyone knew I was pumping. There was no need for me to be vague when they could all hear the whoosh-whoosh-whoosh of my pump.

If it was someone outside who wanted a meeting with me, I just said I had a standing meeting or appointment at x time every day, or said I had a conflict if it wasn't going to come up again.

[Deleted]

I'd just say that I have something scheduled. As for coworkers thinking you are slacking, mine see me leave with a Medela bag twice a day. It isn't hard to figure out. Where I work, the men especially are very family oriented and some recognize the bag as what their wives use. It's not an issue at all.

[satsuma]

I say that I have a conflict or scheduled appt to coworkers I'm not as close to, otherwise I'm just honest about my need to pump. I use a shared lactation room also so it's hard to be flexible.

[arch01]

I adjusted my pumping times if I could-the few times this did come up I just simply said I couldn't attend. If they asked why, I told them that I had to pump. Honestly, it usually shut them up enough that if it came up again that I couldn't attend, they didn't ask why.

[anonymous]

I blocked off my pumping times on my calendar but did not specify what I was busy with.

[6fsn]

Oh, the long meeting. I got sucked into an unscheduled problem solving meeting. Around the 5 hr mark I told my boss I needed a 20 min break. He looked at me funny so I was blunt and told him I needed a break to pump. The only other time I had an issue was when I was pumping in my office. Someone kept trying to get in to get a drawing. He kept knocking and calling even after I told him he'd have to wait because I was pumping. I just ignored.

[huskymom]

I always said I needed to take a break

[Deleted]

It would depend on how close I was to them. In my office, I just say I need to pump, but if it were a client or people with whom I work infrequently, I would be vague and say I'm unavailable.

[h]

I always just adjusted my pumping times to accommodate meetings. I didn't really block of a certain window to pump--I fit it in when my work schedule allowed. If I was stuck in a 4+ hour meeting (not common for me) I just said I needed to take care of something and let them assume I had to take a call or something like that. (This is assuming I was meeting with clients, opposing counsel, or other people who I don't necessarily know well and with whom it would be unprofessional to discuss details. If it was just co-workers who I know well, I would just say I needed to pump.)

[badtzmaru22]

I work with mostly women, so they all know. Sometimes if we're in the middle of an event and I need to excuse myself, I just say I have to take a break.

When I first came back from leave, every time one of my male coworkers needed something from me and came looking for me in my office, my door was shut. He commented to a couple of ladies in my department that my door was always shut, and they told him I was "taking care of new mother duties" or something like that. He didn't get it at first, so they had to just explain more. Ha!

[curbsideprophet]

I would just say you have a conflict and give details if you are pressed for more info. Honestly I don't think I have ever has to explain it. I rarely have 4 hr meetings, so I suppose that helps.

[jenjen]

We have a calendar for our pumping room some have set pumping times. Often I can move it around if needed for an important meeting but I do have the same times blocked off everyday. The people I work with closely know what time I pump and work around my schedule. When we had a new person (younger guy) I would just say I have a 9:30 appt and ill be back in 30 min.

[Ashley&Scott]

When it's my manager (female) I just say I have to pump. When it's one of the owners (male) I just say I'll be away from my desk for a bit.

Meetings are rare at my job, occasionally something comes up that delays my pumping 10-20 min but not more than that. In your case I would say I had a conflict or standing appt. If pressed further then I would say I needed to pump.

[nonsenseabound]

I just tell people I need to pump. No one wants to be a jerk to a nursing mom. Even the cranky judge gave me time during our three day trial.

[froggy76]

I would just say I couldn't make that time. The guys on my team knew why. If we had a long meeting or several meetings back to back, I'd just say I needed a break.

[rikki]

I know nothing about pumping but I just wanted to say good luck tomorrow. I know that your new coworkers will love you and I am sure that everything will go great. I'll be thinking of you!!