@ - work conference - pumping?

[StrawberryBlondie]

I'm wondering if anyone has dealt with this type of thing. I have a conference at work next week. Not all day, but by the time I leave my office till the time I get home it'll be about 7 hours.

I normally pump twice during the workday - my second time would be squarely in the middle of the conference. I can technically go 7 hours without pumping but it'll hurt.

So wwyd? Pump right before I leave and be uncomfortable? Request a place to pump during the conference? As far as I know I'm the only nursing mom at this thing so there's no one I can coordinate with or take cues from. There will be breaks but nothing more than 10-15 minutes.

[ijack]

Most hotels are usually pretty good about finding you a place to pump in private. If they don't have anything you could pump in your car during a break or lunch.

[wawa]

Request a place you can pump. I had a conference early in my pumping stint with shorti - I emailed the organizer beforehand and asked what their setup was. The first person I got wasn't sure of the answer, but directed me to somebody else who asked what I'd need - I told her a room with a lock, a chair and a power outlet. They hooked me up with a large storage closet that met my needs. done and done. I did need to bring my cooler bag though - no fridge obviously.

And I had to duck out of one of the round table discussions early so I could actually go use said storage closet.

It worked out fine.

[Velar Fricative]

I would pump before leaving for the conference and pump at least once more during one of those short breaks, twice if they offer two breaks - short pumping sessions will be better than nothing, IMO. And I would ask if there's an empty room you could use.

[hopecounts]

I wouldn't go 7 hrs w/o pumping and be in pain.
If it's at a hotel you can likely ask them for a place to pump and get accommodated.
I would do that ahead of time then quietly slip out and pump, or pump during the lunch break, just grab a quick bite and then go pump if you don't need to mingle during lunch.

[ohyouknow]

I've done it. I brought a battery pack for my pump and sat in a bathroom stall.

[pescalita]

I would (and have) ask the organizer. The event co-ordiantor at the venue should have an easy answer. You may be the only nursing mom at this particular event, but the venue sees this often enough.

[StrawberryBlondie]

The organizer is a (male) VP of the company. With that in mind, would you think my boss (female - who will be there too) or the vp's admin would be the better contact?

[ijack]

I would contact the admin

[ringstrue]

If the organizer has an admin it makes sense to me to ask them.

It's hard, but don't hold back mentioning needing a lactation room to men just because they are men. If anything, I've gotten better accommodations from the male leadership than female.

[wawa]

I would just like to rabble rouse for half a second in a slightly leany-iny way and say that I absolutely 100% think you should contact somebody at the venue or the conference organizers and just ask about this as if it's a perfectly normal and typical need. Because it is.

If need be you can pump with a battery pack in a bathroom stall or your car - I've done it while waiting for MH to get out of surgery and while doing field work plenty of time. But a venue like this they shouldn't have the slightest problem accommodating you.

eta: n/m  I'm too slow and you're already on it!  I'd go with the admin, but just because that person is the most likely to know the answer.  Not because the organizer is a dude. 

[Michelle]

I went to a national conference, hauled my pump around with me with pride, and used a family room in the conference center to pump twice a day. It had a separate mother baby section from the toilet area so I was fine with that.

[granthamite]

Sounds like you've gotten lots of good advice, just wanted to lend another voice in support of working moms who have to navigate this stuff. I wish lactation rooms were more the norm than the exception in corporate venues (offices, hotels, airports, etc.). My first ask is usually a meeting planner (either corporate or at the venue). If that doesn't pan out, I bring my battery pack and realize it may come down to a bathroom stall. Not ideal, but I've done it.

[StrawberryBlondie]

My company is actually amazing on-site for pumping (they provide hospital grade pumps for use for free). The thing that gave me pause is that the conference itself is only 4 1/2 hours. But traffic and parking are such a bitch I have to add on at least 2 for travel.

I only mentioned the VP is a guy because i think it makes it more likely he hasn't considered this.

[sunshine608]

At the last conference at a University/Office building, I asked and they has an office set-up and the lady has even made curtains for the room. I've used an office and as a last resort just pump in my car during breaks or get their early/as I'm leaving.

[hopecounts]

Feb 2, 2015 15:58:15 GMT -5 StrawberryBlondie said:

My company is actually amazing on-site for pumping (they provide hospital grade pumps for use for free). The thing that gave me pause is that the conference itself is only 4 1/2 hours. But traffic and parking are such a bitch I have to add on at least 2 for travel.

I only mentioned the VP is a guy because i think it makes it more likely he hasn't considered this.

Which is why you need to mention, it's a reality that any conference may well have a lactating Mom needing accommodation and he needs to have that in mind.

I say nicely ask and maybe next conference he'll think about it.

[JayhawkGirl]

I happened to be one of the organizers of an all day convention center conference when I was pumping. The convention center was able to direct me to a space and Lo and behold, one of our attendees arrived with the medela bag too.

From then on, we made a privacy sign part of the annual signage kit.

[StrawberryBlondie]

Thanks everyone - I emailed the admin this morning and she's working on making sure there's a room available.

[NitaX]

Feb 2, 2015 14:53:09 GMT -5 ijack said:

Most hotels are usually pretty good about finding you a place to pump in private. If they don't have anything you could pump in your car during a break or lunch.

Yes. I requested a space to pump when I was at a hotel during a conference. I was local, so I wasn't staying at the hotel, but they provided me with a guest room. I had ice packs to keep my milk stored at a cool temp.

When I traveled for a conference, I purchased a small fridge and kept it in my hotel room while I was in seminars.