Adventures in pumping at work.

[greencrayon]

So today is my first day back. I LITERALLY have to give them my drivers license so that I can pump. 3x a day for week/months? Fuck this place.

Share your fun pumping stories to make me feel better.

[soozy87]

What is the reasoning behind that?

[Velar Fricative]

WTF??? WHY??

Apologies for all-caps but that is bizarre. Is your pumping room in a different building?

[CloudBee]

We need more of an explanation.

[greencrayon]

Mar 10, 2014 12:12:22 GMT -5 tulips said:

That is odd! Do you work in a super secure building or something?

Sorta. Laboratories are kept separate to restrict access to radioactive stuff and chemicals. I have to sign out a badge (license) and then have the security guard open the room. It's a closet with a chair. I have to slouch over so the tubing reaches my boobs. :/

[CloudBee]

Mar 10, 2014 12:15:56 GMT -5 greencrayon said:

Mar 10, 2014 12:12:22 GMT -5 tulips said:

That is odd! Do you work in a super secure building or something?

Sorta. Laboratories are kept separate to restrict access to radioactive stuff and chemicals. I have to sign out a badge (license) and then have the security guard open the room. It's a closet with a chair. I have to slouch over so the tubing reaches my boobs. :/

Considering the security that doesn't sound unreasonable, though frustrating.

Can you put the pump on your lap?

[everafter07]

I work in a 100+ year old building that is veeeeeeery cramped. I have to pump in a bathroom, pretty much right next to the toilet. The only other place I can go is a tiny shower room that looks straight out of Saw. Cary Elwes is bleeding to death in there.

[ssmjlm]

When it was decided we were moving buildings, I asked where I would be able to pump (previously was using an empty office). Due to space constraints they didn't have anywhere for me to go. More than one person suggested I just get a big blanket and cover the opening of my cubicle and pump at my desk. Yeah b/c my coworkers want to hear that.

Then one day just a couple weeks ago I walk into the conference room they have me pump in and 1 person is on the phone. Figuring her call ran over, I backed out, ran to the bathroom and came back. She was still there. When I asked her when she would be done she's like "I'm on a status call." Yeah, but I have the room reserved, so not my problem. Plus WTF you don't need a conference room to sit there and listen to other people talk, do that at your desk.

[AmyRI]

How close is the room to your office? (Trying to get at whether or not they are truly making "reasonable accommodations.")

When I was pumping for DS, I had to use the Occupational Health and Safety nurses' exam room. They wouldn't let me make a standing appointment, so I was turned away several times and pumped in my car. Walked in on a couple other times when the nurses used their keys to unlock the door.

Pumping for DD, the room is half a mile across campus from my office, has little or no parking near that building, and the room is within a bathroom (sharing a ventilation system). They provided a sink that is rusting (despite being less than a year old) and the water runs brown. It does not meet federal (or state) requirements - but get this - I have to report the violation through the state. State has no jurisdiction because it's on a federal gov't owned property. Only recourse is reporting to OPM, but my HR department refuses to recognize that there is a problem, so they won't report it up the chain. I'd have to try to fight the battle through my chain of command or union, and I'm not in a senior enough position here to be comfortable doing that without fearing that I'm jeopardizing my career.

[Velar Fricative]

Mar 10, 2014 12:15:56 GMT -5 greencrayon said:

Mar 10, 2014 12:12:22 GMT -5 tulips said:

That is odd! Do you work in a super secure building or something?

Sorta. Laboratories are kept separate to restrict access to radioactive stuff and chemicals. I have to sign out a badge (license) and then have the security guard open the room. It's a closet with a chair. I have to slouch over so the tubing reaches my boobs. :/

Okay, building security was kinda my guess. Still sucks though, I'm sorry.

[thejackpot]

Mar 10, 2014 12:25:44 GMT -5 mekiakoo said:

that sucks. Can you bring in another chair?

I wish pumping wasn't so frustrating. The high school doesn't even have a room for me to pump so I will have to do it in my own classroom. Or bathroom. Or in the car. Blah.

I work in a high school and I prefer to pump in my room. I wipe down my desk and pump. I like having all my stuff nearby and pictures of my lo to look at. The car is not so bad either, I am pretty relaxed there. Just offering another look at your options in case they seem awful at the inset.

[dottyblue]

My set up at work was more than reasonable, so I'm sorry you all are facing such challenges.   You would think employers would realize they ought to ENCOURAGE their new mothers.

That said, my adventures from pumping were always the embarrassing sort.  I think I shared here about walking out of the pumping room with my shirt still hiked up over my boobs and my assistant (male) had to clue me in.  I had passed several people in the hall on the way back to my desk...

And the day I dumped half of my pumped milk from a session all over my white shirt? The stain and smell was just lovely.  I learned to keep a backup top in my pumping bag after that.

[GracieLouFreebush1]

Mar 10, 2014 12:41:27 GMT -5 dottyblue said:

My set up at work was more than reasonable, so I'm sorry you all are facing such challenges.   You would think employers would realize they ought to ENCOURAGE their new mothers.

That said, my adventures from pumping were always the embarrassing sort.  I think I shared here about walking out of the pumping room with my shirt still hiked up over my boobs and my assistant (male) had to clue me in.  I had passed several people in the hall on the way back to my desk...

And the day I dumped half of my pumped milk from a session all over my white shirt? The stain and smell was just lovely.  I learned to keep a backup top in my pumping bag after that.

I'm dying over this.  Did you have a nursing tank on or was your bra and stomach just out for the office to see?  That is sleep deprivation and pumping at it's finest!

If it makes you feel any better, I once realized the seam of my pants was completely open (I had recently had them altered) and I had walked around the office flashing my thong all day.  I cried to my H b/c I was so embarrassed!  I chuckle about it now ...at least it was my perky pre-kids butt.

[bugandbibs]

For those that pump at schools check into the school nurse's office. I always offer it to pumping moms and it's private with access to a sink.

[jaylea]

I had to go from the 8th floor to the 2nd, through secure entries and then sit in a tiny room by the receptionist's desk to pump. Anyone waiting at reception could hear. The door was frosted glass.

When I went to our Boston office I was told the bathroom or a closet were my only options. In a healthcare related company. I used the closet. We had thousands of employees. It really amazed me.

[dottyblue]

Mar 10, 2014 12:53:38 GMT -5 GracieLouFreebush1 said:

Mar 10, 2014 12:41:27 GMT -5 dottyblue said:

My set up at work was more than reasonable, so I'm sorry you all are facing such challenges.   You would think employers would realize they ought to ENCOURAGE their new mothers.

That said, my adventures from pumping were always the embarrassing sort.  I think I shared here about walking out of the pumping room with my shirt still hiked up over my boobs and my assistant (male) had to clue me in.  I had passed several people in the hall on the way back to my desk...

And the day I dumped half of my pumped milk from a session all over my white shirt? The stain and smell was just lovely.  I learned to keep a backup top in my pumping bag after that.

I'm dying over this.  Did you have a nursing tank on or was your bra and stomach just out for the office to see?  That is sleep deprivation and pumping at it's finest!

If it makes you feel any better, I once realized the seam of my pants was completely open (I had recently had them altered) and I had walked around the office flashing my thong all day.  I cried to my H b/c I was so embarrassed!  I chuckle about it now ...at least it was my perky pre-kids butt.

I thankfully had a cami on, but it didn't even come close to containing my massive boobs and bra (I was a 32G while breastfeeding/pumping).  I basically just wore it for torso coverage because it was cold in our pumping room.  My poor assistant was good about it, but wouldn't look at me for the rest of the day, ha.  I bought a floor length mirror for the back of the door after that and many of the currently pumping mothers appreciate it.

OMG @ your pants incident.  Why do people not say anything!?

[greencrayon]

I think I'm going to try to steal a chair and bring it up there so I can have something to put the pump on. They're really not making it easy for mothers! I can't believe some of you have had to pump in a bathroom.

[litasail]

I pump in an extra office. Last week I was in there doing my thing when there was a knock on the door. Unhooked, went over to it and found our office manager with a coworker's computer on a cart. Apparently she's getting this office and nobody bothered to tell me. Um, thanks. And the kicker? She's on maternity leave and gone for four months - but apparently the move had to happen RIGHT THAT MINUTE. Arrgh.

[thejackpot]

Mar 10, 2014 12:50:41 GMT -5 mekiakoo said:

Mar 10, 2014 12:35:26 GMT -5 thejackpot said:

I work in a high school and I prefer to pump in my room. I wipe down my desk and pump. I like having all my stuff nearby and pictures of my lo to look at. The car is not so bad either, I am pretty relaxed there. Just offering another look at your options in case they seem awful at the inset.

When do you get to pump during the day?

I don't think I would have time to go to the car and pump and come back! And it's freezing here I will be ok in my classroom, I think. Will need to cover the windows though! I plan on bringing pictures of E too.

I pump in the morning when I get to work as that is my first planning period, during my plan or lunch break and finally after school on the drive home. I lock my classroom door and my friend sewed me a curtain that I try to put up ( I often forget). My most successful pump is during the drive home...guess that is my most relaxed time.

[greencrayon]

Mar 10, 2014 14:29:51 GMT -5 TamiTaylor said:

My principal unlocked the door to my room while I was pumping and one of my students walked in on me pumping. It was a 5th grade boy. I was mortified.

Oh man. How do you even explain that?

[zeewifeandmama]

Ugh how frustrating!!

[jssymom14]

mekiakoo I also pumped in my room with something covering my window. It was the most easiest and most comfortable place for me and I did it before school, during plan (around 10), lunch 12:30, and right after school 3:30. I wasn't producing that much and ended up quitting after 2 months of school but that was my planned schedule for the time I did pump. Good luck!

[potatopie]

I've been pumping in a single use bathroom. So usually no one bothers me (they see it's occupied). but the past week someone knocked on the door. twice. and then asked if someone was in there. Um, the door is locked, what do you think? When I said yes, she left. Only to come back later and ask if I was ok. I said, "I'm pumping breastmilk if you must know." (there are a million other bathrooms she could be using).

She did it again later last week so when she knocked the second time after asking if someone was in there, I opened the door (pulled my shirt down first). She said, "Oh! It's you! Breasts! Sorry!" And walked away. That scared her.

[eport]

I've been pumping in a storage room/training room (our trainer uses it to conduct virtual training so she's not interrupted). It's worked out well for me.

Since more than one person has access to the room, I usually stick an occupied sign on the door handle while I pump. Last week, my sign fell off the door while I was inside so a male co-worker (and friend/goof off) decided to make a new one for me. When I left the room, I saw two signs on the door-my occupied sign and a new sign that said "Zombie Storage Unit, please do not open the door and release the zombies"

I had a great laugh.