Unsupportive boss about pumping: need advice

[Anonymous]

Ok so your boss is wrong not to accommodate you. But it sounds like you are pumping 7x a day including 3x at work? It is possible that all that pumping is in fact interfering with your job and life in general. Before you do something so drastic as quit, consider reducing that schedule. It may not be doable with your job, even if your boss was perfect about it,

[Anonymous]

I don't understand why you and the other woman can't pump at the same time. Just get a room divider. I pumped in a lactation room (small) that had two stations. Sounds like that would solve your issue.

[Anonymous]

Is the lactation room not set up with privacy dividers? It's absurd to me that 1 woman can commandeer a shared space like that. All my pump at work friends talk about how they've bonded over sharing the lactation room, so it does seem like there must be a better set up that could be used.

I'd reinforce to your boss that this is temporary, go over what you're doing to accommodate meetings, etc. maybe ask if she'd prefer you not call in from the lac room, but just attend in person after you're done.

I also think you should stop killing yourself to pump so frequently. You can't be getting much sleep-and that may actually be hurting your supply. I counted at least 7 pumps a day in your post-3 of which are between waking up and leaving for work. That's enough to make anyone insane! Give yourself (and your boobs) a little bit of a break.

[Anonymous]

OP. I'm a 15. I hate my job. I think at this point I'd whip my boob out in the meeting and start pumping. Women bosses can be so over the top.

[Anonymous]

In my office, there was a time when about 3-4 women were all pumping and trying to share one lactation room. One woman bought or rented hospital grade pump and allowed the other women to use it (with their own parts/accessories) -- so it always stayed in the room. Then they set up a schedule for using the room. I think it may have been a like a sign up sheet but they each had their regular times.

So, consider talking with the other women who use the LR.

If you had a set pumping schedule, your boss/coworkers may be able to work around that. Although it sounds like there could be some resentment. But, at that point it is their problem and your just standing up for your rights.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand why you and the other woman can't pump at the same time. Just get a room divider. I pumped in a lactation room (small) that had two stations. Sounds like that would solve your issue.

I agree. Is the room too small or something? I worked in a hospital and pumped in a room with other nurses and NICU moms. Sometimes there were 4 or 5 of us at a time (without dividers). Your boss isn't in the right, but seems this would be easier than going to HR.

[Anonymous]

Yes, it's pretty stressful "going to pump" and then not being able to. I hope you can get that part sorted and then take it from there.

[Anonymous]

Just finished a year of pumping a few months ago, and I feel for you. Some thoughts:

1) The LR situation is unworkable. At the very least, there ought to be a weekly or daily sign-up form where you can reserve the room for 30 minutes. If the sign-up form reveals that multiple people need the room on the same schedule, then you have justification to request an additional space or that dividers be purchased.

2) When pumping remotely, I just brought a cooler and ice packs. I'd be annoyed, too, if you had to leave a conference to walk somewhere for a fridge. Ice packs can keep milk cold enough for a workday.

3) Store and transport your pump parts in the cooler with ice packs. One less bag. And the even bigger advantage -- the cooler keeps them cool between pumps, so you don't have to wash them.

[Anonymous]

Agree with PPs about getting a schedule for the lactation room. See if HR can help with that, or work with the other women directly. At my company, we had two LRs but many women who wanted to use them (large company), so the LRs had to be scheduled like any other conference room. I also at that time had a job with a lot of meetings, and it was so much easier to know that I could have the LR at X and Y time and schedule around that (I also blocked my calendar for those slots so that people trying to schedule a meeting with me would see that I was busy).

Once you have a set schedule, it should be easier to work around. Your boss might be more willing to accomodate you if she knows that you are not available from 2 to 2:30 (or whatever) but can do it for the remainder of the afternoon.

Good luck! Pumping was really stressful for me (for other reasons, I wasn't much of a producer so it was more of a supply issue than logistics), so I am really sympathetic.

[Anonymous]

Haven't read all posts but I think you should work out a schedule for the lactation room with the other moms so you have guaranteed access when you need it. Buy 3 sets of pump parts so you don't have to waste time washing during the day and wash everything at night. I also got a minifridge for my office and had one hospital grade pump at work snd a Medela at home so I wouldn't have to lug everything back and forth. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand why you and the other woman can't pump at the same time. Just get a room divider. I pumped in a lactation room (small) that had two stations. Sounds like that would solve your issue.

I shared an office with a colleague who pumped. We'd shut the door, cover the small window, and she'd pump with her back toward me.

My other friend used her boss' office (a male in fact). During an 8-hr day, she pumped - at the most - 3 times.

I gave up and used formula. too lazy to deal, I suppose . . .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand why you and the other woman can't pump at the same time. Just get a room divider. I pumped in a lactation room (small) that had two stations. Sounds like that would solve your issue.

I agree. Is the room too small or something? I worked in a hospital and pumped in a room with other nurses and NICU moms. Sometimes there were 4 or 5 of us at a time (without dividers). Your boss isn't in the right, but seems this would be easier than going to HR.

I agree.
If your goal is to continue pumping, learn to deal with being in the lactation room with another nursing woman.

[Anonymous]

If teleworking is an option, then you have to get the land-line, what is stopping you from getting one now?

[Anonymous]

How old is your baby? You are pumping a ton of times each day. I EBF'd each of my three kids and pumped at work each time, and never pumped that often. I also agree with others that an ice pack is totally sufficient to keep milk cold during the day.

I totally think your workplace needs to accommodate you - it sounds like what they need to do is make the lactation room usable for multiple people. But it also sounds like unfortunately you will have to be a little more flexible about the transport/storage/schedule as well.

[Anonymous]

Not Op - I pump 3x at work (twice on Fridays because I'm so sick of it) and twice at home to maintain my already dwindling supply.

However, I pump with other women - get a hands free bra and a shawl or cardigan for modesty and go for it.

Also, if your work doesn't support pumping - which it doesn't seem to - just suck it up and buy a small fridge if you're allowed to bring it in. A beer fridge won't cost you much, especially since it's back to school time and the stores all sell them for dorms. Go to BB&B with a 20% off coupon and there you go. Keep plastic bags, paper towels, and bam. Store in bags, put in fridge, clean up at the end of the day (I think I'm the only mom who cleans pump parts at work in my room - everyone else takes them home).

I also don't think there can be any real personnel action against you on this - if you're worried, talk to HR.

While I was on leave, they RIF'd my job (I was the one out, so I got the RIF). The fed is all talk when it comes to supporting women and/or families IMO.