Pumping at work

[Anonymous]

Ladies

How do you (would you) handle pumping at work?
I have a separate office, I can not close the door (there is no lock) and there is a narrow glass along the door (i.e. you can see what is going on in the ofice when the door is closed). I was thinking about restroom, but it does not have a separate room either unless I use the handicapped unit (i.e. the largest toilet unit in the restroom), but still the door has aps around and it can be easily seen from outside, also there is no place to put stuff on (like table).

I just wanted to see what other options are?? Maybe going to the parking lot and doing it in the car?
If working 8 to 5, how many times will I have to pump? is it possible to pump only at home (i.e.not pumping at all at work)?

[Anonymous]

I use a conference room when it's not in use.

You could put up some paper along the glass window on your office door and a sign outside that says "do not disturb."

The bathroom is really not a great place to pump! If you feel comfortable doing so, you could ask your supervisor to help you find a place.

As for the frequency of pumping, it depends how old your baby will be when you return to work. I returned at 4 months and pumped (and still do at 8 months) twice a day. You definitely will have to pump at work if you want to continue breast feeding, or your supply will diminish.

[Anonymous]

I would suggest talking to HR to see if they can get you a lock for your office or suggest another place for you to pump.

[Anonymous]

I have my own office, which can be locked from the inside. But I still put up a sign "Do not disturb" so that my colleagues know why the door is locked (they all know that I am still breastfeeding my 4-month old baby). I pump 3 times a day: it takes me a total of 30-40 min.

In your case, I would suggest: (i) putting some paper on the glass; (ii) having a sign on the door; (iii) putting a chair against the door from the inside (just in case).

[Anonymous]

Op here
so i guess it sounds like it is ok that other people would know what i am doing behind closed doors??

Also, do i need to put the milk in the fridge right away or it can be kept in the bottles at the room temrpeture? I heard tha Medela In style original has coller pack so that i do not have to put it in general use fridge?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op here
so i guess it sounds like it is ok that other people would know what i am doing behind closed doors??

Also, do i need to put the milk in the fridge right away or it can be kept in the bottles at the room temrpeture? I heard tha Medela In style original has coller pack so that i do not have to put it in general use fridge?

21:02 poster here. I think it's perfectly fine if people know. All of my colleagues are married men with young kids, and their wives had to deal with the same sort of issues. When I got back to work (DD was 2.5 months old), I talked to my boss and explained that I was planning to breastfeed for 1 year, which meant that there would be times during the day I would be unavailable for meetings, etc. He had no problem, and things have been working out great so far.

As far as the fridge is concerned, we have a small one (used by no one but me) in the area where I work...If you don't have one already, I would buy a mini-fridge (for about $100) and keep it in the office.

[Anonymous]

Do people carry their pumps back and forth every day, just on weekends? Have one at home, one at work?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do people carry their pumps back and forth every day, just on weekends? Have one at home, one at work?

I take mine to work on Monday and bring it home on Friday. Still debating whether to buy a second one...