So you get the baby settled at day care or the sitter’s house. You get to work and check to make sure that you don’t have mascara trailing down your cheeks from the tears. And now you’ve got to deal with...the breast pump.
If you have chosen to breastfeed and have stuck with it this long, you will need to figure out how to handle it at work. Believe me, your new relationship with the double-barreled electric breast pump is going to seem all-consuming for those first few days away from the baby. And the topic of time and privacy for pumping should probably be addressed with your supervisor before you head back to work. You don’t want to be trying to nail down the boss’s position on the matter when you’re already an hour overdue for pumping.
Only twenty states have laws regarding breastfeeding in the workplace. Each law is different but most of them require the employer to provide “reasonable” breaks for breastpumping. Some require the employer to make “reasonable” efforts to provide a location in which to pump other than a bathroom stall. Of course, that leaves thirty states without any such laws.
If you’re lucky, your place of employment has an established policy which allows employees to take breaks for breast-pumping as well as a comfortable, private place to do so. If not, you’ll have to broach the topic. Be ready with a plan to propose to the boss. And be flexible. You should explain how long it will take you to pump (probably 15-20 minutes each time) and how often you will need to pump. Suggest pumping on breaks that others may take for coffee or cigarettes and/or shortening your lunch hour to accommodate a twice a day pumping schedule. Be creative and suggest whatever you think would work best for you.
You’ll also need to discuss where your breastpumping can occur. If you have an office, the answer is pretty easy. Just a desk or a cubicle? That’s where it gets a little more difficult. Some larger companies have lactation rooms provided for their nursing employees – even providing a communal pump with personal attachments. In most workplaces though, you’ll have to be a little more creative. Is there an empty office anywhere that you can talk the boss into allowing you to pump in for 30 minutes a day? A locker room or lounge? At the very least, a private bathroom as opposed to a toilet stall? Ask around to see if any of your co-workers have pumped at work and find out what worked for them.
I was lucky enough to have my own office with a door and no windows or glass sidelights to worry about on the two occasions that I nursed after returning to work. There was no lock on the door – but believe me, the bright pink note on the door stating “DO NOT ENTER” was very effective in keeping people out. My older, male colleagues especially were very freaked out by the mere idea of what was going on behind that door. Don’t get me wrong – they were very understanding and accommodating. They just didn’t want to talk about it. Or think about it. And they definitely didn’t want to walk in on it. I never once had anyone fail to notice the sign.
As far as equipment goes, it’s pretty simple. You’ll need to invest in a good breast pump. Talk to your lactation consultant about which machine to choose. You’ll also need something to store the milk in while you’re still at work. Right or wrong, most people are a little weirded out if they open the office fridge and see your breast milk sitting there. I always brought a soft-sided lunch box-size cooler with cold packs in it. Actually, breast milk can even be stored at room temperature for up to 10 hours.
If you have a job where you have scheduled breaks, it will probably be fairly easy for you to maintain a good breastpumping schedule. This will help keep your milk supply sufficient for your baby. I didn’t have a job with scheduled breaks while I was breastfeeding. I knew approximately when I wanted to pump throughout the day and fit it in when I felt that I could. Personally, this was difficult for me. I would often find myself wrapped up in a project and then – all of the sudden – I was two hours late for pumping. My lack of self-discipline ultimately resulted in a reduced pumping schedule and a lower milk supply. You will need to find the best way to keep yourself on schedule – it may be an alarm on your cell phone, an appointment in your calendar program or a sticky note on your computer screen. You’ll figure out what works best for you. Once you’ve got your schedule reminder, you’ll just need some organization and dedication to be a successful nursing, working mother.
(Which I was not. I just couldn’t get it together for more than a few months after I returned to work. Those women who can do it though? They’re my heroes. It’s a lot of work – but they prove that it can be done!)
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