What would you do (Working/Nursing mom)?

[DisneyCowgirl]

also wanted to say that your post doesn't indicate how long you've been pumping, but my experience is that after several months, it's a lot easier to be flexible on when and how long I pump. It might get better for you too.

AND--I hate tomaoes except for Bob too!

 

[Laura]

I don't know the answer here, but wanted to send out some congrats to you for keeping up with the pumping. I am pumping at work for #2 now, and my office provides nothing (thinks I can do it in the bathroom!). I go to my healthclub which is nearby and pump in the locker-room. It's totally wierd and takes up my whole lunch hour.

Have you said anything to the woman who takes over the room? I don't know how someone could keep that up knowing that she is denying you the opportunity to pump. Maybe she thinks you're just looking for a place for lunch or a little nap too.

That could be the case. A friendly heads-up might be in order.



I am very fortunate that I don't have to pump at lunch; DD is in a daycare in the building so I feed her on my lunch hour. I don't have enough flexibility at work to be able to breastfeed her on demand, though, so I leave bottles at daycare. I pump once in the morning and once in the afternoon, for about 15 minutes each time. (I have two sets of flanges, etc. so I don't spend time washing parts.) What I do know about pumping is that it's not the length of time you spend pumping that increases your output, it's how often you pump. Just something to consider.

 

[englishteacha]

We have a nursing mom at our school. I know she has found a place to pump, but there isn't a specific spot. I would talk to your company about the woman locking herself in. It isn't right! Our local high school has a "lounge" area attached to the staff rest room. This sounds like what your company is providing. Why on earth would someone want to eat there?

 

[Fishbone†]

I've been pumping for 7 weeks, and struggling because of the decreased opportunities while at work (not totally related to the issue at hand - just the inability to do it as often), which is another reason this is somewhat of an issue for me. I really really don't want to have to go to formula!!

Our state does require them to provide us an area other than a bathroom stall.

And I have no idea why you would want to eat in there other than I know she talks on her cell phone sometimes too.

 

[NotUrsula]

And I have no idea why you would want to eat in there other than I know she talks on her cell phone sometimes too.

And there you have your answer. She wants phone privacy during her lunch break. Tough noogies; pumping privacy trumps phone privacy any day of the week.

If it is a designated pumping room, the company should put a double-key lock on and give pumping mothers the only keys. I had a problem with being walked in on in my private office by building maintenance; we don't normally close our doors around here during the day, so when he found it closed and locked he just assumed that the office was empty, and used his master key to come in to check my light bulbs. Naturally, I was naked from the waist up, and I DIVED under my desk. After that, I had to put a sign next to the lock that said "Do NOT attempt to access this room by passkey between the hours of X and Y!"

 

[DisneyCowgirl]

Fish--At only 7 weeks, you're really running uphill since you still need to pump often to keep that supply up and actually increase it. But if you can make it another 6 weeks or so, you might find that it gets so much easier. By that point for me, I was consistently pumping more than baby was eating. Keep trying! But at the same time, if you find it just can't work, don't be hard on yourself.

 

[Fishbone†]

Fish--At only 7 weeks, you're really running uphill since you still need to pump often to keep that supply up and actually increase it. But if you can make it another 6 weeks or so, you might find that it gets so much easier. By that point for me, I was consistently pumping more than baby was eating. Keep trying! But at the same time, if you find it just can't work, don't be hard on yourself.

I really hope that's the case for me too, because I would love to continue as long as I can. Maybe for just 6 weeks I can arrange to pump a little more often - even if it's just for a short period of time. Do you have to pump for a certain amount of time to make it count - I mean is there a minimum time I can go pump quick for just to keep my supply going strong?

 

[momof1princess]

this really just makes me spitting mad! OP, if you don't want to confront this amazingly rude, inconsiderate, thoughtless woman, i'll do it for you! how DARE she sit in there to eat lunch and talk on her cell phone in a room set aside for nursing mothers! if i were you, i would go to HR and demand they fix the problem that minute. if they waffle or refuse, tell them they'll be hearing from the local media/aclu/your attorney. honestly, that woman is ridiculous and petty and should be ashamed of herself and HR should take care of her. it shouldn't be this difficult for you to feed your baby and i'm sure it could be construed as a hostile work environment. ugh, ok, i'm sorry, i'm through ranting now. people like that just make me so mad!

 

[Va-bear]

Fellow working and nursing/pumping mom weighing in; I'm really mad on your behalf. What a rude woman!!!

With a lock on the door, it makes it impossible to pump if this lady is in there, right? I would go to HR, explain that you need a room that is AVAILABLE to you for pumping on your lunch hour. Having the room occupied all the time is not the same thing. Ask if there is an unused office or something. They may not be able to stop the woman from using the room for eating her meal, but they must be able to provide you with a private space for pumping. If it were another nursing mom, I'm sure they would ask you two to work things out between yourselves. But it's not a lunch room, and she doesn't need to lock herself away to eat a sandwich.

Alternatively, see if you can have them at least take the lock off the door and just muscle your way in every day. I have a cover-up that I keep handy in case someone walks in on me. (I pump in a "sick room" and there is no lock.) I know you don't want to be showing her everything.

In the meantime, go ahead and knock away!

I am mad too!!! Good advice here and from others. Talk to HR and then knock away! She sounds VERY selfish - at the very least they need to remove the lock so all can access it.

 

[diznygirl]

I've been pumping for 7 weeks, and struggling because of the decreased opportunities while at work (not totally related to the issue at hand - just the inability to do it as often), which is another reason this is somewhat of an issue for me. I really really don't want to have to go to formula!!

Our state does require them to provide us an area other than a bathroom stall.

And I have no idea why you would want to eat in there other than I know she talks on her cell phone sometimes too.

You mentioned a love seat - I bet she wants to nap. I think you have to talk to her and see if you guys can work out an arrangement to share - for example she gets it from 11:30 to 12:30 and you get after. Good luck.

 

[MizTink]

What a weirdo. This woman obviously has a huge sense of entitlement.

Sorry you have to deal with this. Good luck!

she's not just a weirdo, she's RUDE and obviously very anti-social. who would lock themselves in there to eat by the bathroom. yuck! maybe she's napping?!!
(are you sure she's not pumping too?)
whatever, unless she's pumping too i would NEVER let this go. don't back down. and don't tell her or hr that you want to use it at that time out of convenience. even if it's better timing for your work schedule. it's all about YOUR RIGHTS. you know, like you get terribly engorged waiting for her to free up the pumping room.

maybe contact the La Leche League for support/information to approach hr with.

 

[Fishbone†]

she's not just a weirdo, she's RUDE and obviously very anti-social. who would lock themselves in there to eat by the bathroom. yuck! maybe she's napping?!!
(are you sure she's not pumping too?)

Yep - I'm sure she's not pumping. I know who it is, and she doesn't have any children. Before PJ was born, I saw her go in with her lunch a couple times, and others have told me that she eats her lunch in there. When I beat her to the room one time, I heard her cuss when she came in - I could smell her lunch AND I've smelled it when I've gone in and she's beaten me in.

 

[tonilea]

What if you stash your pump in the room then if she "beats" you there, you can knock on the door and demand to be let in because you "need your pump". Then plop down and proceed to pump.

ETA: Then you can say something like "They" (HR) said I have to pump in here!

 

[kangareaux]

If all else fails, when they engorge and start leaking from not being pumped in time, plop down in the HR persons office and THEN ask what he'll do about it. "These ain't sweat stains Buddy!"

(OK...this will only work if it's a man. Women aren't *generally* freaked out by this phenomenon....)

Not to make light of your problem. I remember how it felt to miss a feeding or pumping. (I was a leaker in case you haven't guessed! LOL!) I think that maybe HR needs to realize that this isn't just an issue of what's convenient for you but that it causes pain, ruined clothing, and if it continues could lead to <incredibly painful> medical problems. (Medical problems which would cause you to miss work) It's a MEDICAL NECESSITY for you at this point, not a convenience.

 

[rparmfamily]

I'm mad for you too!!!!

I think you've gotten some great advice, so I won't repeat it, but I do you hope are persistant with this issues. It's important...for you, for your baby and for other nursing or potentially nursing moms at your work. Feeding your baby is VERY important and they are denying your ability and right to do so.

Keep up the hard work...you are in the midst of the hardest part and things will get easier (pumping,etc) so hang in there!!!


http://www.llli.org/Law/LawEmployment.html

 

[camlace]

Are you sure she doesn't have a medical issue that would require use of the room. At my company we call them Wellness Rooms and they are meant for the use of any individual that needs a private space to attend to any personal needs, ie pumping, administration of meds, etc. In one of my buildings we have several cancer patients that use the rooms for self-administered cancer meds and/or periods of rest as they go through chemo treatments. So before you jump to conclusions, there may be another reason she is using the room. That being said, she does need to "share" and a reasonable schedule should be able to be agreed to amongst adults. If necessary have HR schedule a meeting for the 3 of you to come to a amicable solution on the use/scheduling of the room.

 

[Laura]

I really hope that's the case for me too, because I would love to continue as long as I can. Maybe for just 6 weeks I can arrange to pump a little more often - even if it's just for a short period of time. Do you have to pump for a certain amount of time to make it count - I mean is there a minimum time I can go pump quick for just to keep my supply going strong?

I think even 5 minutes would be fine for a "quickie"; anything that gets the milk flowing for a bit and tells your body it needs to make more. And there are wipes you can use to clean your flanges afterwards if you don't have the time for a full-on soaping.

A great site is kellymom:
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/bf-links-pumps.html

 

[Tinijocaro]

Could you possibly post a schedule for use of this nursing room? "Please sign up for a daily time that you would like to use the pumping room (or whatever it is called) Having a regular time to pump each day aids in keeping up the milk supply. Thank you for allowing us nursing mothers the opportunity to have a private comfortable place to pump." Tweak it for your needs.

My other thought is to just speak nicely to this woman and let her know that youare about to bust at the time of day that she uses that room-is there any way she could eat in the room designated for lunch? I think dealing with it directly, but nicely is the best way to go. Let her know what time you need it and for how long and ask if she could possibly adjust her lunch so you will have a place to pump. If she offers you the bathroom, ask her if she would like to eat her lunch in the bathroom.

Our company (like many others) provides a room for the working moms to pump in. Our room is a little room off the lounge to the bathroom. Since my schedule at work is busy, I would like to use it over my lunch hour to minimize interruptions to my workload, and to eliminate the possibility that I have a meeting at the time I would like to pump (which has happened due to the following). Unfortunately there is a lady that likes to eat her lunch in there. At one point I was trying to beat her to the room, but lately she's been going in there even earlier, and staying about an hour. Due to my morning calendar, I can't leave my desk any earlier, and I end up going after lunch which is not at all convenient. I have emailed our HR dept. and I was informed that there is no company policy on the room, and that I should either knock on the door and ask if the person in there is using it for it's intended purpose, or try going at a different time. I think that's cruddy, but it is what it is. I really feel like she's being rude and plus, who wants to eat lunch in the "bathroom"? But on the other hand, I'm nervous to knock on the door and have her frustrated with me or think I'm being rude or something. Obviously due to the "race to the room", she knows I need it, and doesn't care, so I don't know how to handle that.

Has anyone else run into this, or does anyone have any good suggestions on how to handle it?

 

[Boston Tea Party]

Please do keep us updated. You are in my thoughts!

This reminds me - my teaching partner would pump during lunch and during our planning period. Our rooms are enclosed with doors that lock. She would lock her door and take care of things. One day the custodian unlocked the door and walked in! She had a cabinet door open as an extra bit of privacy, thank goodness.

Sending good thoughts your way.