Any working moms who pump?

[jfawkes]

Just have to vent. I work 8-5 and pump at 10am and 2pm. We had a meeting this morning at 9am which ran late and went until 11am. I was dying! Just got back from pumping, feel sooo much better now! My boss knows I pump but I don't think he knows exactly when. I am usually discreet about slipping away. I just feel so awkward discussing it with my male boss. Ugh.

[Deleted]

I do. Similar things happened to me my first week or two back, but then I just made it super clear that it can introduce health issues if I don't do it as close to on schedule as possible. If a meeting goes too long, I have to excuse myself and my boss knows that now. They can't punish you for having to pump. I will go up to an hour over sometimes, but I also pump three times a day - so if I do, I'm not dying.

Could you add a third pump and pump less each time? That would help with engorgement.

And if you aren't comfortable talking to your boss - could you talk to your HR department? If it gets to be a big problem, that's what I'd suggest.

Good luck! Pumping at work isn't easy, that's for dang sure!

[zombiesquad]

I, too, have a male boss and one day he asked too many questions like what was that big bag I had. Where was I heading, etc. I finally told him I had just come from the mother's room. He never asked me again. But I'm fortunate in that we have a good working relationship so it wasn't a big deal. I think I did make him feel a little uncomfortable though.

As far as a schedule, the best I can do is pump as close to the same times each day. But that doesn't always happen. Sometimes I pump twice, sometimes I pump three times. Every day is a crap shoot, which is frustrating. With my increasingly busy schedule, I don't think I'll be pumping past this summer if I even make it that long. 

[SheilaTheTank]

I pump at 9:30, 12:30 and 3:30. I use my boss's office (his idea) and kick him out when I need to use it. I made it absolutely clear before I came back to work what the law states regarding pumping. I would definitely be upfront about it. In the beginning I was trying to rush because I felt bad and now I'm having supply issues. Do what you need to do. They can manage without you for 20 minutes so you can pump.

[miggg]

Pumping can definitely be a pain to fit in at work that's for sure. I will literally walk out in the middle of a meeting though if one is scheduled over my pump time and today I actually canceled one that I'd called because I had to pump during that time due to another conflict. It's like a constant puzzle, trying to put my day together. Ugh.

Your work should respect your need to pump though so I'd definitely get HR involved if it does become a problem.

[rosetyler72]

I am currently pumping 3x a day, 10ish, noon, and 3ish. I only work part time so I know it's easier for me than most, but fitting it in is hard. I feel like my coworkers have to pick up my slack because our patients are waiting.