No Lactation Rooms
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No Lactation Rooms
| Thu, 10-11-2007 - 10:02am |
So get this, I just found out that my company does not have lactation rooms in any of their buildings. According to my manager a friend of hers had to pump in the bathroom for months.


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Oh that sucks.
Yes, that does suck.
Yep, it sucks. My office doesn't have any lactation rooms either. I have my own office, but the whole one wall is windows, and there is no lock, and the walls are super duper thin so everyone would hear the varoom of the motor. Embarrasing.
So, I worked out a deal with the secretaries. There's a file room on the inside of the building that only three of the secretaries go into. It has an outlet, and a table and a chair in the middle. I talked with the three of them and they were fine with me using it, so when I go in there I put a Do Not Disturb sign on the door, and prop a chair against the door handle just in case someone tries to barge in without seeing the sign. Its worked out well so far. It's not perfect, but its better than the bathroom!
Another thing to check - the bathroom in our work does not have an outlet to plug in to. If you decide to use the bathroom, make sure it has an outlet! Or invest in a real good battery pack for your pump.
I've also heard of people using the car adapter and pumping in their car. You could pull into a spot far away from other cars, or use a blanket to cover the windows.
Or, you could be a renegade. Its not the battle I wanted to fight, being the only pumping mom in my office, but you could always petition HR to make a small lactation room. It doesn't take much - just a tiny room with an outlet, a table and a chair! And a lock on the door would be helpful too! :-)
It is really too bad that more companies don't get with the program. I know its an inconvenience to them, but if they can give smokers accomodations to waste half their day, why the heck can't they make some simple accomodations for working pumping moms? KWIM? At least we're LOWERING their insurance costs by having healthy kids rather than raising it by promoting lung disease!
Amanda
There are empty offices here, I just hope they don't fill up by the time I return. Also the offices face the building across the street and I don't think there are any blinds in there.
As a pp mentioned, some bathrooms are not an option - I checked ours and it is outletless. So if BFing is going well, it looks like I will be pumping in our server room, as it is the only closet with an outlet and a door. At least the servers are so loud that they will drown out the pump noise!!
Just wanted to let you know that I feel your pain!
I feel your pain! I'm an exclusive pumper, so finding a place was mandatory. I work in a hospital, and they don't have a room either, can you believe it? I use a spare gyn room (there is no ob/gyn here yet) and it is on the 6th floor, with my office on the 1st. I use my lunch time too, and just eat at my desk. But at least my room has a door, lock, and sink in it. Make sure you get a door hanger that states "DO NOT DISTURB" on it. Similac gave me one in one if the 10 dozen freebie things I got. If you have headphones and a CD/MP3 player, bring those, as sitting there staring at the wall will be very boring and not good for milk production. Also, they make bras for "hands free" pumping. That will make life so much easier for you. I wish I had gotten one in the beginning, but as long as I have my iPod, I'm good.
HTH...if you have any pumping q's, please ask. I feel like an expert...lol!!
Debb
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Ugh, I know - this is probably one of, if not THE, hardest thing about pumping at work.
The NYS legislature passed a law that requires an employer to provide reasonable accommodations for pumping. While the language of the law is non-specific, I've read numerous interpretations that DO NOT consider a bathroom a reasonable accommodation. It is unsanitary. In many environments, it is not private. It is not a relaxing environment, and anyone who pumps knows how critical it is.
Here is some bill info:
http://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?bn=A+1060
Here is a legal blog about it:
http://communities.justicetalking.org/blogs/day11/archive/2007/09/10/a-breastfeeding-balancing-act-when-new-mothers-return-to-work.aspx
It's usually easier to deal w/ employers without bringing in printed copies of the law....but if you have to, I suggest calling your local LaLeche for support.
Good luck! Our gov't spends a lot of money supporting breastfeeding and claiming that we are a breastfeeding friendly nation, but they often fail to support women who need to nurse outside of their homes or when they return to work!
Jen
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