A Working Moms Guide to Pumping At Work
New moms go through a lot. Heading back to work is a mental job in itself, then add in pumping at work it’s even more challenging. Some offices will present more challenges than others, but there are some strategies that can help you get through with a little less stress. First off it's important to know your rights under the law. According to the The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (P.L. 111-148, known as the “Affordable Care Act”) amended section 7. Employers are also required to provide “a place, other than a bathroom, that is shielded from view and free from intrusion from coworkers and the public. Of course there's caveats like how much employees does your company have, are you salaried or hourly - the list goes on. Either way you shouldn't be pumping in the bathroom. So now that you know that you have rights under the law.
Here’s our guide to get you started
Prepare and Plan
One of the very first things you need to do well before your return to work is to prepare for it. Check your company for any additional benefits they may offer you on your return to work, and seek out the support of other mothers like yourself. A part of preparation that must be done while still pregnant is to purchase the necessary accessories, such as pumping bras, breast milk storage solutions, etc.
You can benefit from free pumps thanks to The Affordable Care Act. You may want to get a second pump if your budget allows. This can help you to be prepared for pumping each day by leaving a dedicated pump at work, so you don’t have to be moving with the entire setup everyday.
Get advice for products from your OB/GYN or hire a lactation consultant if you can afford one. These professionals can guide you through the purchase of accessories and gear that will help you to create a plan for pumping at work that really works.
Once you have your pump in hand, you want to spend time getting used to it before you return to work. Start pumping regularly at least two weeks before you return to work. This practice will help you to build a freezer stash ahead of when you have to leave your baby. This will also give you an idea of how much milk you will get from a pumping session, so you can know how far ahead you will be. Remember, as your baby gets bigger, their needs increase. You want to have enough breast milk on hand to meet those needs.
All in all, remember to be patient with yourself. Follow the guidance of your Lactation Consultant, and don’t be too disheartened if your pumping sessions initially don’t yield as much milk as you thought you should.
What Are You Entitled to at Work?
We mentioned above that under the law you shouldn’t be pumping in the bathroom and there are other laws that protect you as well. Under the Affordable Care Act, women are allowed “reasonable break time to express breast milk for their baby under a year old”. The Act also stipulates that the employer must provide a place for the mother pump that will be free of intrusion from the coworkers and customers.
Start off with Federal laws, and then get down to the laws by your state to ensure you know all your rights.
Talk to Human Resources
Your HR department can guide you through the process of how to use the dedicated nursing space or spaces in your organization. They can also educate you on any benefits you are entitled to as a new mother, and can help you process and receive said benefits. Some benefits include lactation consultants, doulas and nurses within a network that you are allowed access to for advice and support.
Learn the Pumping Culture of your Organization
How you use a pumping room varies from one organization to the next. There are some companies that require online registration and scheduling for each session. Other companies may have a sign that you place on the door for rooms that may have multiple uses. Find out all of this so you don’t get any surprises when you get back to work and are ready to pump for the first time.
View the room, get familiar with supplies provided and where these are stored. Envision if there is anything additional that you may need to make the space comfortable enough for you. Some organizations offer a refrigerator, a sink, etc. Some ensure the seating is comfortable and situated close to an outlet. Some companies will have lockers so you can keep your pumping supplies within the room. Just be sure to support other mothers by leaving the room and the space in the same manner as you received it. We all want to have a sanitary place to pump for our babies.
Establish a Timetable
A routine is essential in building and keeping your milk supply up. A routine involves how long you need to pump each day and how many times you need to pump. Your pumping experience will be different from others and should be created based on the needs of your baby and their feeding habits.
Consider the length of each session and just how much yield you will get after a session. You also must consider the time it takes to set up the pumping apparatus, as well as time for cleanup, untangling tubing, labeling your milk, and cleaning any surfaces that may need to be cleaned and sanitized after your use.
Set and Communicate Your Boundaries
Place your pumping schedule onto your work calendar. This allows others to see you are scheduled, so they don’t accidentally book you when you are not available, and also helps to prevent you double booking yourself. This also gives you the signal that pumping is important and helps you stay accountable. You don’t have to label these times as “pumping”, you can simply label them as “reserved” or unavailable. This ensures others will respect your time. There are times when this won’t work, for example those one-off competing meetings or when a meeting runs longer than expected. There are times you will have to verbally indicate your need to move into the pumping room. You can openly say what you need to do, or you can indicate you have prior arrangements or responsibilities that you must take care of. No matter what, don’t skip a pumping session altogether. This can lead to blocked ducts, decreased supply, and even mastitis.
Find Your Support System
Your pumping journey can be very lonely within your organization, but you are not alone. There is a whole society of women just like you, with babies the same age, a few months older or even a few months younger. They can share their experiences and tips they used to get them through different seasons and different challenges. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. It can be anything from how they handled their first business trip or how they stored their supplies.
You can also get the emotional support you need from women in your shoes, as well as from friends and family that have walked this road before. They say it takes a village to raise a child, but us moms need our own villages of support too.
Keep an Open Mind and Stay Flexible
As we mentioned in the beginning paragraph, pumping at work will be a learning curve, and for many it's not even set in stone. Over time, you may need to make adjustments based on your baby’s needs and based on the needs of your office or work role. If you notice you start producing less milk, you may need to increase your pumping sessions. The same can be said if your baby starts eating more. Or you may have a coworker that now needs to use the same room or space as well, and you may need to move your schedule around a little bit to accommodate her. Then there may be some days that are simply just more challenging and require you to adjust your pumping schedule. Just remember, even if you can’t pump on your schedule, don't completely miss out on a pumping session.
If you do your research, you will find most new mothers have pumping horror story, and some even more than one. There's accidental spills, coworkers walking in on a pumping session, and many more. But one thing most mothers will agree on is that pumping is a rewarding practice for both them and their babies.
While there is no perfect way to pump at work, you can create something that works for you and your organization. Remember, you are entitled to that time as long as your baby hasn’t reached their first year. Get the help you need, educate yourself about your company's offerings and regulations, and prepare yourself physically with all the accessories and support you need to get through your pumping sessions while at work.