Pumping at Work???

Nurses General Nursing

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I'm a new graduate (Aug 6th), and I was offered a job at a large Family Practice near my home as an RN. I interviewed while pregnant (37 wks) and I hadn't graduated yet. But she called me the next day after checking references and offered me the job. Anyway, I plan to go start when my baby is 6 weeks and I am exclusively breastfeeding. I didn't even think to ask about how this will work while I'm at work. I have a double electric pump that I started using a few days after i got home and I have a nice supply in the freezer already.

Do any of you pump at work whether it be at the hospital, doctor's office, school, etc? How do you do it, how often, where, and is your employer supportive of this? I'm worried it could be an issue :(

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I'm going to guess since it's a family practice they would be supportive. Only you can know how often you need to pump. I'm sure if you explain it to them, they will accomodate you.

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Legally, the employer may have to accommodate you, but don't be surprised if there are issues with other staff.

I was a floor nurse, and was floated into a 4 bed unit, with another RN. I was not familiar with the unit, and not particularly comfortable working there. The other RN went into a room, closed the door, and pumped for a lengthy period of time while I was stuck being responsible for her patients as well as mine.

I do not have positive feelings toward people pumping at work, or anything else for that matter. I think people should come to work to work.

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Specializes in Urgent Care.

I wasn't a nurse at the time that I had my baby...was actually in the military but had my own office with a door that locked so it I was lucky. I established a schedule each morning of when I thought I would have time to pump and kind of planned my day around that as much as I could. Just speaking for me, I needed to do it 3 times a day to keep an adequate supply and would throw in an extra if I ran a little low. I actually kept a little sheet that had the amount I had in my freezer stash, subtract how much I sent with my daughter to daycare each morning, then add what I pumped throughout the day. It may sound a little overboard on the tracking, but I liked to know exactly how much I had available and whether I was pumping enough to keep up. With the double pump, you'll get to be pretty fast with practice. I was about 15 min start to finish, including cleaning the parts and dating storage bags and all that. That's what worked for me. You'll come up with a system that works for you. Good luck with your new job and the breastfeeding!

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Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.

Working on an OB floor, there always seem to be nurses who have recently had babies and are pumping. On your own time (breaks, lunch) you should be able to do whatever you want, whether that's going outside to smoke, texting your boyfriend, or providing milk for your infant (this is directed to the post above mine).

In a 12-hour shift, I always tried to pump 3 times, at least for the first several months. Once he was a year old, I cut back to twice, and then at around 14 months, down to once. I quit pumping at work altogether at 15 months.

Good luck to you. Do you have a good quality electric breastpump to use?

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Specializes in OR, peds, PALS, ICU, camp, school.

I pumped at work. It was easy sometimes, harder at others. Especially as time went on and I pumped once a shift for comfort more than take-home milk as I tend to BF well past 12 months. Explain your situation to whomever you feel comfortable with and whomever you NEED to. Be a team worker when you're on the clock.

Oddly, in all the specialties I worked, peds was least supportive (??) Maybe it's because the unit culture in that peds unit was that we took lunch in the conference room, available to pts (we never reported off for lunch) and skipped breaks. I was the odd one requesting time away. A couple times I pumped in the car on the way home to relieve the pressure.

OR was easiest as everyone was always rotated out for 30 min lunch breaks, a 15 min PM break and a 20-30 min AM break. If I went the extra mile to help certain co-workers I knew I could count on them for a HELP! I'm leaking! break. A few times things were busy and my PM break missed or my AM break short but that was the exception.

ICU was middle ground. I reported off and got lunch but had to be flexible with what time my lunch break came. I could usually grab someone to keep an eye on my pts while I ran for a "5 minute pump" at the least.

You, and your breasts, will get used to the schedule. Do you pump easily, now? It's harder if you're someone who takes a while to let down. I'm a cow so it was easy. Keep cool packs handy for the times you swell but you really don't want more milk. Rice packs are nice and small is discrete. I've been known, though, to fill bio-haz specimen bags with ice and pop them in my bra in the kitchen, LOL. Keep breast pads in your bag, even if you thought you were done with them... or you'll be reaching for 4X4s in the middle of a convo with a co-worker. In FP... watch out for the patients bringing in crying babies!! :)

As long as smokers get to smoke, I take my breaks to pump. Ya wanna know what's crankier than a smoker without a fix? A mama with a full bra! :)

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I really hope it work out at this office. We get a little over an hour for lunch... but I don't remember her saying anything about breaks. I work Mon-Fri 830-530. I am currently using the newer Lansinoh Double Electric PUmp and get about 2-3 oz per breast...occasionally more.

Working on an OB floor, there always seem to be nurses who have recently had babies and are pumping. On your own time (breaks, lunch) you should be able to do whatever you want, whether that's going outside to smoke, texting your boyfriend, or providing milk for your infant (this is directed to the post above mine).

In a 12-hour shift, I always tried to pump 3 times, at least for the first several months. Once he was a year old, I cut back to twice, and then at around 14 months, down to once. I quit pumping at work altogether at 15 months.

Good luck to you. Do you have a good quality electric breastpump to use?

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Specializes in Urgent Care.

I agree with XingtheBBB...you'll get a routine, your breasts will learn the routine...just get some good breathable bra pads for the days when the routine doesn't work out so you're not leaking through your scrubs. Had it happen to me in Air Force blues one day! You'll start to get more of a feel for your quantity as you get into the routine too. Your breasts will still manage to know how much the little one needs. It can be difficult at times, and I know I sometimes felt like my whole day revolved around finding time to pump, but it's very rewarding when you pack those little bottles off to their childcare and know they're getting the best nutrition possible!

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Legally, the employer may have to accommodate you, but don't be surprised if there are issues with other staff.

I do not have positive feelings toward people pumping at work, or anything else for that matter. I think people should come to work to work.

Wow! That's kind of harsh. You work and get breaks, utilize that break, go somewhere you feel comfortable, and let it all out! People who are smokers get to have a break. Yes you should come to work, and work, but you are not a slave, and if you work a 12 hour shift, you should be allotted a 30 min, and 2 fifteen minute breaks! Use them!:yeah:Breastfeeding was the best thing I did for my girl!

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I worked 8 hour shifts and exclusively breast fed for a while. Your breasts will adjust to the demand and make more or less as needed. I, like you, started out getting 2-3 oz each breast but worked hard to get my supply up. I ended up getting 10+ oz total most times! My routine was this: possibly nurse DS in am if he woke up, then go to work early. First pump before starting work, obviously not getting as much if the LO nursed in the morning. Then the BIG pump at lunch. Either nurse at home if DS wanted to and/or pump a little to take some pressure off.

It's definitely doable, you'll find what works best for you. Ditto to those who said to carry cold packs/bra pads, at least until your body adjusts! Good luck!

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Specializes in adult ICU.

I did it too, for about 8 months, in an ICU. It was not always that easy to get away but if I could find time to do it with critically ill patients, you should not have that much of a problem in an office setting.

By law, they have to provide a private location for you to pump. This might be an unused exam room (who knows). My hospital had a room that I got to borrow a key to for the duration and it was an unused call room. It wasn't fancy -- a clock, two desks, a phone, and a couple of (uncomfortable) chairs, but it was attached to a bathroom, which was useful for handwashing pre/post.

Once you get used to pumping, it only takes about 15-20 minutes start-finish. Hopefully your job will be supportive -- it's only a temporary thing.

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Wow! That's kind of harsh. You work and get breaks, utilize that break, go somewhere you feel comfortable, and let it all out! People who are smokers get to have a break. Yes you should come to work, and work, but you are not a slave, and if you work a 12 hour shift, you should be allotted a 30 min, and 2 fifteen minute breaks! Use them!:yeah:Breastfeeding was the best thing I did for my girl!

Thanks for saying that :) I was like "WOW" when I read her comment. I was just hoping most people don't feel this way. I definitely don't want to **** people off, but I know how important breastfeeding is and if done during my breaks i would hope this wouldn't be an issue. I will definitely do my job and go above and beyond like I usually do, but I do need my time to pump. This is my 1st time breastfeeding (formula fed my daughter 6 years ago), and I really want to be successful. :)

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