Breastfeeding and nursing school

Aaic · Dec 5, 2014

Legally you are allowed breaks to pump prn/every 4 hours or so. You are also entitled to a place that is not a bathroom to pump. Look up the laws in your state and be prepared to fight for your rights. You are your biggest advocate.

tsm007 · Dec 5, 2014

Legally you are allowed breaks to pump prn/every 4 hours or so. You are also entitled to a place that is not a bathroom to pump. Look up the laws in your state and be prepared to fight for your rights. You are your biggest advocate.

I knew that as an employee I'd have rights to pump. I just wasn't sure how this would go as a student. Even with pump breaks not being a problem, I'm still really nervous about making this all work. I've never had to leave a baby this young before. Thanks for the reminder on the breastfeeding laws. I will look up the state laws and have them on hand in the event that I run into any problems with that. I think that the site I will be at will be flexible with me. I'm trying to do my best to try and prepare as much as possible.

mrsboots87 · Dec 5, 2014

Just a word of caution. (I will preface that I am a breastfeeding advocate who supports all breastfeeding mothers when and wherever they need to feed or pump.) Be prepared for some push back on this. Yes, legally you are required to be given adequate break time to pump and a clean place to do so that is not a bathroom or dirty janitor closet or whatever if you are an employee. However, if you actually get something like that will depend on the facility and has breastfeeding supportive they are. Since you are a guest at the facility and not an employee, they have no legal requirements to give you pumping time or a pumping room (or at least in most places). Now, that's not to say that you wont be able to pump or that everyone will be jerks about it. Just be prepared just in case. If they dont provide you adequate pumping time and space and you complain, there is a very real chance the facility will contact the school and they can say you are a problem and they dont want you there anymore. Effectively ending your semester. If they are legally bound to keep you there for the term of your capstone, then they can put pressure on the school and threaten to take their clinical placement away so that the school can no longer use that facility. This will make the school come down on you whether they agree or not because they dont want to lose the clinical facility.

I have friends that have had both experiences. One was placed for clinical one semester in a family friendly hospital. She was aloud to use the facilities "mothers room" and given a couple breaks a day to go pump. She never had an negative push back or hostility. I have another friend who was in a long term care. She got permission from the clinical instructor and the DON of the LTC where her clinical shift was at to be able to pump every 3-4 hours in one of their small conference rooms and was advised of the meeting schedule each clinical to make her pumping breaks around the meetings. On day a nurse wanted to go in the meeting room to eat lunch and was rude to my friend for taking up the space for a whopping 10 mins (forcefull let down made for quick pumping). The DON asked her to move, so she did. At her next clinical, a different nurse complained about her being off floor too much (she only took 3 breaks in her shift). The next clinical she was told by her instructor that she could only have 2 breaks and would have to use the bathroom to pump due to complaints. When my friend tried to push back, the clinical instructor told her they school could lose the clinical facility if they dont follow the directions given and apologized to her for the issues.

Basically, contact your school now and tell them you wish to continue pumping on a schedule when you do your capstone. This will give them time to work it out with the hospital you get placed at and they can tell you when and where the facility will allow you to have a pump break. This will be the best way to get support from the school and the facility. I hope you get a hospital that meets your pumping needs. GL

Red Kryptonite · Dec 5, 2014

The next clinical she was told by her instructor that she could only have 2 breaks and would have to use the bathroom to pump due to complaints.

I swear, there is a special ring in Hell for people who complain about breastfeeding/pumping mothers. Honestly....what is WRONG with us in this country?!

mrsboots87 · Dec 5, 2014

Because how dare we use our breasts for their intended purpose to feed our children!!!! The horror!!!!! lol

And as an aside, so my point is not misinterpreted and a debate flair up. I don't care if people choose to bottle feed with formula. As long as baby is fed and happy, then rock on.

fawnmarie, ASN · Dec 5, 2014

OP, do you have a good double electric pump? Remember that frequent nursing and pumping are crucial to keeping your milk supply up. Having an excellent pump is a necessity. I would think that your nursing program directors would be supportive of your breastfeeding commitment. Yet another reason to invest in the best breastpump possible is that it will empty your breasts quickly, meaning shorter pump breaks.

tsm007 · Dec 5, 2014

OP, do you have a good double electric pump? Remember that frequent nursing and pumping are crucial to keeping your milk supply up. Having an excellent pump is a necessity. I would think that your nursing program directors would be supportive of your breastfeeding commitment. Yet another reason to invest in the best breastpump possible is that it will empty your breasts quickly, meaning shorter pump breaks.

Yep. I have a good pump. I just need to work in time to use it.

mrsboots87 · Dec 7, 2014

I totally agree with a good double electric. Glad you have one. I really hope you have a supportive director at your school and at the facility your clinical is at. It's awesome that you are going to keep feeding/pumping while in school since it's tough without the stress of school. Rock on lady!!