Breastfeeding at work

TazziRN, RN · May 27, 2006

Only two people weren't happy about me pumping at work, the person who was my manager before I went out on maternity leave (had a new boss when I came back who was very supportive) and a male nurse who wasn't happy about me leaving the department to pump every three hours. Everyone else was very supportive and made sure I had the time and the privacy to do it. The last facility I worked at was also supportive of nursing moms.

ZASHAGALKA, RN · May 27, 2006

Talk about a double entendre!

Seen it done (well, not directly); never knew it to be a problem.

~faith,

Timothy.

MA Nurse · May 27, 2006

I don't know if this subject has already been discussed before or not. Do hospitals accomodate nursing nurses? Have any of you been able to pump at work without hassle? I ask because I plan on having a couple of more kids once I start working as an RN but I don't want to sacrifice breastfeeding them at all. Let me know your experiences. Thanks.

I work in the NICU, so it wasn't a problem. We have a pumping room for the moms. You would go to a peds or NICU/PICU floor to find a pump. Everyone was fine with it. Nurses should understand.

tinyscrafts · May 27, 2006

In my state it's law.

they have to accomodate w/ pumping places and time to do it. Of all places a hospital should. talk to HR

antona · May 27, 2006

I pumped at work, no hassles. Everyone was very understanding. I do work NICU though.

PANurseRN1 · May 27, 2006

Every three hours? Many of us already have to pick up for smokers to take their breaks! Although pumping is certainly more beneficial than smoking, it gets frustrating for those of us who always have to cover because someone can't do something for one reason or another ("I can't take pts. with "X" illness because I'm TTC;" "I need my smoke break;" "I need to go pump again.")

I'm not going to hold my breath waiting for some of these nurses to offer to give me time for a break...wait, that wouldn't happen, because there are too may people who are already "high priority breaks."

htrn · May 27, 2006

I work in the Birth Center and we have a room with a pump available next to the nursery for all employees. It's not soley dedicated as a pumping room, but many, many women use it.

Trauma Columnist · May 27, 2006

I work in the ER and we try very hard to accomodate nursing Moms which includes nurses and MD's. However, if they are in a code or with a critical patient they know it might not always be possible. I always try to ensure they get their breaks though.

allnurses Guide · May 27, 2006

I pumped at work and it was fine. I also breastfed my son at work since he really didn't take to a bottle at all.

Family first - job waaaay down the list. If you aren't accomodated, find another job.

In California, it is the law.

steph

mdcastrornp · May 27, 2006

I work at an ambulatory care center and was able to pump for the whole year. Manager was very supportive and so is the rest of the staff. Although I always have to be sure that the floor is not as busy that I can run to a corner office for 15 minutes every 3 hours or so. I found it close to impossible to breast pump when I know, at the back of my mind, my co-workers are running around all stressed and busy. Kinda affects my milk supply. Weird eh?

RNtugladimurnurse2b · May 27, 2006

Thanks for all the input! I never thought of pumping down in the nursery of the hospital or somewhere around that area. Makes sense to me. The hospital I work at has to accomodate breastfeeding workers or they can forget having me as an employee! My baby comes first.