Breast feeding mom struggles as a home health nurse

Nurses General Nursing

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I am 35 weeks pregnant and I plan on breast feeding my baby up to 1 year. I work in pediatric home health nursing and I am wondering if there are any other home health nurses out there that have pumped while working? I am fearful my employer won't provide me with a setting to pump. I have a client and I am the only person with him for several hours a day. Breast feeding my baby is a number one priority to me, but I was wondering how I will go about pumping at work when I am most of the time the only person (nurse) in the home with the client.. anyone else ever been in this position? I have a friend who had an interview with the same employer and she asked if she could have pumping breaks and my employer told her they couldn't guarantee that she would have pumping breaks, so she turned down the job. This employer is a huge home health company and has way more than 50 employees (the minimum number of employees a company must have in order to provide a nursing mom with a private place to pump, excluding a bathroom). I have done my research on breast feeding laws, and I know I am protected under the law. It would be much easier if I were a hospital nurse! I am just scared to death that it will be next to impossible to pump while being an in home health nurse. It's not the type of home health where I visit several different clients a day...these are special needs children with tracheostomies, g-tubes, and some are ventilator dependent. Someone please give me some insight. I am thinking about talking to my employer about my pumping plans prior to maternity leave.

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

Your employer may have 50 employees, but not at one site. You cannot reasonably expect- while working in someone's home- to be provided a 'private place to pump'.

I am NOT trying to discourage you- I am just saying that law does not apply when working in a private client's home. You should speak to your client's family as well to determine how this will work. You may need to switch clients as patient acuity and activity plays a large part in this discussion, work shorter shifts or in a home with another caregiver present, or overnights to accommodate this.

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Specializes in SICU, trauma, neuro.

What I would do is tell them that you will be breastfeeding, and ask where you can pump -- don't ask permission TO pump.

Are the parents or other relative/guardian in the home during your shift? If so, they should relieve you for your pump break. If it's just you and the child, you could park yourself outside of the open door -- you wouldn't be visible and would maintain your modesty, but still be close enough to hear the alarms on the vent, or hear gurgling secretions that need to be suctioned.

If no option is acceptable, honestly I would leave the case. You can get another job, they can get another nurse, but you can't get another opportunity to breastfeed.

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HearIstandBSN:

That is my point. This is my first child and it is one of my ultimate goals to successfully breastfeed as long as I can, preferably to 2 years if possible. You're right, I can be replaced but this time to breast feed will only last so long. I will talk to my employer about it. I definitely won't ask them for permission because ultimately I have to pump in order to maintain my milk supply. Even if it means finding another job that allows pump breaks, then that may be what I have to do. I really hope my job can accommodate me with my pumping needs. I love my job and have been with them for 2 years.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Home Health.

You may have to find a different case. I also do home health with trached and vented patients. Breastfeeding didn't work out for me, partly because the job wasn't compatible with it. I worked largely alone, and if an alarm went off I had to respond right away. If something really bad happens, neither the family nor the board will accept pumping as the reason you couldn't intervene.

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I guess I will have to find another case then where a caregiver will be available then.

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.
I guess I will have to find another case then where a caregiver will be available then.

Good decision- put yourself in the patient's / family's place.

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I can't think of many families that would not accommodate you so that they would have a caregiver. You ask before you start the case. If they refuse, then go on to the next case provided by your employer.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, hospice and wound care.

I worked in a complicated trach vent case while pumping for my newborn. My advice is to get a nursing cover, pumping bra, and go with it. I would strap on the pump, cover and respond to alarms if needed. My family was aware and it was never a problem. Breastfed my kiddo until she was right at two. So be open with your employer and with you family and if they can't accommodate or are u comfortable with it then get another case. Private duty nursing is a unique situation in which families are very much about doing what is best for their child I can't imagine they would want you to do any different for your own! Good luck!

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I would speak to the family and your employer to work out the best solution. Explain your situation and what you wish to do, and ask how everyone will be okay working this out.

I wish you well!

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I am a home health nurse. I work al.ost exclusively out of my car, going from patient home to home for visits Rarely am I in the office. When i returned to work after I had my daughter, I knew pumping was going to be difficult. I bought a car adapter for my breast pump and I would pull over in secluded areas - at a local park, a parking lot behind a shopping center, etc and pump while I did my charting or ate my lunch. I also brought the insulated bag and icepack that came with tje pump to store the pumped milk. I had to reduce my schedule somewhat (from 10-12 visits per day down to 6-8) in order to accommodate the time spent pumping, but all in all, it wasn't as difficult as I had imagined.

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