“All right, that should do it.” My friend and colleague Christina finished corrections to the document we were working on and closed the file. “Are you headed to lunch?”
“Yeah,” I said as we packed up our things and left my office. “And then it’s off to get nude in my place of work.”
We shared a laugh.
No, I am not employed at some kind of dance club, or as an artist’s model. I’m just a breastfeeding mom trying to pump my milk at work!
This is my 16th year in education, and so far, pumping at work has been going really well
However, that was absolutely not the case the last time I was in this situation after the birth of my first daughter. As a classroom teacher, I was only able to pump when I did not have class, so over my prep period or lunch. I asked to have my prep period changed to a mid-morning or afternoon time, so I could pump before work, at lunch, and then during my prep. Nope, it didn’t work with the schedule, so I still had my prep period first hour, right after I’d just fed and pumped at home. I couldn’t just leave a classroom full of kids, so I was out of luck.
The 'rules' are clear
Employers are required to provide a place to pump that is not a bathroom, and is out of sight and reasonably private. I was told to put paper up over the windows of my classroom and lock the door. Well, that didn’t really provide privacy, as the staff all had keys to one another’s rooms. I was almost walked in on a couple of times and never really felt secure taking my top off in my classroom. In fact, many women I have worked with over the years have commented that male staff members have walked in on them pumping. Generally I get the sense that these are accidental occurrences, but if everyone has a story like that… well, that’s just weird.
Considering that I had given birth to a child that would presumably grow into a student to attend the school where I taught, I thought it was ridiculous how hard it was to pump breast milk at work. I ended up drying out after about a month of trying to make it happen.
I’m very lucky this time around, as I have a new position as an instructional coach at a new school
My schedule is way more flexible, and our school recently built a new auditorium. This fine arts space has a costume changing room with individual dressing stalls that lock from the inside, like the dressing room of a department store. The best part? There are outlets in each of the stalls, as well as a place to sit! Finally, I can pump in peace.
It’s aggravating that working mothers should have to face so many challenges expressing breast milk at work. I found it especially troubling that schools would be so unaccommodating, considering that it is a child-centered organization that’s supposed to be supporting families. If you’re heading back to work and know you will be pumping, it’s important to have a sit-down conversation with your supervisor and make a plan. Know where — and when — you’ll be pumping before that first day back on the job.
Also, it’s imperative that you know your rights as a breastfeeding parent
There are numerous links online and other resources to use in order to ensure you are being treated fairly by your employer. If breast is “best,” then it’s up to employers to support working parents who breastfeed!
