When the pumping room is occupied -WWYD?

[minkajane]

I work full-time. There is a room I can use to pump. There are also several other women there that pump. One of the other women is scheduled for lunch at the same time as me. If I happen to get there before her, I can pump. If she gets there first, I don't get to pump. If she has come up to the door after I closed it I don't know about it because she hasn't knocked or anything. I have talked to her about us pumping at the same time, since I have a nursing cover I don't mind using and there are blankets and other things in the room I can use if she wants to be covered and wants to use my cover. I'm totally cool with that. She refused. She said something about not wanting me to see her eating and pumping at the same time. I'm doing the exact same thing!

This is a call center and time is VERY strict. I have exactly 30 minutes for lunch, including the walk to and from the room, grabbing my food, getting my pump set up, putting my milk away, etc. So if I can't get right into the room I don't get to pump at all. I don't know of anywhere else I could do it except the bathroom or my car (which would leave me even less time to pump).

What would you do in this situation? I don't even really have the chance to talk to her about it because of the strict scheduling and I have the feeling she's going to refuse no matter what I say because she seemed VERY uncomfortable at the thought of pumping in the same room as someone else, even with a cover. On the days when I can't pump, I pump as soon as I get home. Would it kill my milk supply if I went 8 hours without pumping 3-4 days a week if I pumped and nursed like crazy the other days?

[MadelinesMama]

Is there any chance you can ask to have your lunch time moved? I really think you are going to have a hard time keeping up your supply if you go 8 hours regularly without pumping.

[Megan73]

Going eight hours without pumping could really hurt your supply and why, because of her hangups? Gimme a break!
Sure, you could ask them to move your lunch.
But if they won't, I'd just go in and pump even if she's already using the room. That's what it's for! It's not her personal pumping room. Jeez!

[minkajane]

Update - I got to the room first yesterday and she actually knocked on the door! That gave me a chance to talk to her. My schedule will be changing in two weeks and I got her to agree to ask her supervisor for a lunch a half hour later for those two weeks. So the room's all mine! I can't guarantee I won't run into one of the other pumpers after my schedule changes, so hopefully if I do they'll be less squeamish.

[tincia]

Are you unionized? I wonder if you can have clearer rules put in place about the room, as well as negotiate a few extra min. In your work environment do smokers smoke any time other than that 30 min? If so, I would use that to your advantage!
I def.wouldn't give up that pump and go 8 hrs

[lunabin]

What about a sign up sheet for using the room?  Since you are willing to share the room, you could leave 2 slots (or more if there's room) for other women to sign up at the same time as you.  That way, if she really wants it to herself, it puts the onus on her to rearrange her schedule or miss out altogether.  

Can you somehow put up a screen or curtain between the spaces (or put your backs to each other) so she can still have some privacy?  I agree that talking with someone from the union, HR, or a supervisor might get you some flexibility or resolution.  I would not go 8 hours though; that may kill your supply.