I am pumping at the "wrong" time during work!

[mytwogirls]

Ok, I work as an RN in Labor delivery. My manager who is new told me I need to reschedule my pumping times because they interfere with work. WTH! Ummm...since when could I tell my boobs "Hey, don't make milk for an extra hour cause my boss is a bit*h!" They want me to go four hours in between pumping sessions. I pump every two to three hours and my baby is eight months old. I don't think this is too often but everyone at work says I can wait. Am I crazy or are these people nuts??? GRRRR!!!

[menomena]

they are nuts. you need to pump at whatever interval YOU need to pump at to maintain YOUR supply. mama. perhaps giving them some literature and quoting the AAP at them - in a sort of "we KNOW this; it's what we (should be) tell(ing) new moms" way. i'm always sad when L&D staff are so critical of BFing or are advocating mismanagement...

[Redlion]

Oy!

I had the same problem at my work; they were "ok" with my pumping, but dang me---if I didn't 'interfere with their schedule'...until I reminded HR that this was my legal right, and to hinder my schedule for pumping is in effect taking away part of those rights...

I never heard a squak again

[*MamaJen*]

The fact that you work in Labor/Delivery makes this especially puzzling. :
Good luck getting it sorted out.

[mytwogirls]

Yeah, I thought working in L&D nurses would have their heads elsewhere other than up their a$$es, but I guess not. I try to educate EVERYONE I know about breastfeeding, but you would be surprised about how some nurses and staff really don't know much about the true facts of breast feeding. It amazes me hardly anyone I try to get support from at work is on my side. My boss said because of the workload and staffing we need all the "good" RNs on the floor...trying to butter me up and compliment me. HA, didn't work! I live in Nebraska, so I need to figure out what the legal rights are. Anyone know if the rights of breast feeding are the same across the board or does it differ state to state?

[CanidFL]

I don’t mean to be a bummer but most states say that you can have a 15 min break every 4 hours and a 30 min lunch every 8 hours So in an 8 hour shift you get 3 pumping sessions. It sucks and I think we should be able to pump when we want but most states don’t have the laws to back us up. I am happy to hear that you used to be able to pump every 2-3 hours but it really sucks that is changing. I hope you can talk to your new boss and work something out that works for everyone.

[*MamaJen*]

Originally Posted by mytwogirls

Yeah, I thought working in L&D nurses would have their heads elsewhere other than up their a$$es, but I guess not. I try to educate EVERYONE I know about breastfeeding, but you would be surprised about how some nurses and staff really don't know much about the true facts of breast feeding. It amazes me hardly anyone I try to get support from at work is on my side. My boss said because of the workload and staffing we need all the "good" RNs on the floor...trying to butter me up and compliment me. HA, didn't work! I live in Nebraska, so I need to figure out what the legal rights are. Anyone know if the rights of breast feeding are the same across the board or does it differ state to state?

Not sure about the laws in your state, but if you can't work it out with your manager you may want to talk to the hospital's HR. You aren't union by any chance, are you? And just a thought, I wonder what the local media would make of your hospital's L&D not being breastfeeding friendly. That could be pretty embarrassing.

[mytwogirls]

What I have thought about doing is contacting my OB (I know him personally outside the office and is very wonderful!) and having him write me a doctor's note to my HR and manager stating I have a medical reason for taking breaks every two or three hours at the max. because I am a lactating woman and I need to break. It might work. I have already left him a voice mail asking him to call me so hopefully we can go that route. I will also email the local media (I know some contacts in that field as well) if this does not clear up. If all else fails, I will quit my job...seriously. I put my baby's health above all else, even my job. I can easily find another nursing position and my husband will be supportive in the decision.

[*MamaJen*]

Originally Posted by mytwogirls

I can easily find another nursing position and my husband will be supportive in the decision.

Good call--it's not like anyone is hiring nurses nowadays, right?

[sapphire_chan]

Originally Posted by CanidFL

I don’t mean to be a bummer but most states say that you can have a 15 min break every 4 hours and a 30 min lunch every 8 hours So in an 8 hour shift you get 3 pumping sessions. It sucks and I think we should be able to pump when we want but most states don’t have the laws to back us up. I am happy to hear that you used to be able to pump every 2-3 hours but it really sucks that is changing. I hope you can talk to your new boss and work something out that works for everyone.

Generally, in a pumping at work situation, accommodation is made by coming early/working late and taking additional unpaid breaks.

[meganmarie]

Hi mytwogirls,

Good for you pumping still at 8 months! So few people stick with it so long, it is harder for co-workers and management to understand. Since the common wisdom is that babies don't "need" breastmilk after 6 months, why are you still pumping every 2-3 hours at this point? Obviously this is silly, but until the world changes that's the mindset we have to deal with.

I agree that continuing to pump is important, and you don't want to make changes that will interfere with your supply. If you feel strongly enough about this issue, don't like the way your boss is handling it in general, don't feel you can come to compromise, and are willing to leave your job on principle, that choice is yours and I'm sure everyone here would support you.

On the other hand, if you like the job you have and would like to stay there; if you feel there is room to find an accommodation; and if you would like to pave the way for other working moms, there might be other options.

I pumped for 12+ months with both my children working full time. For the first 6 months that was definitely 3x day, every 2-3 hours, 15-20 min each time. But by 8-9 months I had slowly ramped down to pumping only 2x day and by 1 year it was only 1x day (basically every 4-5 hours). I never supplemented with formula. By 9 months my babes were eating solid foods well, including a range of veggies, yogurt, whole grains etc. and I was still nursing in evenings, mornings and night wakings. Whatever breastmilk I pumped was a good addition but not their only source of nutrition. I also had built up a freezer stash pumping mornings and weekends, as a backup.

I definitely had to be flexible in pumping around my work. Sometimes I would fit pumping times around meetings or go longer between pumping than usual. But other times, I rescheduled work to make sure I didn't sacrifice too much. It was a set of judgment calls every day. Luckily my workplace trusted me to balance and juggle those commitments as long as I got the work done.

I guess my point is - depending on your situation (and I don't know details) there may be some changes you could make to your pumping schedule as your baby gets older. You might be able to show your managers you are willing to be flexible, but in return they need to be patient. Perhaps you could put together a written plan for the next x months (however long you plan to pump) to show how the pumping schedule can be reduced gradually over time and, at some point, end. Again, this is completely up to you - just a different perspective/suggestion.

[mytwogirls]

Thank you for your suggestion. I appreciate it. I have tried to cut back on pumping by a couple hours but I find myself leaking and I have big problems with milk supply. If I even THINK about a low supply, it goes down. I have struggled a great deal to keep it up and I don't want to risk that. My little girl is not really eating whole foods yet so her diet is mostly breast milk at this point. I know every mom is different and I try to get that across to my boss but to no avail. I am currently waiting for my OB to call me back and we are going to discuss the matter and if there is anything he can do to help..ie writing a dr note. If not, I will have one more meeting with them and if they refuse to budge, then I am sending in my two weeks and I have already found another job believe it or not. I just want to be able to feel like a human being who is helping her baby grow and thrive and I will walk through fire to do it.

[homewithtwinsmama]

Originally Posted by mytwogirls

What I have thought about doing is contacting my OB (I know him personally outside the office and is very wonderful!) and having him write me a doctor's note to my HR and manager stating I have a medical reason for taking breaks every two or three hours at the max. because I am a lactating woman and I need to break. It might work. I have already left him a voice mail asking him to call me so hopefully we can go that route. I will also email the local media (I know some contacts in that field as well) if this does not clear up. If all else fails, I will quit my job...seriously. I put my baby's health above all else, even my job. I can easily find another nursing position and my husband will be supportive in the decision.

]

I am thinking that if you are one of the "good RNs" in this woman's mind you simply need to state to her that you are fully prepared to both quit this job unless your needs are accomdated as well as embarrass the department with publicity about how the very dept. that should be the most educated and supportive of breastfeeding is the very opposite. And I am sure that the reason you are having such wonderful results in pumping for your child for so much longer than average is because of your attention to what your body needs to do so, so kudos to you mama!

[homewithtwinsmama]

If not, I will have one more meeting with them and if they refuse to budge, then I am sending in my two weeks and I have already found another job believe it or not.


I assume you cleared this pumping schedule need with the new employers? If that is the case and you prefer this job to the new one I would think that meeting should include the information that another area hospital is more than willing to accomodate you. I love that it was so fast to find something new and better. Your hosp. is sure being short sighted, the nursing shortages nation wide you think would give them pause to lose a good employee over something so little and easily accomodated!

[MotherWillow]

I feel for you mama! I hope you have better luck than I did.

I was an RN at a nationally recognized pediatric hospital. They made me space pumping to every four hours. I was forbidden to mention that I was pumping for my child or bfing my child at work as it made others feel "uncomfortable". The last and final straw was when someone started pouring my pumped milk out of my cooler down the drain during my shift. :

[mytwogirls]

MotherWillow: OMG! I would have flipped a chicken if someone did that to me. The position I was offered was through my OB. They are wonderful and gave me a dr. note stating I have the right and the need to pump every three hours if I want to. The new place is fully aware of my situation and I will wait it out and see. I will keep you all updated. I will find out tomorrow what happens. Thanks mamas. What we will do for our babies!

[GooeyRN]

That sucks. I hope that you don't have to leave. You should be able to pump at a minimum every 3 hours. I can see spacing it to every 4 hours with a young toddler but not with a baby. Your supply would drop, not to mention you may get plugged ducts/mastitis. I feel for you. I hope you find something that works out for you.

Pumping is why I haven't yet returned to work. I work 7pm-11pm. Thats when ds nurses the most. Its such a busy time on the med/surg floor I work there is no way I could get a break to pump. And since it is only a 4 hour shift, legally they don't have to give me a break. But I never get out on time. Its more like getting out at midnight. I can't go 5 hours w/o pumping but would be expected to.

[mytwogirls]

Yeah, I hear ya about the hours. I NEVER leave on time...ever. I asked them if they could guarantee me I could pump every four hours and they said No. I know I would have to stretch it to every five hours or more...OUCH! Hell I am doing good to be able to pee every five hours or so. Labor delivery is a busy floor at this hospital as you well know so I would never be able to do that. I just hope everything works out.

[Tine]

Originally Posted by MotherWillow

I was an RN at a nationally recognized pediatric hospital. They made me space pumping to every four hours. I was forbidden to mention that I was pumping for my child or bfing my child at work as it made others feel "uncomfortable". The last and final straw was when someone started pouring my pumped milk out of my cooler down the drain during my shift. :

Holy guacamole. My blood pressure went through the roof just reading that!

Did you expose this nationally recognized pediatric hospital's actions? The irony of the situation is killing me!

[GooeyRN]

MotherWillow,

That is awful that your co-workers would spill out your hard earned milk. That is just so rude and hateful and passive aggressive. I can't believe these are adults you are working with! That sounds like something school aged children would do to each other. Don't they realize they are hurting a BABY and not you? An innocent hungry baby! Who would intentionally pour out a baby's meal and want to see the baby go hungry? Thats just twisted if you ask me. Its not like moms enjoy having their nipples tugged on by a mechanical pump. Its being done for the babies. I wish people would realize that. Its not like we just want to have an excuse to kick back and put our feet up for 20 minutes.