(x-posted in Working/Student Mamas)
Hey folks, I work 3 nights a week at my local hospital, which, coincidentally, is the same hospital where I gave birth. By policy, they're very pro-breastfeeding, and when I was hired I was told that it would be no problem for me to pump twice during my shift. I live in Massachusetts that does not have a breastfeeding law of any kind. Because I work 8 hours, I am legally entitled to one paid 15 minute break and one unpaid 30 minute break. Instead, I usually take two 20-25 minute breaks to pump.
My boss called me a week or so ago, because my 90 day review was coming up, and she had been told by more than one of my coworkers that I had been taking "like an hour" to go pump. Nobody mentioned this to me before that happened. I will admit that there are times, after I finish pumping, that I get caught up in conversation before I return to the floor, so that keeps me longer, but I need at least 20 minutes each time I pump.
I have spoken to a couple of people, and they said that they felt I was taking too long, and that I should try to keep it under 30 minutes total, and that I should try to only pump once.
The problem is, my son is only 5 months old, still exclusively breastfed, and he nurses ALL NIGHT. When I'm not home, DH does the nighttime parenting, and feeds him every 2-3 hours. When I pump twice, I bring home between 10-12oz, and all of it is used every night. Tonight, just to experiment, I pumped once, and I only got 8oz.
There's another pumping mama that I work with, but it only takes her 15 minutes, and I feel like that's a standard that people are holding me to, but we have different pumps, different boobs, and different babies. She only gets 3-4 ounces at every pumping, where I get 2-3 ounces per boob. Our babies are the same size, though hers is a couple of months older (my son might be bigger). I don't think it's fair to be asked to take only 15 minutes per pumping, especially when I make sure that I take my bathroom break at the same time, to cut down on time I'm off the floor.
WWYD? My husband is leaving his job, so we really need me to keep this job, for benefits and income. Should I keep pumping only once per shift, and try to make up the difference by pumping on my off days? Should I insist on pumping twice, and try to rush through it (when I rush, i get less, of course)? I'm also worried about my supply, and whether I can adequately maintain it on just one pumping a night.
Any input is appreciated.
Hey folks, I work 3 nights a week at my local hospital, which, coincidentally, is the same hospital where I gave birth. By policy, they're very pro-breastfeeding, and when I was hired I was told that it would be no problem for me to pump twice during my shift. I live in Massachusetts that does not have a breastfeeding law of any kind. Because I work 8 hours, I am legally entitled to one paid 15 minute break and one unpaid 30 minute break. Instead, I usually take two 20-25 minute breaks to pump.
My boss called me a week or so ago, because my 90 day review was coming up, and she had been told by more than one of my coworkers that I had been taking "like an hour" to go pump. Nobody mentioned this to me before that happened. I will admit that there are times, after I finish pumping, that I get caught up in conversation before I return to the floor, so that keeps me longer, but I need at least 20 minutes each time I pump.
I have spoken to a couple of people, and they said that they felt I was taking too long, and that I should try to keep it under 30 minutes total, and that I should try to only pump once.
The problem is, my son is only 5 months old, still exclusively breastfed, and he nurses ALL NIGHT. When I'm not home, DH does the nighttime parenting, and feeds him every 2-3 hours. When I pump twice, I bring home between 10-12oz, and all of it is used every night. Tonight, just to experiment, I pumped once, and I only got 8oz.
There's another pumping mama that I work with, but it only takes her 15 minutes, and I feel like that's a standard that people are holding me to, but we have different pumps, different boobs, and different babies. She only gets 3-4 ounces at every pumping, where I get 2-3 ounces per boob. Our babies are the same size, though hers is a couple of months older (my son might be bigger). I don't think it's fair to be asked to take only 15 minutes per pumping, especially when I make sure that I take my bathroom break at the same time, to cut down on time I'm off the floor.
WWYD? My husband is leaving his job, so we really need me to keep this job, for benefits and income. Should I keep pumping only once per shift, and try to make up the difference by pumping on my off days? Should I insist on pumping twice, and try to rush through it (when I rush, i get less, of course)? I'm also worried about my supply, and whether I can adequately maintain it on just one pumping a night.
Any input is appreciated.
