[missjessicajames]

So I am blessed to work for a company with an AWESOME nursing mom policy. I work for a retail technology company and the policy states quite a few things but the main ones are...

1) I have to be allowed to pump and/or have my baby brought to me to nurse as often as I deem necessary to maintain my milk supply.

2) I have to be allowed time and flexibility to deal with any lactation "emergencies" (company's working not mine).

3) I have to be given some space that is not a bathroom and is inside our retail store to nurse (ie the manager's office).

I love all of this. But here's were I need advice, the mall that my store is in has a whole room set up for nursing moms. It has sofas and rockers and is really nice. I honestly would rather pump in there than the managers office because I will be so much more relaxed if I'm surrounded by other nursing mom rather than worrying that my alpha-male kinda mean manager walks in. I know my manager wouldn't care if I chose to go up there and pump, he'd probably prefer it. And that's where my dilemma comes from I'm the first woman in our region to have a baby while working for the company, I am definitely defining the norm for the women who come after me and I worry that if I choose to leave the store to pump that will set the precedent for how all nursing moms should be handled and I don't want to do that, especially considering that many stores in our Region are not in malls with Nursing Rooms. Also since my manager seems to view all things feminine as a weakness part of me thinks that it would be beneficial to have him be forced to become comfortable with a woman pumping in his office. But I can't pump more than about an ounce unless I'm relaxed (then I can pump like 8 oz in 10 mins) and I'm worried about not being able to provide enough milk for my daughter.

If you were in this situation what would you do? Am I totally over thinking this?

Thanks for reading!!!!!

 

[KristyDi]

I would say it's noble of you to be concerned about future pumping moms, but your dd's milk supply takes priority. Thanks to the great written policy in place future moms would seem to be in good shape.

 

[_betsy_]

Well, why not pump in his office sometimes and in the nursing room other times? Try them both and see which you prefer.

And if you're afraid he or others are going to walk in to the office while you're pumping, get them to put a lock on the door, use a "do not disturb" doorknob hanger, and/or sit with your back against the door.