pumping etiquette

I only work one night a week so I only have to pump 2x/week. Since I have an electric pump, I have to be by an outlet. So, I pump in the men's restroom. It's not as bad as it sounds, although it's not a comfy couch either! I pull in a chair and use the counter as my set-up space. Having a sink right there is handy for rinsing the pump parts. Of course, I put up a closed sign on the door, but we hardly ever have men in our store anyway. I could use the owner's office or back room, but I feel like I have more privacy in the restroom.

The store owner had no issue w/ pump breaks and doesn't have me time out for them. Of course, my co-worker has to work a little extra while I'm gone, but we worked out times when it's more convenient for me to be gone for 15 min. & that works w/ my dd's routine (as far as her eating twice while I'm gone), too. If we get really busy, I can put it off for a bit.

I just can't picture myself pumping in public, even though I nip all the time. I guess I'm a lot more exposed & less discreet as the motor hums w/ the pump. I think it's mostly an issue of where you feel most comfortable.

Good luck w/ school!

ellacy
dd 8 mo

I'm going to have to find an answer out to this one myself - I'm sharing an office with my male supervisor right now. He's been driving me crazy for the last six months...maybe this will give me a chance to get some revenge.
Seriously, though, I worked a shift at this firehouse when I was pumping with #1, and there really isn't anywhere to go for privacy. I'm going to have to ponder whether I should take advantage of my "condition" to get my office back.

I have a great answer for all of you, I am a firefighter/paramedic and work on a engine and a rescue car with only men!
We have a bunk room where we sleep, every 3 hours I put a sign on the door that stated mom pumping do not enter, for those of you in offices there should be one office or room with a door that can be locked that is not used all the time. I also would pump in the back of the rescue when we were cleared from calls if I need to and also in the back of the engine if we were on a big fire or motor vehicle accident and it took longer that 2-3 hours. I wore nursing bras under my uniform and would just lift my shirt up briefly attach pump and lower shirt. No one could see anything, just something under my shirt!
If I can get a bunch of firefighters to understand my needs to be a firefighter and a breastfeeding mother, I know there is hope for everyone!

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As I said in my post, the fire station where I work doesn't really have anyplace private to pump other than the office I share. The bunkroom is actually open to two hallways, which makes posting signage a tad difficult, besides which I'm not assigned to the station, just to a unit that lives here. Pumping in the trucks is a little bit like peeing in an alley behind the trash cans when you're at a house fire...ya do it if you have to.

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I like the last part So true, I do not like pumping in the truck, well the back of the rescue is not to bad, I am by myself and all. But in the engine well that is a different story. The Capt and Driver are upfront and we run a 3 person crew so I am by myself back there, but they can hear the whoosh, whoosh of the pump But my guys are great and just joke about what the Fire Dept has come too!

I am a teacher also, and I just went back to work this week. After I had my first child I moved some furniture around, and created a private little corner to pump in. I have 2 of those large 2 door metal cabinets, and I put them in an L shape so it boxed in a corner. Does that make sense? I also have my 4 drawer filing cabinet next to it too, and my MIL made me a curtain I hung from a tension rod. I put a little desk and a chair back there, I keep a roll of paper towels, a notepad and water back there too. It's like my little boobie oasis!
Right now my DD is just a little over 3 months old, so I pump 3-4 times a day. I pump once in the morning before my kids get there (I teach Kindergarten), I pump when they go to special classes like art and music, right before lunch and then when they go outside. There's only one time when my kids are actually in the room when I'm pumping, but they don't even know where I am or if I'm even in the room! Sometimes I hear them doing something they're not supposed to, and I want to call them out (like the voice of God since they can't see me!), but I try to attract as little attention to being back in my corner. It takes me between 10-15 minutes to pump, and the one time that they're in the room while I'm pumping my assistant reads to them.
I don't think you said what grade you teach, but is there an assistant or someone who could cover your class for a little while? What about planning times, lunch times, etc? Do you get to choose any of these times? If you do, it would be good to have they staggered throughout the day so you can have built-in times to pump.

Good luck!