I will return to work from my maturnity leave in Aug. I plan to pump my breast at work, but I'm concerned that my schedule won't allow for it as I am a computer teacher, and my morning schedule is jam packed with classes. I will need two 20-30 minute breaks in the am (10 ish) and in the pm (2 ish). My afternoon should work out because that is when I have a long planning period.
Is it too much to ask for that extra 20-30 min break in the AM to make this all possible? I'm sitting here trying to adjust my schedule, and it is not working out.
2007-03-20 08:59:02 · 15 answers · asked by Sylves 3 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
You can do this. Believe or not your body will accommodate you new schedule. You can probably pump at lunch. and then in the afternoon- and feed at night. You can probably skip your morning pumping without it affecting your milk supply
2007-03-20 09:07:31 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can do it. First of all you need to buy an electric pump that allows you to pump both breasts at once! It's going to cost more, but you're going to need it since you don't have the luxury of free time for lengthy pumping sessions. Be sure you buy a kit that has a soft sided cooler and cold packs that you can re-freeze every night. Most good pumps have cold storage options in the carrying case, so fear not.
You'll need a trusted student or teachers assistant to cover for you. The minute you leave to pump they get to take a 10 minute break and should reconvene at a set time. Once they return from their break, your trusted sidekick gets them going with covering last nights homework, handing them a pop quiz, allowing for free time to surf the Internet, having them do exercises from the current chapter, study in groups for the mid-term or finals, etc.
You'll have to pump right before you go to school and excuse yourself to do it as needed. You'll work it out, I know it's possible. I had a math professor that had a baby, she left us alone to go pump. We all read, did our homework, some people used that time to visit the bathroom or go outside for a smoke. It's going to be fine.
You can always create a new project for each class, an extra credit thing maybe, and they can use 20 - 30 minutes of class time every day to work on it.
2007-03-20 09:24:18 · answer #2 · answered by wwhrd 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Unfortunately there are no laws to protect women returning to work who want to have pumping breaks to continue breastfeeding their baby. However, you can write to your congress man/woman to get the HR85 bill passed that will allow women to do so.
The best thing you can do is discuss this with your employer before returning to work. Some places will be very helpful, especially if your boss is a woman. However, not all places will be so nice(that's my experience). If you plan to stay employed at the same place and they won't accomodate you, then there really isn't a whole lot you can do beyond finding another job that will allow you your pumping time.
2007-03-20 09:08:48 · answer #3 · answered by starlight_940 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I know here, in Michigan, it is a law that there has to be time and a place set aside for breast feeding mom's to pump. I do not think it would be to much to ask. Maybe you could get an classroom aid, my son is a senior and is an aid for a pregnant teacher, to help while you pump. As you get better, you won't need a full 30 minutes break to pump. And your aid can help keep your class on task.
I would suggest your best advocate would be La Leche League. Contact them, and ask for back up, information you can give your employer or any laws in your area that are on your side.
Congratulations on wanting to still breastfeed as you head back to work.
2007-03-20 09:10:15 · answer #4 · answered by Renee B 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It surely is not to much to ask for that extra time. Please ask if you don't you could regret in the future. I have used an "ameda truly yours" electrical, dual pump. Each session took approximately 25-30 minutes. I pumped once in am. and once in pm. I started working full time when my older son was 2,5 months old and could breastfeed him till he was 9 months old. He would not take the nipple so I used bottles. I suggest even if the baby sleeps through the night wake up and pump, this is not easy but increases the supply. I did it and it worked!! Good luck.
2007-03-20 10:58:43 · answer #5 · answered by Elif 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Depending on where you live, you may have state laws in place to protect your right to pump at work. It's not too much to ask for you to be able to take 20 minutes a few times a day to pump at work.
2007-03-20 09:02:23 · answer #6 · answered by Rebecca C 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It won't be too much to ask. Most jobs will accomadate you for that kind of thing. Ask your boss (or principal) if it's possible that another teacher can take over one of your classes or if the class could possibly be moved to another time. And make sure you buy some nursing pads to stick in your bra so you don't start leaking in front of your students!
2007-03-20 09:18:06 · answer #7 · answered by Amanda 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would ask for that 20-30 min. When I went back to work, it was very hard for me to take the breaks to pump and my supple stopped very quickly since I was doing it less and less.
2007-03-20 09:53:27 · answer #8 · answered by Carmen M 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Talk to your boss. Remind him/her that breastfed babies are healthier and that you will probably use 1) less sick days and 2) less insurance cost to the company. He should let you have extra break time to pump milk. Be firm and don't let him push you around.....
Good Luck and Hooray to you for making the sacrifice to pump for the health of your baby!
2007-03-20 09:04:00 · answer #9 · answered by RN_and_mommy 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
tell your boss. Maybe you could have a teacher's aide come into the room while you sneak off to the bathroom or the teacher's lounge to pump. if that doesn't work. they make very discreet pumps nowdays, check into that.
2007-03-20 09:05:33 · answer #10 · answered by Lindsey S 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋