The Pump Room
Posted on October 23rd, 2008 – 7:57 AMBy Kay Krhin
May and I were very appreciative of our Star Tribune lactation room - a nondescript room with a key pad entry that we tried to keep as homey as possible. Stacks of magazines, photos of our kids and a legal pad to share our ups and downs. This was the place where Cribsheet evolved. We just received a note in our in-box from D who is hoping for the same type of space from her employer.
Hi - This is my first time writing and I’m thinking the Cribsheet blog would make for a good research test for me. I’ve got an 8 mo. old and have been back at work for over four months now and pumping every day. I sometimes joke that I definitely have more dates with the pump than I do with my hubby. We do not have a dedicated nursing room at my workplace, but I am allowed to use our sick room, provided it is not already in use. I was never thrilled with the idea of using a “sick” room to pump milk for my baby since the primary reason I’m bfing is for the nutritional value, but I’ve sucked it up because its the only private room around. I’ve often run into the dillema that the room is in use, which means I’ve had to find alternative spaces, usually a supply closet that is fairly uncomfortable and without a chair. So after months of pumping, I’ve finally decided to solicit other supporters at work and write a letter to HR asking for a dedicated nursing moms room. I’m curious if anyone knows of any studies or market data out there that support or indicate that a growing number of workplaces are providing this type of space (one would hope?)…or if others would be willing to antecdotal or if others would be willing to write in and indicate if their workplaces offer a dedicated space for this purpose and/or what else is provided (fridge, sofa, and I’ve even heard some workplaces provide a hospital grade pump). I’d like to bring a request forward in my workplace with some additional background research to support the idea.
Thanks!
D
Well - first of all there is this Minnesota Statute regarding nursing mothers in the workplace that I shared with D.
Has anyone else had to make a case for a decent lacation room at work? How did you work it out with your HR department or management?
16 Responses to "The Pump Room"
Don’t know if this will help or not, but my sister-in-law works at U.S. Bank corporate, and she told me that in her building they have a designated nursing room complete with a hospital-grade pump that you can use. She didn’t mention anything about the furniture, but I’m sure that if they’re supplying a pump for people to use, they’d probably have some comfortable seating. Good luck!
I work for another larger (but not huge) company and we have THREE lactation rooms, complete with hospital grade pumps that we can use. I’m not comfortable putting out there who that company is, but I will if someone contacts me directly. They were here long before I started working here, but I would suggest looking at the LLL site for info and studies to back up the benefits.
Great topic! My old company didn’t have a dedicated room, so I had to pump in the only conference room without windows next to the door. To say it was awkward is putting it mildly. I would hang a sign saying “PLEASE DO NOT OPEN THIS DOOR” and I was still walked in on four times (luckily I was never facing the door). My new company has a small room with an outlet and a table and chair inside the ladies room. When I first started here I could hear the light humming of someone pumping in there, I was thrilled! A place to pump where only women can enter?? Fabulous! I’m due in March and am almost excited about using the pumping room when I return.
I am lucky because I have a private office and can close the door and lock it when it comes time for pumping. The non-office staff at my company have a little supply room with a tiny desk, an outlet, an uncomfy chair, and a clock. That’s about all the company has thought to provide so far. It’s a shame, really. I mean, I guess it’s better than nothing, but I don’t think it would kill them to take all the boxes out of there and make it just a bit more hospitable. And I think it took quite a fight just to get it.
[…] Cribsheet – […]
Here’s a fascinating piece from two years ago about the gap between the lactation haves and have-nots - “On the Job,Nursing Mothers Find a 2-class System” - http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/01/health/01nurse.html
When I had my son I worked at the U and they actually had 3 pump rooms (one on each campus/bank) that you were assigned to (either a key or a code you punched in), and each had a hospital grade pump you could use (provide your own parts). Some even had mini fridges for storing milk. The funiture was obviously rejects from the 60-70’s and not that great, and one of the rooms had all the cosiness of a fallout shelter (though we did have a collage of baby pics on the wall so you could see who benifited from the room), but it was a great resouce to have and I truely appreciated their efforts. I’ve heard of much worse environments from my friends (one only has 2 hours to use a classroom as it is otherwise in use, and 3 women are sharing those hours!)
I work in a clinic with no designated pumping area though we could sure use one as we’ve had over a dozen new moms over the last three years! I started out pumping in the bathroom - nothing like standing up in front of a mirror watching yourself pump! ugh - I finally started using empty exam rooms -but the doors don’t lock so I would always push a chair up against it just in case - and then sit down on rolling stool and surf the web while pumping -
I longed for hands free pumping when I did it and am told there is such an apparatus now - one of our docs pumps while DRIVING!!
I work for a large firm in Minneapolis. We have three designated Mother’s Rooms, each complete with a comfy chair and small storage fridge. There is a sign on each indicating if the room is being used as a resting area and a nursing mom needs the privacy, she gets first dibs. I used the rooms when I first returned to work, but realized it was quicker and easier to just lock my office door. It’s a great benefit for those that don’t have the convenience of an office though.
I work for a very small company (about 30 employee) and we don’t have a designated pump room. Instead I was able to use my office, which I share. I just had to kick my roommate out every day for a year for each kid that I had. Then I just put a not on my door saying “Do not disturb”. Everyone knew what I was doing. There aren’t many other people that are having kids. Either they are older with older kids or younger such as just out of college.
It’s nice that MN has the law, but it leaves too much room for interpretation. An employer could literally stick you in a non-temperature controlled storage closet (or worse).
Can anyone interpret this sentence “An employer is not required to provide break time under this section if to do so would unduly disrupt the operations of the employer.” ?
Also it says “…other than a toilet stall”, but that could still mean a bathroom if the bathroom is only the lockable one-stall kind.
When I was pumping at my current job, luckily there was some unused office space I had all to myself, it was just freezing cold in the winter because that side of the building was not being used so they did not heat it.
For the original question, I think if you are forming a letter to your HR, they would be more open to it if you tell them what’s in it for them (the set-up = less time pumping, healthier baby = less time off work, etc).
Kellymom website is wonderful, here is a whole list of links regarding pumping and working, you may be able to find the info to give to HR in here: http://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/bf-links-pumping.html
I pumped in my car; it was horrid.
I have to give major props to my company - Ameriprise Financial - for all they do for pumping mothers. We have 3 mother’s rooms in 2 buildings. Each has salons with hospital grade pumps. There is a sink and we get a cubby that has a lock to store our supplies. In addition, they paid for half the cost of the pump attachments. Pumping is stressful enough as it is, so I was so glad to have the support of my company.
For you moms who don’t have such arrangements - KUDOS to you!!! I couldn’t have done it….
My company provides 3 mother’s rooms in our building, and our rooms ammenities have evolved over time. I think it is important to note that building space, supplies, etc. cost the company money, so you may have to ask for things in stages. A nice, clean, locked room may be the best they can give you short-term.
The room closest to me is the newest one. It is a locked room with two pumping stations, separated by a wall, but with their own curtain for privacy. Each station has a comfy armchair and a hospital grade pump on a low shelf next to the chair. I have my own pump (from before the company provided one) that I had enough room to put on the shelf to use.
Also in the room (outside each pumping station) is a sink, handsoap, touchless paper towel dispenser, small lockers and a medium-sized dorm fridge. We had a sign up sheet on the door to coordinate times, but I was usually the only one using it for the 12 months I pumped. The cleaning staff came in every night to sanitize the sink and countertops.
The rooms are pretty discreet with a small ‘mother’s room’ sign, so we have developed an informal network to make sure expectant mothers know about the rooms. One of our admins handles keeping track of who has a key.
I second selling this to HR with what is in it for them. Remind them that women are valuable employees and things like this are key to making them feel better about coming back to work after having a baby.
All very good ideas! Another thing to mention to HR are the tax breaks given to companies that provide a pumping room. I’m not sure what they are, but they are there according to the stuff I read.
Good luck in your proposal! Pumping rooms are so great to have.
There is one “Mother’s Room” in my building. It is a small room with two pump areas divided by wicker room screens. Each station has an arm chair, end table, lamp, rug, and an outlet. The room has a minifridge as well, which is great for stashing parts between sessions. It is a lockable with keys, and there is a sliding occupied/non-occupied indicator on the door to warn when at least one stall is in use. It’s been great!
