Pumping in a Different Office

84 Comments

1. I am lucky that I haven’t had to travel to client sites while pumping. I have had to go to my company’s main office, where there is a “Mother’s Room” in each building. Maybe you could call it a “Mother’s Room” instead of “lactation room”? I hate that word, too.

2. Is it even possible to have a standard procedure for this? I think it depends on who your contact is, how comfortable you are with that person, how long you’re going to be there, the office set up….

   The one thing I think stays the same is that if you’re pumping, you have to pump, you have a right to it. Stay calm, stand your ground, and if you get “no” for an answer, you can figure out an alternative (especially if you have an adapter to use in your car or are going out for lunch)

3. I always just ask my contact (always a woman when I’ve had this happen) over email ahead of time. Then I ask them to show me to the room when I get there. I usually just say “place to pump.” I figure if it helps other people get used to the word, then good. :)

   1. Oh, and I would phrase it differently – not asking *if* there is a place to pump, but asking where you *will* be able to pump.

      1. Yes! TITCR

4. I know it feels weird to ask about, but really — just ask for an empty room or if a mother’s room is available. Most people are more than willing to accommodate you. Definitely ask a female if that makes it easier, but it’s nothing to be embarrassed about.

5. I agree. Even after pumping for two kids, it would take me a minute to understand what someone wanted if they asked for a “lactation room.” I would use “place to pump” since an office may not have a dedicated ‘mother’s room’ but can provide private space.

   The closest experience I had was starting a new job while pumping. My only contact was my male supervisor; no female admin, etc. So I sucked it up and asked where I could pump. It was awkward, but I kept the request brief and to the point (almost exactly Kat’s first example) and he swiftly had me in contact with the key-keeper. No issue. It was actually a lot like asking where the bathroom is located.

   I’m sure the OP is already on top of it, but they should keep an ice pack and wipes in their pump bag. I find people fear seeing breast milk more than anything and are much more comfortable knowing that it won’t be in the break room fridge or splashed onto table tops.

6. Just ask. I’ve pumped at a baseball field (in one of the upper boxes) during a seminar, I’ve pumped in a supply closet, the bathroom in someone’s office, the car…the list goes on. By far, the best thing to do is to plan ahead. Give people some time to think about it and they’ll come up with something that will work.
   I had an all day interview downtown, called the number they gave me, and asked the man who answered if there would be a place I could pump. He awkwardly showed me the room during a group tour, but it was private. He also volunteered to stand guard so no one would barge in since he said that’d happened before (talk about stressful pumping situtions!). I’ve had much better accomodations when I call ahead than when I try to find someone on the day to find me a place. If I do have to wait until I get there to talk to someone, then make sure to bring the pump that has a car adapter or batteries so you can pump in the car or bathroom (some don’t have outlets, so you need the battery option). I also bring a nursing cover, just in case.

7. I would be suprised if you got any negative feedback on asiing this question. While I am as yet child-less, I do travel daily to unfamiliar offices and buildings, and even the military installations have signs in the ladies’ restroom that a Mother’s Room is available. I’ve also heard them called comfort rooms. Definitely check with HR or some female in the office if uncomfortable asking a man, and just be straightforward about it. I think if the office was all male I’d try to ask HR instead of the client/person I’m working with because I wouldn’t want to make him uncomfortable.

8. I ran into this with having to take or defend depositions in others’ offices. The problem for me was always more on the timing – it’s hard to explain to a client or opposing counsel (especially of the male variety) why I needed a 15-minute break every 3-4 hours aside from the typical bathroom and food breaks. When I did need a break, I frequently went to my car and just covered up with a blanket. That way I could keep the milk in my car with a freezer pack as well. But I do think so much varies based on your work situation and where you will be.

   1. I was about to have to do this same thing. Actually, i had to sub in at a depo my first day back from maternity leave. I didn’t think the depo would last more than 1-2 hours from when I arrived. I didn’t want to worry about seeking accomodations – especially after my boss walked in on my first pumping session in the office. I should’ve brought the pump… four hours later, I was miserable and literally running back to the office (and my pump).

9. I’ve been to a few all-day conferences with several (male) colleagues, and I try to find someone who looks like they’re in charge and ask “I’m a nursing mother, is there someplace private I can go to pump?” Although last time, there was a (female) financial adviser on a call in the “private” room I was directed to … when I said I needed to pump and asked how long she’d be, she said “Oh, you’re pumping? I don’t mind at all!” and carried on with her conversation … I figured if she wasn’t going to be uncomfortable, I wasn’t going to either! And hey, free stock tips :)

   I find it a little more awkward to explain to my male coworkers why I have to keep excusing myself, but they get it after the first few times, and they’ve been very understanding.

   1. This is hilarious! I have the same live/let live attitude about pumping. Yes, private space is ideal/expected, but I also love when other folks are just totally normal about it (b/c let’s face it, pumping is a fact of life and everyone SHOULD be normal about it).

10. Car adapters are available for most pumps. If possible, pumping in your car would avoid the awkward question of asking for office space to do so.

    1. +1
       I bought a general car adapter (to convert a cigarette lighter into a standard outlet) and pumped in my car during many trips out of town for hearings and trials.

       1. The Lansinoh Double Electric double pump takes only 6 AA batteries, and the battery is going strong after at least 8 days of use. I’ve had no issues, despite being used to a hospital grade pump at work.

          If the point of contact isn’t a woman, I look around for a secretary to ask, and then for any woman that I know is a mother. If all of that fails, then a man. I also call it nursing because “lactation room” takes many many uncomfortable seconds while people are processing.

          I once pumped in a full-windowed conference room on the 8th floor of a downtown office building.

11. Make sure to ask in advance, and look at your schedule to plan as much in advance — you may need to add an extra break somewhere.
    I had a union negotiation when my son was 10 months old. I was lucky that I was down to pumping once during the regular work day, but for a 4 day business trip with lots of late nights…whole different ball game.
    I emailed the person coordinating the venue and asked if there was a wellness room or lactation room near to our location, and what the procedure was for using it. Unfortunately it was inaccessible after 10pm, so she also arranged to leave a key to an unused small conference room as necessary. I brought my Freestyle pump in its little bag and snuck away as I could. I also brought my hand pump for emergencies. I ended up using it 4 or 5 times on bathroom breaks just in a stall — totally quiet and quicker than getting everything set up. I was dumping most of the milk anyway, so it was just for relief.

    I also have pumped in my car many times. Not just while commuting (which I did every single day for 8 months, and I promise I did all the set up while parked at home, then pushed the off button 20 minutes into the drive and did all the take down while at my office parking lot. I parked as far from all the other cars as possible, which had the added bonus of adding steps to my day), but also if I had to drive to a long offsite meeting I would leave about 20 minutes earlier than necessary and pump while parked at my destination. A few times I would take a break, return to my car, and pump in the back seat. Under a nursing cover/blanket, of course. I thought about buying window shades, but that seemed excessive. The freestyle — which runs off a rechargeable battery — made this super easy, along with pumping pals horns and hands-free device, which were easier FOR ME AND MY BODY than any other hands free solution (I know that everyone is different)
    Good luck to all the pumping mamas! I am glad that my (still nursing) son is now old enough that I don’t ever need to worry about pumping. My last business trip was 4 days. I thought he might wean while I was gone, so I didn’t bother to bring a pump. Didn’t matter. I was never uncomfortable, never needed to pump, and he didn’t wean.

12. i am reading this while on a break during an administrative hearing at which i FORGOT to bring my pump and am panicking that i wont be able to pump for at least another 3-4 hours (its been 5 hours already). Will this hurt my milk supply much? If i pump extra the next few days i should be fine, right? Determined to BF for 1 year like i did for my first….. but man oh man do i hate hooking my boobs up to the pump.

    1. ppp, missing a few feeds (if I’m reading you correctly) shouldn’t affect your supply permanently. I think you have the right idea, trying to pump a little extra later. You can try hand expressing for a few minutes in the bathroom. You won’t be able to save the milk anywhere, but you might be more comfortable, and at least you’ll get a little bit of “demand” in for your supply. Best of luck!

    2. ppp: how old is your baby? how long have you been pumping? I mean, short answer: NO. It will not kill your supply so that you can never nurse again. It MIGHT mean that you run out of pumped milk and have to give some formula (do you have a stash?). I MIGHT mean that you need to add some extra sessions in the next couple days to get your supply back up…but that is totally going to depend on your body and how established nursing is. In the meantime, don’t panic, drink a bunch of water, and hand express a little if you need relief.
       (I forgot my pump three times in the first couple months. It was always fine. I once managed to hand express 3 ounces into a bottle, but mostly I just was uncomfortable. It never had an impact on my ability to nurse/pump later. HOWEVER, everyone is different. It depends on your body. You are doing the best you can, and that is fine. If your supply dips, it’s not the end of the world and there are ways to work around that and come back from it. But it might not dip. No panicking!)

       1. Second this good advice…. don’t stress out!

    3. This, or something similar, happened to me a few times. Sometimes I was able to run to a pharmacy and purchase a hand pump which definitely helped. The other thing I would suggest is pumping on one side while your baby nurses from the other when you get home tonight (this will tell your body that it needed more than the baby actually consumes; let the baby nurse from both sides like normal but also pump on the opposite side). I don’t think that this will impact your supply, like Katherine said, especially with the weekend coming up (assuming you aren’t working this weekend). Good luck to you!

    4. Your supply will be fine with missing one day, but running to a drug store for nursing pads (you’re going to be leaky), bottle (for hand expression), or a manual pump will safe you some grief.

       If you need the bottles for tomorrow, try to pump after work before baby feeds. Otherwise, pump while nursing.

    5. Thanks everyone! My daughter is 5 mos old and i plan to overcompensate with the pumping the rest of the day and of course nursing over the weekend. in the meantime i (thankfully) have nursing pads and though running to the drugstore wont be an option, expressing some in the bathroom is….
       I think logically i knew it would be fine, but emotionally i needed reassurance – ha! :)

       Thanks again, ladies!

13. I don’t have much to add to the conversation re asking for a space to pump. I’ll second Heidi’s suggestion to have a hand pump available — I found my Isis was perfect for shorter breaks and less time consuming to set up/break down than the electric pump. I think that one also needs to consider what kind of pumper they are — I was horrid, in that I lived ounce to ounce and rarely pumped more than the amount that my kids needed for the next day at daycare (despite using every trick I knew…). For me it would have been less stressful to take the day off or work from home the day after my return so that I could sort of reset my supply, though I’ll admit that this rarely happened in practice.

14. I used to keep a nursing cover handy to use as a pumping cover. And I second the car pumping (esp. if you have something that sits higher up or has a way back to it). If you don’t have the hands-free zip-front pumping corsets, they are lifesavers, as are the sanitizing wipes in case you will want to be cleaning things on the run.

    Don’t feel weird if you try a practice run in terms of supplies, packaging, wardrobe choice, etc. I used to go to overflow (so using more than would fit in my pumping bag) if I worked late, and often packed the plastic milk storage bags just in case that happened when I wasn’t planning.

    Finally, you may wind up hoping for a break that comes too late, so think if you can wear a jacket or blazer some such in case you wind up leaking even a little. It’s all about suspenders and a belt for me.

    My phrasing:

    I’m nursing, so I will need a place to pump [with a locking door] [a few times through the day] [during my visit].

    I’m going to have to take a break now and I will be back in X minutes.

15. If you guys think men are NOT weirded out by the question, I think you’re naive. I have 3 kids, 4th on the way, and it was always incredibly awkward. I never asked for a special room. I mean – what law firm has that unless it’s a BigLaw firm? We have 25 or 30 lawyers, and we don’t have that. Just bring your battery pack and pump in the bathroom.

    1. I’m not a mom but I think the issue with bathroom pumping is germs. Would you want to eat in there? I’ll admit, I gnoshed a protein bar in the court bathroom before so as to avoid getting caught with food. (Certain courts in my area have a no food, no exceptions rule.) However, I was totally grossed out eating in the bathroom and don’t think anyone should have to pump in one.

       1. I’ve pumped in the bathroom at a conference before and it was totally disgusting but I did what I had to do… hung the pump up on the back of the bathroom door and had an extension cord going from the sink to the stall. The worst part was sitting there smelling people’s sh*t while I pumped 3 times a day.

    2. PS – I do agree guys can be clueless about it. One mom returned from leave and was in her office with the door shut and blinds all closed. (Our offices were fish bowls.) A male attorney wondered by and said “what the heck is she doing in there??” To which a large pool of female support staff sitting right out front said nearly in unison “she just had a baby, what do you think??” And he continued to look dumbfounded until someone just shook her head and said “she is pumping.” Even that I think took him a minute to get. I really thought he was going to say “pumping what?” This man had kids too.

       1. When I pumped for my first baby, I had a fish-bowl office with a glass wall. At that time (1997) there was no legislation on pumping and it was not the norm, at least not where I worked. I asked if I could put up curtains or blinds on the glass wall, and was told no, that was not allowed. I think the assumption was that I should pump in the bathroom – not an option.

          So I bought a Japanese screen and put that up every time I pumped. It made me very self-conscious, but hey, you do what you need to do.

          My husband told me I should have just pumped for all the world to see – that would have had them installing blinds for me in a jiffy, LOL.

       2. A labmate once put up a sign on the office door that said “Pumping in progress. Do not disturb.” Our boss barged right in, thinking the sign meant that the vacuum system across the hall was pumping down for a lab run.

       3. I always send my brothers articles like these in hopes that neither of them will be that guy that is completely confused and embarrassed by women’s issues.

    3. Feeling that it’s a completely reasonable request is not the same thing as thinking that the question won’t weird them out. Just because it makes a man squeamish to be asked doesn’t mean that a women can’t request it.

       See my post above. I’ve done it. We both survived.

       1. Ditto. If they feel awkward, that is their issue.

    4. I don’t know, maybe they are weirded out by the question, but the truth is, I don’t care if they are, it’s not about them. I am firmly in the “can’t get what you don’t ask for” camp, so when I needed a place to pump, I’d ask for it, straight up. Typically, I’d get an immediate referral to someone else to ask, a receptionist or secretary, the person they know who pumped herself, something like that. Which works fine.

       Now, many times I already knew the location would be difficult (small office, construction site, etc.), so the car was a great fallback then. Although I live a pretty public transit life, and use cabs when in a different city, during my pumping days, I would often drive or rent a car in situations that I wouldn’t otherwise, so I could take my pumping room with me.

    5. Many are probably wierded out but wouldn’t outwardly express it (tee hee). The point is that maybe they feel wierd but we shouldn’t.

    6. It can be awkward to ask, but it’s much better than pumping in the freaking bathroom. Even in a small office (I’m in one, too), surely there is an empty conference room or private office that could be an option for two 20-minute breaks.

    7. Before children, I would have been a bit confused by the phrase “mother’s room” or any euphemism.

       And fecal germs seem to be all over bathrooms, even ones that look clean, so I’d not choose that if there were any other choice (and in this economy, we have tons of empty offices and small conference rooms and even storerooms).

       And if you can get a room but it doesn’t lock, a triangular door stopper will work in a pinch. It may not stop the determined, but it will really slow a door down.

       1. Triangular door stopper!!! Brilliant. Going to put one in my pumping bag immediately.

          1. I don’t have a lock on my office door at work, so having a door stop (I actually use two of the rubber ones) is a godsend.

    8. I work for a large company and we have lactation rooms. If men are freaked out by such a question they can deal with it however they can. Not the pumping mom’s problem.

       I would no more pump in the bathroom than I would eat my turkey sandwich there. It cannot be that hard for the hosting company/firm to find a private office for OP to use.

       1. We have lactation rooms, but they aren’t labeled as such in some locations, or others use the euphamism “Wellness Room”. I weirded out one of my single male colleagues asking what the Wellness Room was as I really had no idea – he stammered something about “room for new mom’s, you know …” then turned beet red and ran away. So just because the company has them doesn’t mean everyone knows that they do.

          1. We don’t have lactation rooms, but a friend a firm that does has reported that they are often scheduled. It was hard enough working out a schedule for my b0@bs, let alone coordinating with the bo@bs of others. Another thing to keep in mind. The person you ask may not know how subscribed or oversubscribed they are.

             I can’t recall if this room was just locking or locking w/ sink or locking with sink / fridge.

             1. At our company the room with a lock & a fridge was busy enough for a while that we scheduled through Outlook room reservations – with lots of frantic “my meeting is running late can I change times with you” texts being sent around. Its a royal PITA to share a space, thats for sure, and sometimes we wound up doubled up in the space – not fun, but better than the ladies room.

    9. Do you prepare your food in the toilet? And why should they get weirded out – and why should that be any mom’s problem?

    10. I think it’s reasonable to ask for a private place to pump that isn’t a bathroom. Most offices have SOMEWHERE that will suffice, even if it’s a vacant office or something.

16. Just ask! I think that the more people ask for space or time to pump, the less flipped out other people will be.

17. Roberta told me she did her OWN pumpeing at her desk when her kids were babie’s. Of course, she had a nice office, with a door that close’s. My office here is terible, and the manageing partner can alway’s look in and see what I am doeing.

    That means that if I get MARRIED, and have a baby, I will have to have a BETTER office, with a door that close’s so that the manageing partner can’t PEEK! FOOEY!

    1. “Roberta told me she did her OWN pumpeing at her desk”

       … as opposed to doing somebody else’s pumping?

       1. Or somebody else doing Roberta’s pumping for her?

18. This topic is super-close to my heart. Pumping is SO hard and anyone who points to BF’ing as the “cheap” alternative to formula doesn’t take the cost of time into consideration.

    I’m not on the road much for work anymore so I can’t be useful in this except to chime in on what others have said. I’m 8 weeks out from baby #2 and now have my own office (as opposed to last time I had a BF’ing child, when I pumped in a large/private bathroom). I need to retrofit my all-glass door and get a lock installed, but otherwise my setup is pretty good.

    1. I think that people also fail to factor in the costs of the sanitizing wipes, breast pads, special nursing bras, nursing shirts and tanks that you end up buying. But even if it cost more, I think I would still be doing it, for the health of my little one.

19. I think like others it totally depends on where you are going. Small offices probably won’t have a dedicated space, especially if its the kind of place where most people have private offices. A lot of big companies have a space, but require jumping through hoops to get a key to it. I agree with asking for “a place to pump”. I know others that were more squemish asked for “a place to make a private phone call back to the office”. Wherever you wind up, I would highly recommend using a handsfree setup and draping a cardigan or jacket over your front in case you get walked in on, and have a plan B like a hand pump in the ladies room or car adaptor and your car.

    Also, for those of you who often have to pump in places that you are worried about being walked in on, or in the car frequently, I highly recommend the Freemie concealable collection system – instead of horns and bottles, its a round shell that you put in your bra and just snake the tubes out of. I use it every day on my commute (like others have said – setup at home, no fidgeting with it while actually driving) and its been great. Customer service has also been wonderful when I lost parts – the overnighted me the necessary pieces for free. http://www.freemie.com

    1. Omg I want this!!! Thanks Kat for beginning this post, I am so excited to see this!

       1. They are pretty awesome. Not concealable enough to walk around with them on, as its like putting half a grapefruit in your bra, but at least you can pull your shirt down and no one will see them. I’ve also worn them into the gas station with a fleece jacket zipped over my shirt – I probably looked like I had mega b00bs, but eh, I didn’t know anyone there. Read the reviews on amazon for a good listing of pros & cons, but buy direct from the company to get their excellent customer service.

20. I’m not a mom, and I like to think of myself as less clueless rather than more, but I know when I hear “pump” or “pumping” my mind does not automatically conclude “pumping breast milk.” If I were in the situation where you were going to ask me for a place to do it, including the phrases “nursing mother” or (the dreaded) lactation room would ensure that I didn’t give you a furrowed brow in response.

    On a related note, whenever I read posts that refer to “bf-ing,” my first thought is always that the poster is making the F word safe for print, which makes reading comprehension difficult, since the post usually refers to a baby/children.

    1. Its ok Coalea – I’m pretty sure I didn’t even know breastpumps existed before I became a mom. I just never had a reason TO know and had never really thought about it. I don’t think my boss at my last job knew either until I explained it to her – this was before there was legislation about requiring a space to pump (I think the term they use is “express”).

       I’ve also had young male colleagues ask me what’s in my bag or why I carry 2 bags every day – trust me sonny, you don’t want to know.

       1. I overheard a hilarious conversation between my brother and one of his friends a few years ago – they were both just out of college, maybe 22 or so.

          They were sharing stories about their respective workplaces and the friend noted that someone in his office was apparently bringing breast milk from home and storing it in the office fridge, for coffee, he assumed. Neither my brother nor his friend could figure out a reason why anyone would do this, so I had to jump in and explain that working moms who are breastfeeding will often pump their milk at the office and bring it home for the baby. They were both stunned at this idea – I was stunned that the idea of someone spiking his/her coffee with breast milk seemed like a more logical conclusion!

          1. Unless his coworker was me – because after my son was done with bottles, I used his baby bottles or the pump bottles to store soy milk in the breakroom fridge for my coffee. They were the only thing I had that wouldn’t leak in my lunchbag or purse. And I did tell one of my coworkers it was breastmilk once just to freak him out, but he knew I was joking. Maybe someone else didn’t though … oops. :-)

21. I worked in consulting the full year that I nursed my baby. I managed to avoid travel till baby was about 6 months but after that was travelling Monday through Thursday. I was in 3-4 different client engagements over the next 6 months and managed to find a place to pump at every one of them. Also, navigated logistic on refrigerating and storing breast milk at client site and in the hotel during the week and bringing the weeks supply safely back home for my baby. My child is now a preschooler and and all of this already seems a long time ago – and looking back now I wonder how I dont remember feeling any embarrasment or hesitation in the numerous ‘breastmilk and pumping’ related conversations I have had to have with near strangers in those days (including clueless male TSA agents at the airport every Thursday who wanted to know why I needed to carry milk when I wasnt carrying a baby).

    I just want to offer a word of encouragement to all of you nursing mothers out there keeping up with similarly tough routines – you are not alone and yes, its worth it.

22. It also doesn’t have to be a dedicated room. It can be an unused office, if such things exist. My “lactation room” was a file closet. My workplace added a lock. It was exactly big enough for the file cabinets and a chair for me. Nothing else. It wasn’t the best, but it was the best we could do in my office. So if you are visiting an unfamiliar office somewhere that you don’t think will have a lactation room, just ask for a private space and specify that it just needs to be as big as a bathroom stall and have a lock, but not be in a bathroom.

23. I flew to another city for a day long interview when #2 was very young. I simply told the hiring manager that I would need a couple of breaks to pump and asked if there was somewhere private that I would be able to do that. It was a bit awkward to ask, but I used phrasing like Kat’s first example and we all got past it.

    On another note, I don’t think I have ever seen another post with this many on point replies!

24. I found hotels were very accommodating. I attended several conferences while I was pumping (that were close enough that I didn’t need to stay at the hotel), and when I called the day before to make arrangements to pump, the hotel always offered me the use of an empty guest room for the day. I felt very awkward about making the request (I actually asked if they had a nursing mothers room for employees that I could use), and I was pleasantly surprised by their willingness to help. Just thought I’d share in case others are in a similar situation and also feel uncomfortable.

25. 25 years ago, when this was an issue for me (yep, even 25 years ago), I was too naive not to just ask whoever I needed to ask. Usually that worked out extremely well. I made friends I still have in the professional world. And, I gained valuable insight into my co-workers and superiors. If they don’t deal well with this, it won’t be the only thing they have a problem with. On the other hand, if they do deal with it well, they are probably pretty flexible and goal-oriented.

26. With the long maternity leave available in Canada, I’ve never needed to ask about pumping in an office, but I have made arrangements for customers who needed it. Our GM typically volunteers his office. He’s done the same when nursing mothers brought their new babies in for a visit while on leave, and will typically mention quite casually on greeting the person (his office is right beside the front door) “if you need to feed , feel free to use my office – I’ll get out of your way now” and then wanders off.

27. What, pray tell, is wrong with the word “lactation”? In the real world, the use of euphemisms to describe perfectly normal bodily functions really makes me rawr. It is what it is.

    1. I think of lactation like menstruation or menses. Those are the real words, but in practice, nobody really says them but they say pumping or period. Plus, lactating can be when your baby is actually feeding from you. Pumping is more specific.

28. I have a similar question for all of you… what do you do when you’re traveling?? I’m flying for an interview out of town, and I’ve arranged to use the Mother’s Room during the day, and can pump at the hotel, but what about in the airport?? Or on the way to the airport?? Just use the bathroom?

    1. If you can build an extra half hour into your schedule and have a car, pump in the car once you get to the airport, or just before you drop off your rental car. I’ve also pumped in airport “family” bathrooms as they are generally one big room with a lock, although I generally don’t keep that milk. I’ve also used a handpump in the airplane bathroom just for comfort, again not to keep the milk as – ew.

    2. I pumped in the airport bathroom (I was always too stressed out to pump until I got through security and to my gate), brought a collapsible cooler in my carryon and asked for ice on the plane (severe supply problems meant I couldn’t waste milk). On the plane is harder; I flew Virgin as much as possible for cross-country flights because their planes have outlets at the seats. Be prepared to be grilled by TSA about the pump, and also why you are traveling with milk and no baby, in a manner that suggests you are breaking the rules. I finally started traveling with a print out from the website indicating that milk was a medical liquid because I got tired of arguing with TSA. I was not about to risk checking milk because I was concerned about it spoiling if my bag got lost.

       1. I haven’t had any trouble with TSA agents.

          Um…I have also pumped on the plane. Like in my seat. I just used my manual pump and a shawl, so it was very quiet. The guy next to me politely stared at his book the whole time. I thought it would have been more stressful to be holding up the bathroom line.

    3. On the plane, I’ve pumped in the bathroom on a long haul flight, during a quiet time (i.e. not during or right around food service, or the end of the movie). As I walked toward the bathroom, a flight attendant chatting in the galley by the bathroom obviously recognized my Pump-in-Style bag and cheerfully said “Oh, are you going to be pumping? I’ll steer folks to the other stalls.” You never know when you’re going to get those moments of support, but they can be so meaningful. Yeah, bathroom pumping isn’t ideal, but it was a long and crowded flight, and it was the best option available.

29. I traveled to client sites while I was pumping. I always asked for a “private space for pumping.” In at least one location there was no such private space, and I pumped in my car with a blanket over me. At one site, I locked myself into the server room, which was the only room they had that was not in use, and had an actual closing door. But most places have an open office you can use, or an office you can borrow for the time you need.

    I have never had any comments from anyone, and I suspect most people in those offices didn’t know or care that I was pumping.

    1. Also, if we’re doing war stories, there was one memorable day that was scheduled wall to wall, and the only time I could use was drive time between meetings. I pumped while driving. I do not recommend doing this. (I never could manage a bathroom-break length pumping session, it was always 30-45 minutes for me.)

30. Ahhhh, pumping. Great advice, all around. In the end, you just do what you have to do. I was once traveling with two corporate partners who I barely knew. We had a long travel day (flight then 3 hour drive) and I could tell there were just going to be very few options. When we picked up the rental car, I just said I needed about 15 minutes before we could go, and pumped in the bathroom. I felt bad making everyone wait, but it was better than having to pump in the back seat. They were super understanding about the whole thing (including getting held up by TSA on the way back and spreading every single piece of the pump all over the place).

31. After reading all of these stories about clueless men in the office, I have to give a shout-out to the male unmarried Biglaw partner in my group who asked, when the possibility of a business trip for me came up right after I returned from maternity leave, whether I “needed to be near the baby overnight.” I had stopped pumping/nursing by then, so the answer was no, but I was impressed that (i) it occurred to him (ii) he brought it up himself and (iii) he found a way to ask that didn’t embarrass either of us.

32. I once had to pump after a deposition in opposing counsel’s office. He was an older male. I just asked him directly, and I wasn’t uncomfortable doing so (my second baby, so I guess I was desensitized to the whole issue). Try not to be embarrassed about it — its not like you are asking to do illegal things in someone’s office! To the extent they are embarrassed, as others have pointed out, that is their issue, not yours.

33. Well, I’ll just say, pumping didn’t go great for me. Mostly it was the time- set up/breakdown- I simply could not get away from work multiple times per day. So my supply stunk. I’d be lucky if I got a few ounces per day. And then when I traveled, forget it. So, my baby self-weaned during the 5th month, and I was totally okay with it. There’s so much social pressure to do it, and I’m glad I fed her what I could for the early months, but the logistics of working + baby are enough let alone coordinating the mothers’ room closet with others, taking a pump in a suitcase (it broke, and it was my friend’s), stepping out of long meetings when it’s almost my turn to present, etc. carrying and cleaning those parts all the time… I have enough to do with the actual baby and job! Weirdly, I loved bfeeding when I did it, but now that I’m done (month later) it doesn’t appeal to me at all. I don’t have the guilt either way. Do what works for you ladies. Sometimes enough is enough.
    Also fyi for new moms- my body had a big change when I stopped feeding. Hormones or whatever. But weird- night sweats, moods, weight change, etc. I didn’t fully expect that so it was a little confusing and a pain. But mostly passed now.

    1. Weight change up or down if you don’t mind me asking? I didn’t know that could happen, and just want to be prepared myself. Thanks in advance for your honesty!

34. Good advice. Personally, I wouldn’t pump in a bathroom unless it was a last resort. Not only are they dirty (what, are you going to sit on the toilet?) but pumping takes a while and is loud (even with hand pumps). I remember pumping once in a public restroom when I was in a pinch – ew.

35. When I was pumping, I went to a few conferences or meetings, and I would just say “I’m a nursing mom and will need a place to pump. A private room with an electrical outlet is ideal, and I’ll need it for about 20 minutes sometime between 12 and 2 (or whatever).”

    I never had a problem. I once pumped in a storage closet at the Ritz, lol, but they brought me ice water and put a sign up on the door, and profusely apologized for not having a better space available. I was a little surprised that they didn’t have a better space, but I appreciated their embarrassment when I asked and their politeness at finding a location.

36. I worked in a large building and a woman at a neighboring office pumped in the bathroom. I would probably find a woman to ask, they’ll be completely understanding and want to accomodate you. I’d think nothing of it if a woman asked me that. I don’t have kids myself, but I certainly understand the dilemma.

37. It would be great if workplaces all started integrating areas (most likely in restrooms) where women could take care of their motherly duties. It was only some years ago that public restrooms built in special diaper changing areas so I guess it will take even longer for these concessions to be made. Then no woman would have to ask about a special place to pump for her child.- http://venusblogs.com/i-am-beautiful-2/

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