“All right, that should do it.” My friend and colleague Christina finished corrections to the document we were working on and closed the file. “Are you headed to lunch?”
“Yeah,” I said as we packed up our things and left my office. “And then it’s off to get nude in my place of work.”
We shared a laugh.
No, I am not employed at some kind of dance club, or as an artist’s model. I’m just a breastfeeding mom trying to pump my milk at work!
This is my 16th year in education, and so far, pumping at work has been going really well
I’m very lucky this time around, as I have a new position as an instructional coach at a new school
My schedule is way more flexible, and our school recently built a new auditorium. This fine arts space has a costume changing room with individual dressing stalls that lock from the inside, like the dressing room of a department store. The best part? There are outlets in each of the stalls, as well as a place to sit! Finally, I can pump in peace.
It’s aggravating that working mothers should have to face so many challenges expressing breast milk at work. I found it especially troubling that schools would be so unaccommodating, considering that it is a child-centered organization that’s supposed to be supporting families. If you’re heading back to work and know you will be pumping, it’s important to have a sit-down conversation with your supervisor and make a plan. Know where — and when — you’ll be pumping before that first day back on the job.
Also, it’s imperative that you know your rights as a breastfeeding parent
There are numerous links online and other resources to use in order to ensure you are being treated fairly by your employer. If breast is “best,” then it’s up to employers to support working parents who breastfeed!
