OMG...SMH...Guess Where I Pumped Today!

Today was one of those “challenging” days. The morning started off like any morning…Dreux woke up around 5 a.m. looking to be fed. I fed her and snuggled up with her for two more hours. The longer we lay there, the more I begin not wanting to get up and get ready to head to work. I received an e-mail explaining the assignment I was scheduled on for the week. I was placed on a new client and the team was reporting to the client’s office instead of my home office for the week. After changing Dreux a second time, changing the diaper genie, and attempting to clean up and mask the aroma of spit-up from my arms and chest, I was heading out the door. (I didn’t have time to change my out of my only clean nursing bra so I threw on a cami and went on my way.)

As I walked to the bus stop I took a look at my Transit App to determine the quickest possible way to get to the client. It was already 8:15a.m. and I had never been to this office. Anyone who knows me knows I have trouble with any kind of directions. I went on a leap of faith! Two trains, a bus, and a few walking blocks later I arrive- 9:02 a.m. I probably could have made it at exactly 9am, had I began walking in the right direction the first time when I got off the train. However I made it!

Walked into the audit room and as usual, I’m the only woman on the team. This normally would not bother me, but today it did. I forgot to inquire about a private or nursing room I could use while out here on the client. I spotted a lady receptionist and figured she would be the best person to ask. 2 hours later my worst nightmare became a reality- there was nowhere for me to pump. I looked at my clock on my computer as the pain began to set in. It was 11:27am and the last time I “relieved” these jugs was at 5am! I had to figure something out quick.

Frustration, confusion, and anxiety, coupled with pain took over my body. “The only place I can offer is the handicap bathroom or the storage closet” the receptionist explained. The storage closet had a huge boiler, a few cleaning supplies, dust bunnies and the door had no lock—I choose the handicap bathroom.

Luckily the bathroom came equipped with a can of Lysol, a chair, and an outlet. After putting my frustrations and anger to the side for the moment, I disinfected the sink placed a few paper towels down in the chair and began to pump –carefully.

This made me realize how unaware some companies are about the importance of providing a clean and comfortable place for nursing moms to express breast milk while at work. It’s hard enough we (young working mommies) have to leave our little ones, but not being able to properly and safely pump while at work, shouldn’t be a hassle. Although there are no federal laws on breast pumping at work:

§  Forty-five states, the District of Columbia and the Virgin Islands have laws that specifically allow women to breastfeed in any public or private location. (Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming.)

§  Twenty-eight states, the District of Columbia and the Virgin Islands exempt breastfeeding from public indecency laws. (Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming.)

§  Twenty-four states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico have laws related to breastfeeding in the workplace. (Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and Wyoming.)

§  Twelve states and Puerto Rico exempt breastfeeding mothers from jury duty. (California, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Oregon and Virginia.)

§  Five states and Puerto Rico have implemented or encouraged the development of a breastfeeding awareness education campaign. (California, Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri and Vermont.)[i]

In Illinois the law states that “employers with more than 25 employees must provide a private location, other than a toilet stall, where an employee can express the employee's breast milk in private and if possible to provide a refrigerator for storing breast milk that has been expressed.” It is completely mind boggling that it was suggested I use a bathroom. A bathroom? I’m sorry, but I’m sure you don’t want your food prepared in a bathroom next to a toilet, what makes you think my child does? This just goes to show that although women have gotten far in the workforce, we are still light years behind. New mommies should not feel ostracized or punished for choosing the most natural and nutritious way to feed their children.  Today I felt guilty and somewhat of a burden because I made the conscience decision to breast feed my child; and today I needed a clean place to pump and this company could not offer any viable options.

Mommies do the research and see if your state has laws relating to breast feeding in the workplace. We have a right to decide to breast feed and work. Companies step it up! Breastfeeding State Laws

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[i] http://www.ncsl.org/issues-research/health/breastfeeding-state-laws.aspx