Pumping at School

Chris - posted on 02/10/2009

I just finished having to pump at work and did it for about 8 months- I am a science teacher so I used my supply room. Maybe a teacher in your school has an extra room that is more private- I felt like my classroom was to accessible to others to feel comfortable there and could never get a letdown when anxious. I gave up part of every prep and my lunch everyday so I could pump 3 times a day but it was worth it in the end. Good luck!

April - posted on 02/10/2009

Pumping in your classroom is the easiest. I purchased a three fold science board and hang out behind it. I also hang a snoopy flag over the window and add a sign to my door..."be available in 30 minutes"

Start using your school schedule to pump now...prepare your body for the limit each day otherwise you might catch yourself leaking. Oh - bring extra bra pads and shirt - just in case.

Jennifer - posted on 02/08/2009

I love my Medela Pump in Style. You can limit the suction and speed. I tried nipple covers with the pump at first until I got used to the pressure. It gets easier. Best wishes!

Kristen - posted on 02/08/2009

I was worried about that as well, I went back to work Monday. I am only able to pump once in the middle of the day but when I do pump I get 8 oz and my daughter is only drinking 4 when I am gone. I am able to pump in my classroom but if I didn't have that I would be able to use either my principal or vice principal's office. I am in elementary school so the principal's are out on playgound duty. If you can't use those offices is there a teacher's restroom or nurse's office?

Kim - posted on 02/07/2009

I forgot to add that I pumped for a full year with my first two. My youngest is 9 months old, and I'm planning to keep going until the beginning of May :)

Kim - posted on 02/07/2009

With my first, I used to lock my classroom door and sit at my desk during lunch to pump.



With my second, I hung a baby foot sign on the door and then locked it. The little sign eliminated anyone from needing to unlock the door for any reason.



With my third, I don't have my own classroom anymore so I can't do that. I have a chair in the handicapped stall of the teachers' restroom. I'm normally not in the bathroom by myself, but at least I'm in a locked/private space :)

Nicole - posted on 02/07/2009

I teach 5th grade and I was always nervous (even though I locked the door, turned out all the lights and covered my windows taht somebody esp. a student would barge in while I was pumping.) This was very hard for me to do and I did loose milk when I went back to work (and school to start my masters). I was pumping in the car on the way to work and school and at home an deventually I lost my milk. I don't really have a solution for you I just thought I woul dtell you what didn't work for me so maybe you can avoid doing that as well.

Barbara - posted on 02/07/2009

Wow! I am impressed! I wish I had read these when I was nursing/pumping last February! I might have been more insistent in making people help me work it out! I tried the signs, locking doors, and alerting every adult except the media, and still got walked in on! I finally got so stressed that I only got 1 oz total in 40 minutes! My supply went WAY down! I had to give up pumping at work and finally just try to do it as much as possible at home.

I'm pregnant again and intend to nurse as long as possible this time as well. I'll have to go back to work right before Thanksgiving. I'm looking into a better/quicker pump, that hopefully won't tear my nipples off LOL. Any suggestions?? I had the Avent Isis IQ dual last time. Comfortable! just not as quick as I'd like. (Borrowed from a friend, so don't have it again). Also, the cover sounds like a great plan, just in case the walk-ins occur again! My schedule will be like Jenny S's, so that might work better than last time.

Dawn - posted on 02/04/2009

I am actually preparing to go back to work in 19 days:( Luckily, I teach 1st grade, so I have my own classroom and plan to pump with the door locked and door window covered during my lunch every day. But, for the past few months, I have been pumping and freezing as much milk as possible. My daughter has been sleeping most nights for 10 hours, so I wake up with both sides full. I feed her first thing in the morning on one side, pump the other side during her first nap, and go back to feeding her on the first side when she wants to eat again. I plan to continue pumping first thing in the morning once I go back to school, plus pump a little from each side during my lunch so I can continue (hopefully) to nurse her on the weekends and during the summer fulltime. Maybe you could try pumping every morning when you have a lot of milk? Anywhere at school that you can find privacy is great! I just hate the thought of all the germs at school, but plan to somehow manage keeping everything germ-free even though all I have in my classroom is cold water to wash my hands! Also, if you can't find time to pump during the day, you could also do the same thing in the afternoon after school that you did in the morning, feed on one side, pump on the other. I like thinking that even if you only get milk out of both sides every 8 hours by pumping and nursing, it will carry over to any day that you can nurse your baby every 4 hours or so, because on those days each side is getting an 8 hour break too! And, you could pump right before you go to sleep at night to get out any last drops you can then too. My biggest goal also will be to make sure I get as much work done throughout the day as possible (including lunch, prep, and any free minutes) so that I can be out the door as soon as I am allowed, every day to be home, nursing my daughter as soon as she wants me to! And if I have work to do, I'll do it once she goes to bed. I hope I helped some. Good luck with everything!

Jennifer - posted on 02/03/2009

I started pumping when my daughter was one month old at a time I knew she wouldn't eat again for a while. She is now 17months old and I just finished using all the milk I had saved; we didn't have to use one drop of formula. If you don't want to use formula, get as much milk saved as you can. Concerning location, I've heard of mom's pumping in their cars with shades down. Don't know if that's an option for you. I wish you the best of luck. Your baby has so much to gain from you pumping at work.

Kim - posted on 02/02/2009

Wow!  So many mom's that replied were really fortunate to be able to pump more than once a day a work.  I try to leave as soon as possible at the end of the day to get home to feed baby.  I  This is my second baby.  I used a book room to pump for #1.  This time around one of the secretaries is allowing me to use her office.  No lock on the door.  I have a sign up.  Hopefully no one will walk in.  As a result I am not as relaxed and my supply is dwindling.  I am going to have to start pumping before bed.  Definately start stock piling early.  Glad I did. Good luck!

Melody - posted on 02/01/2009

Quoting Maria:

I am fortunate enought to have a large closet with outlets and a sink ( I am the art teacher) I know others who have gone to the nurses office to pump. They often have seperate spaces. As for having enough...If you are limited in your pumping time ar work, make sure to pump when you are not at work. I pump before bed and as soon as i wake up every day, even when not working. Freeze everything you can too, you will need it at some point. When you get tired or stressed, you just don't produce as much. That will certainly happen when you start back to work.  Good Luck.

My son is 7 months and we have never had to suplement.

Hi,

I'm expecting my first in May and will be going back to work in August.  Can I ask when you started pumping after the birth?  I'm wondering how early I should start freezing and storing.

User - posted on 02/01/2009

Hi Barbara, My son was 4 mo when the school year started. I had started freezing my milk during the summer to prepare. I suggest you pump as much as you can and freeze as much as you. I say this because once i started working my production quickly slowed and i had to stop. I had a morning break, lunch time and an afternoon break but something always seemed to come up and i never had the time. If i was strick about this time maybe i would have been able to longer. The lack of sleep and stress really hurts production also. My son also soon preferred the bottle and didn't want to nurse once i got home. I hope things go better for you:)

Joelle - posted on 01/26/2009

I hid in a small back closet to pump. I pumped 2-3x per day. On the way to school, during my planning period and again during lunch. My husband did have to bring the baby to school a couple of times. START freezing immediately if you haven't already done so. Also I leaked a lot at first, so I had to have a change of clothes at school.

Ronda - posted on 01/25/2009

One our teachers went into a room with a closet. It was a room in the Administration Section.

Staci - posted on 01/25/2009

I would start pumping and freezing it now to have back up supply. Just add another feeding during the day. I pumped at school for a year. The janitor put a lock on his "office" (barely a closet) so I could go in there and pump. I used to eat lunch while I was pumping. Good for you for giving it a go!

Kelly - posted on 01/25/2009

I pumped for the entire second semester when I went back to (high school) work. I had my own classroom. My husband bought me a small fridge for the corner behind my desk. I put a sign on my classroom door saying "No interruptions. Do not knock." (This really upset kids because my classroom always has kids in it during break and lunch.) I pumped before school, at lunch, and right after school because I just had so much. after pumping and storing the milk, I would run to the bathroom to clean out the stuff. I also got those Medela Cleaning wipes. Those really worked.

Remember by law, your school needs to provide you with the privacy needed in order to pump. I have a great relationship with my principal and vps, so if I ever had a problem, I went to them. I did have a bad experience, once. I forgot to lock the dorr after I put the sign on. A boy who knew exactly what was going on, threw the door open, and freaked me out. I was so upset, I couldn't react. I told my vp, he was suspended for a day and was banned from my classroom for the rest of the semester. Needless to say, i locked the door OCD style afterwards.

If your break schedule doesn't allow for it, talk to your principal. Sometimes (on late start days, or rally days) when the schedule was abnormal, I just had to start a class 5 minutes late. Oh well. Kids get it after a bit. Good luck

Molly - posted on 01/25/2009

I pump during my planning time. I get everything I need ready pumping stuff and teaching resources and then I pump and plan. At lunch I am lucky enough to have my husband bring in my son to nurse, but by 2 I am full again. I use my friend's room "the pumping room" that has a divider in it. For part of the time we are alone and then the last 10 minutes she has a small group that has no idea that I am even there and she says you can't even hear the pump. I also use a covering that even if a kid saw me they wouldn't know what was going on (elementary kids)

In the past we had a student teacher that used the "adult" bathroom. She would bring a chair in their and bunker down. We knew what was going on and respected her time in their.

I would also suggest finding a back up person that can help cover for you if you are feeling quite "full" and uncomfortable b/c it is hard being constricted to schedule and your body does not know how to wait. Your body does somewhat adjust but it takes time.

Also, start stocking up on milk before you go back. Pump as much as you can while you are still on leave. I would pump in the mornings and when the baby was sleeping at night. They just finished using frozen milk from November last week, so I am not worried about running out any time soon and on those days that I don't get to pump as much at school I am not worried about it.

Hope any of this helps. Good luck

Oran - posted on 01/25/2009

i pumped in the office's restroom, or in the principal's office. there was no real traffic in the restroom, as only those few who work in there can use it. it was alot cleaner than anywhere else, and had hot water and soap to aide in sanitation. funny....years after, everytime i went into that restroom, i could feel phantom "let downs"....

Maricarmen - posted on 01/25/2009

I don't know what state you live in, but many states have a law requiring places of work to provide a private space to pump.  Check your state website.  If your state does support nursing, you can just show your principal and maybe he/she can free up a closet somewhere.  At my school, I along with 2 other teachers gave birth around the same time, we let our principal know about the law and we use one of the kindergarten's walk in closets that we're able to lock behind us.  I also lock my own classroom when i'm short on time and just post a note to not be disturbed b/c i'm pumping.  Teachers I work with also are aware that i'm pumping and as a result, i'm short on time at lunchtime----I scarf my food down in 10 minutes and off I go to pump! 

Laura - posted on 01/24/2009

I've been back to school now for three weeks. I am an art teacher pumping at school (h.s.) and it is going pretty well. I would talk to your art teacher. They usually have storage rooms with electrical outlets and sinks. Even with the doors locked, I'm sometimes scared someone will come in, so I use the Peanut Shell cover that I breastfeed with when I'm away from home. That way I'm draped if anyone with a key happens to come in. Also, don't freak out if your supply starts to go down, just keep pumping. The first few days for me were fine, but then I started getting less milk. I just kept going and it's back to normal. Each day the amount of milk changes a little. The most frustrating part is when I can actually breastfeed my son in the morning or afternoon and he doesn't want to eat very well. We're just taking it one day at a time.

Deborah - posted on 01/24/2009

Our school nurse offered to let me use her office but i had a walk in closet in my room that was sufficient. I was determined to breastfeed only then soon realized that it was making me miserable. After 3 months I was so busy at school that pumping was last on my agenda. I decided that it wasn't worth it. I wanted to be a happy mommy and actually enjoy what little time I had with my son. As soon as I stopped nursing, my baby started sleeping 12 hours a night and life became so much more pleasant and enjoyable! It's not the end of the world to use formula either. It was a hard decision emotionally but the cons outweighed the pros in my case.

Tammy - posted on 01/24/2009

Talk with your administrator. He or she should provide the opportunity. Don't get stressed if you can't pump enough. Your child will still thrive if you have to supplement. I pumped for the first six months then I started supplementing. My son is still happy and I am less stressed.

Rose - posted on 01/24/2009

Hello Barbara,

Congrats on your sweet angel and on being able to stay home for a while. What a treat for your family.

By law, your employer is obligated to ensure you a pumping station, if not at least time away for taking care of your baby business. I recommend expressing to your principal and human resources of your situation. Perhaps they have a district protocol.

Currently, I use my planning, lunch and after school planning time to take care of my baby business. This allows me 10 min of quality pumping time three times a day. I coordinate w/ a co-worker to use her office. That's the best situation I could find. It's doable.

Good luck!

Becky - posted on 01/24/2009

It is very hard but doable. I don't have my own room so I use another teacher's office. The times I pump are not all that conveniant but you gotta do what you gotta do. I feed my son at 7 and then pump at 8 when I get to school and then again at 12. I agree with the pp who said to build your supply now. Mine dropped dramatically when I went back to work and I've been struggling to make enough. I finally did have to give in to supplementing. Next time around, I plan to build a huge freezer stash. Good luck!

Angela - posted on 01/24/2009

Ask your peers to help! Someone there probably has been a nursing mom and will jump at the chance to help you! I used to pump in my classroom and would put a note up on the door....I always was covered a little because at least once or twice a year someone would walk in and I'd just say I'm pumping and they'd get all freaked out and leave! The lady who told you to build your supply is EXACTLY right! Start pumping when you can and freeze the milk! Most mommies will notice a decrease in milk when they return to work! DON'T GIVE UP JUST BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO WORK!!!

Shelby - posted on 01/24/2009

I was much like you too--I pumped at work and breastfed my daughter until she was 11 1/2 months. I would wake up early in the and pump. Then I would get ready and I would then feed her or let daycare feed her with the milk. Now I did pump alot in one bag I could pump enough for two bottles. Then I would go to work and I got a lunch hour from 11:30 until 12:15 and I would pump in a counslers office that she gladly volunteered for me and I would eat at the same time. Then as soon as school was over I would pump again at 3:30. Now all of this milk would go to the next day at daycare. I never had to suplement. When I went home then I always fed her and on the weekends I never fed her a bottle unless we were going somewhere. I hope this helps if you need more info let me know. It helped b/c I had a close friend doing this at the same time.

Jenny - posted on 01/23/2009

I was very worried about this too.  I pump during lunch and during my planning period and I pump in my classroom.  I cover the window in the door with paper and pull the shades.  It was really strange at first, but now, I turn off the lights and think about my baby boy and the milk let's down just fine.

You may want to check with your administrator to see if there is a small room they can make available for you.  Something with a desk, chair, possibly a sink.  I've had friends pump in the science teachers closet.

I'm lucky that my lunch and planning time are spaced enough apart that I can pump enough.  I pump at 5:30am, then at 10:45 and then again at 1:15pm.  I feed my son at 5am, and then at 5 or 6pm and 9 or 10 pm.  Next year, the sixth grade won't be on the same schedule, so I don't know what I'll do at that point if I'm still breastfeeding.

Good luck with your schedule.  It is frustrating, I know.

Carrie - posted on 01/23/2009

wow lots of spelling and grammar mistakes. please don't correct it. I know that it may bug some of you out there heee heee

Carrie - posted on 01/23/2009

It is a challenge at first but once you get into a rountine it is workable. All of the stories and suggestions are good. I teach 6th grade at an elem. at recess my kids tended to linger and not always go out. I had to make sure that I quite my lesson on time and dismiss all of them promptly so I could have a full 18 min. to go the bathroom and pump. I have a medela double pump that is well work the investment. You may even get a used one and just buy new sheilds and hosess. I nursed at 7am, pumped at 10:30 and 1:00 and nursed at 4:30. my milk supply was great and then slowed down with the stress of work. However it fluxuates and with the evenings and weekends let the baby nurse all they want. This helps with the supply. If supply seems low you can always try fenagreek, hebal supplement. check out some websites on low milk supply, I found these really helpful.



Don't give up. I nursed for 8month with my first, then he just didn;t want it anymore and I have been nurseing and pumping for the last 5 months. Another suggestion would to pump extra at home and get a stock of milk. it lasts along time in the freezer. Sorry I am rambling.

Shannon - posted on 01/23/2009

I pumped at my school for a year. I pumped during PE and arranged for an aide to come to my room for 15 minutes. I left and went to a tiny closet to pump. By law, your school is suppose to provide you with a place. It was tough at times but don't quit!! It is worth it!!

Colleen - posted on 01/23/2009

I also teach high school and my classroom is never empty. I found I was able to pump in the nurse's office during my lunch period. I was able to close the door and have about 10 minutes or so. Not the best solution, but definitely workable, and after a short time, it just no longer bothered me to think that "kids might hear the pump." I decided it didn't matter - I was doing the best possible thing for my son.

If the nurse's office does not work, is there a guidance counselor who might let you use their space for a few minutes a day? Anyone with a private office?

I agree that you should try to start pumping ahead & freeze your milk. That way, if you are delayed at work, your baby's caregiver can give the baby a bottle. I found that nursing before work, pumping during lunch, nursing in the afternoon and again before bed was plenty to maintain a supply. On the weekends, I let my son nurse as often as he wanted to "rebuild" some of the supply.

Good Luck!

Amy - posted on 01/23/2009

I also pumped in my classroom at break and lunch. I used a three-paneled screen (like the ones you use to hide an area at home) around my desk. Then, I bought cheap vinyl shades to cover my windows. Once the doors were locked, I was good to go and was more comfortable than if I were in someone else's office. Plus, if someone happened to come in (like a custodian or administrator), I was still shielded by the screen. It worked great and I was able to completely relax. I pumped until my son was 1 using this method.

Amy - posted on 01/23/2009

I don't teach in a high school...but was teaching in a large building where there really wasn't a place to go....I just sat in a corner of my room away from the windows and door and put a do not disturb sign on my door.  For me it worked.  I made until my daughter was 9 months and then she had formula for a little while but quickly went to a sippy cup with regular milk in it.

Jen - posted on 01/23/2009

In addition to asking fellow teachers and staff, I would try the nurse. My nurse was good about letting me use their bathroom. You just might need to adjust your schedule if there are students with special needs that need access to the bathroom at different times of the day. Good Luck!

Evamarie - posted on 01/22/2009

i pumped in my classroom and when i couldn't use my room, my friend let me use her office. i would grade papers while i pumped so i wouldn't have so much work to do at home. she also had a mini-fridge in her office that i was able to store my milk in. i didn't like those pads to wash my shields in, so i had a few sets of shields and after i pumped each time, i didn't have to wash anything since my time was limited. i just washed everything at home. i pumped twice a day at school. once you get use to it, it is very managable. i called my sitter during the pumping sessions and i was able to sing to my baby or hear her...it made all the extra work worthwhile!

Crystal - posted on 01/22/2009

I pumped in my classroom during lunch, but it is a difficult task because you really have no time to actually sit down and relax.

Candy - posted on 01/22/2009

I pumped in my room or with one child I pumped in a portable building no one was using at the time. Being in high school makes it hard and bigger buildings--so there is little time. If you have no where to pump in your class or office try maybe the womens coaches office or someone's office like drill team, cheerleaders, etc. Also talk to the nurse at your school. They have to provide you a place to pump. As far as enough milk, your body will get used to your schedule after about three days or so. Good luck and enjoy your time off now.

Nadira - posted on 01/22/2009

I pump in my classroom, before school, at recess, lunch and then after school.  I teach first grade.  I put signs on my door to alert others not to enter.  I would let the principal know so that maybe they can find you a clean place to pump.  Also, I just bought the Madela Freestylr Pump.  It allows you to pump anywhere because once you charge the battery, it does not need to be plugged in to the wall.  A little pricey, but I can pump in five minutes.  Worth the investment.

Maria - posted on 01/22/2009

I am fortunate enought to have a large closet with outlets and a sink ( I am the art teacher) I know others who have gone to the nurses office to pump. They often have seperate spaces. As for having enough...If you are limited in your pumping time ar work, make sure to pump when you are not at work. I pump before bed and as soon as i wake up every day, even when not working. Freeze everything you can too, you will need it at some point. When you get tired or stressed, you just don't produce as much. That will certainly happen when you start back to work.  Good Luck.

My son is 7 months and we have never had to suplement.

Siobhan - posted on 01/22/2009

I pumped at school for a few months. Do you have an office?  Or could you borrow someone's?  I share an office with 2 coworkers and they were kind enough to leave for about 15 minutes each day so I could pump.  I locked the door and hung a sign on chart paper over the door window that said Do not disturb.    I also used the cover I used for nursing so in I didn't feel so exposed.  I started out pumping tiwce a day, then once a day. I would send a bottle of breast milk and one of formula to daycare.  She was fine going back and forth between the two.  Good luck!

Misty - posted on 01/22/2009

There wasn't a definite spot at my school, and no one was willing to give up an office...I finally started to lock my door and sit far way from the door. My team knew what I was doing so there weren't any interuptions. I know others at my school have done the same, or had someone cover their duties (recess duties) so that they have enough time to do it. Also, I know that some went over to the sitters house during their lunch break so that they could just nurse during that time.

Jen - posted on 01/22/2009

Ask around to the other teachers that are moms. I am in a building where we have a room (that I had known about previously) that is affectionately called the "milking closet". It is doubtful you are the first in your building trying to pump--other teachers will have secrets as to where to hide.



Good Luck!

Angela - posted on 01/22/2009

Do you have a good relationship with your principal?  My principal allowed me to use her office, listen to soft music on her radio, while she visited classrooms.  It was wonderful.  When she was unable to do this, the guidance counselor gave me her office.  I am an elementary school teacher so my situation is different.  Talk to your principal now about your concerns, so he/she can help make accomodations once you return.

Hope this helps.

Angela

Kara - posted on 01/22/2009

Do you have to share your classroom?  If not, I would suggest just creating some kind of shade that you could put over any windows and just pumping in your room.  It was very hard for me to pump when I was teaching.  I managed to keep up with him until he was 10 months old.  I would also start building up a supply now, so you know that you always have a frozen stash in case of emergency.  Best of luck!