Pumping in public bathrooms?

wrote:
Anne Rogers writes:

: Though I guess if disabled provision is a
: big stall in the main area then you are out of luck!

: Anne


this is usually the case in the US.

Larry

Disabled stalls typically have outlets next to their (also contained)
sink.

I'm not seeing this as a great option, but I'm also not seeing it as
being as bad as 'you can have Larry's office, because he's not there
this morning,' then Larry arrives, or his staff members do, or the
office is unusable for 20 minutes while some hapless employee is being
laid off....I was on a pretty 'strict' pumping schedule, and anything
initially over 2 hours would cause a great deal of pain. When off-site,
I just didn't want to go through the whole, 'oh, hmmm...maybe Betsy's
-- nah, she's there -- what time do you need this again? How about the
conference room? Can you only use it for 10 minutes, because there's a
videoconference call happening at....'

Caledonia

Caledonia wrote:
cjra wrote:
Am I the only one that things this is not reasonable?
Is this along the lines of people thinking one can nurse in a bathroom
stall?

Um, count me as someone who thinks that it's not reasonable, but in the
grand scheme of things, a lot more reasonable than a 6-week or 8-week
maternity leave.

Two people today suggested that in such a matter of fact way like why
was I concerned?There are bathrooms in that building... Neither of them
have ever BF'd or pumped before, though.

next week I have two full days where I'll be at an alternate site for
an exercise. I know the building well and there are plenty of little
rooms so I'm not worried. But I mentioned to my boss (male) that I'd
need to take 2 breaks from the exercise so I could pump (normally I do
it in my office), he said no worries, I said now I just have to figure
out where i'll go and he said "You know there are plenty of bathrooms
there." I said that was not ideal ..... then later, I mention the same
to a nurse who will be working with me that day, and she says "you know
that building well, you KNOW how many bathrooms there are there."

Ummm, 1 - the bathrooms are often not equipped with an outlet (I don't
have mine battery operated at the moment),

I've found that most bathrooms, oddly enough, have been equipped with
outlets; figuring this out was a *profound* relief (the Lactina didn't
have batteries), and the key was a really long extension cord and an
attitude of what could best be described as 'screw you, I need to do
this for my baby.'

As it happens, it's a code requirement in most (if not all) US codes to
have an outlet by the lav, so, not so odd! I think it was originally
meant for things like razors and hairdryers?


2-even if it was I'd have to
stand up in the common area and pumping standing is no fun

Long extension cord. I kid you not.

Caledonia

I wish I'd thought of the extension cord - I did end up pumping in the
ladies room at a conference once, and was pretty self-conscious, even
though I draped my shirt over everything. But then, I've also ended up
nursing in the ladies lounge a couple of times - once in a
changing/nursing area, and once on a bench, simply because it was right
after I needed to pee, and it was available. (NOT in a stall!!!) But
then, I've also nursed in my own bathroom at home, either while
supervising ds in a bath or while potty-training...

Irene

"cjra" wrote and I snipped:
It's no big deal, I'll find a place and my workplace is 100% supportive
of BF/pumping - they'd better be as the dept (not our division) is
launching a big BF campaign shortly, but it made me wonder if I need to
take this opportunity to educate people on what it means to be
'BF-friendly' - ie, the bathroom doesn't work - or if it's just me and
that's a common place for people to pump.

I did pump in a restroom once. But it was more like a small room with a
toilet and sink, and I was able to wheel in a comfy desk chair. I cannot
imagine sitting on a toilet and pumping my baby's milk. I feel for working
women who have no alternative.

-Patty, mom of 1+2

wrote:
Anne Rogers writes:

: was just a faff to arrange it

Please translate into 'merikin.

:-)
Larry

Faff, noun: nuisance.

Faff, verb: mess around (general connotation of doing something that's a
nuisance).


--
http://www.goodenoughmummy.typepad.com

"That which can be destroyed by the truth, should be" - P. C. Hodgell

Irene wrote:
Caledonia wrote:

I've found that most bathrooms, oddly enough, have been equipped with
outlets; figuring this out was a *profound* relief (the Lactina didn't
have batteries), and the key was a really long extension cord and an
attitude of what could best be described as 'screw you, I need to do
this for my baby.'

As it happens, it's a code requirement in most (if not all) US codes to
have an outlet by the lav, so, not so odd! I think it was originally
meant for things like razors and hairdryers?

Hmm. I just looked in our office bathroom and no outlets anywhere. And
the handicapped stall was just that - a stall. Not a room w/bathroom.

I will look tomorrow at this building where the exercise will be.

I wish I'd thought of the extension cord - I did end up pumping in the
ladies room at a conference once, and was pretty self-conscious, even
though I draped my shirt over everything. But then, I've also ended up
nursing in the ladies lounge a couple of times - once in a
changing/nursing area, and once on a bench, simply because it was right
after I needed to pee, and it was available. (NOT in a stall!!!) But
then, I've also nursed in my own bathroom at home, either while
supervising ds in a bath or while potty-training...


Home is a little different. I know what's gone on in that bathroom, and
how recently it's been cleaned.