I was on twitter late last month (wow – am I behind following up on things!) and I saw a post from @BabyDickey – she said “SO – I need to pump btwn my classes, but my “office” is a cubicle in a room with 3 other people. No door. I don’t know what to do!!”
I thought I would offer a little advice for those of you who are in similar situations.
The first thing I would recommend – if you are at work – is to talk to your boss or HR department – with the new healthcare bill – companies are now required to provide a comfortable place for moms to pump that ISN’T a bathroom!
But if your situation is like @BabyDickey’s and you are in a place where there just isn’t an alternative – here is a tip for pumping privately in a less-than-private place – this tip will also work if you are on a plane or in other non-private locations where you might need to pump.
- Use a nursing cover – the best kinds are the ones that are poncho style like this or this – so that you are covered all the way around – but you can also use shawls or apron-style nursing covers as well.
- Put your nursing cover on, then unclip your bra and attach your pump. While your office-mates may know what you are doing – they won’t be able to see any exposed skin and you can pump “privately” even though there are other people around
I actually used this technique on a plane. I put the nursing poncho over my head, attached my pump and pumped away while reading a book. I don’t think the man next to me ever even knew what I was doing!! If you are in a cubicle or office setting, you can even play a little music to help “drown out” the sound of the pump (if you are allowed to play music that is!).
Have you ever pumped in a less-than-private situation? What did you do for privacy? Please leave a comment on this post to share your story.
I used this exact technique when I pumped for both of my girls. My one piece of advise would be to get a hands free nursing band to give you more flexibility and allow you to double pump!!
Thanks for the post!! I’ve been managing… I actually told 2 other people in the office what I was doing (both female), so the didn’t wonder what the noise was
I use a cover or a shirt. My only problem is that once in awhile a man (who uses my same cubicle later in the day) sometimes comes in to put something in his drawer right next to me. And that’s a LITTLE more awkward, haha. Ah well! Thanks again for writing this!
I learned to pump “privately” in the NICU – had better production if I pumped isolette-side. I wore a cami-tank that I could pull down from the top for the hands-free pumping “bra”, a cardigan to cover me from the side, and an apron-style nursing cover. Since the NICU pumps were on wheels (my “IV”) I could even change her diaper, etc., while pumping. Fabulous.
I pump in my cubicle. The cubicle has high walls and I don’t get much foot traffic, but my co-workers (mostly male) all know what I’m doing and over the years they have become somewhat accustom to it. 😉 Instead of a nursing cover I make sure I wear larger tops that are stretchy and allows full coverage while the pump is attached. Also, instead of hands-free device I just set the horns in my bra (I wish I can explain it better, but I don’t un-clip my bra or anything, the funnels just sit in the bra while they’re attached). I’m so good at this that I can get everything set without even looking much. I only briefly peek when I first turn the pump on to make sure the nipples are in the center of the funnels. Once everything is set, I turn the pump on and back to work I go. From time to time someone pops into my cubicle and we are all OK with it because nothing is exposed.
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