Pumping at work was never something that excited me. Before maternity leave ended with our first baby I was very anxious at the prospect. Honestly, I wasn’t even comfortable breastfeeding at that point, especially not in public, which made pumping at work even harder to imagine.
When I was pregnant with our first baby I assumed breastfeeding would be easy. We took a class at the hospital and they laid out the benefits of breastfeeding, but I had already made up my mind that we definitely would. All the while not realizing that it doesn’t come as naturally as I had expected.
Still my minimum goal for each baby has been to get them as much breast milk as possible until at least 6 months. So going back to work after three months meant I’d definitely be pumping at work for at least 3 months. I was surprised at how different the experience has been for each baby. It wasn’t what I expected it to be, but there were some things I could do to make it easier.
In this post I’ll detail out each experience since they were different with one more positive for me than the other. Then I’ll leave you with 10 tips I’ve learned over the past couple years that I wish I’d known before I started.
Know your Rights
First things first. According to the Department of Labor and the Fair Labor Standards Act employers are required to provide “reasonable break time” and “a place, other than a bathroom, that is shielded from view and free from intrusion” for a mother to express breastmilk for up to a year after the birth of their baby. There are some exceptions to the requirements for example if the company has fewer than 50 employees and can prove that it would cause undue hardship they may be exempt. So do some research and talk to your human resources department.
Pumping for Baby #1
My company, especially my manager, was very supportive of my efforts while pumping at work. They gave me a key to a locked office that I could use. It was really just a cubicle with walls, but there was a curtain over the hallway window so people couldn’t see in, and a table with a chair where I could sit. I put a sign on the door of my anticipated hours of use, but I was the only one with a key so I knew I’d have privacy. There was also a refrigerator and freezer in the employee kitchen where I could store used pump parts between sessions and bags of expressed milk.
I chose the Spectra S1 for my pump. My insurance offered several models for free (most insurances do so check into yours), including the Spectra S2, but I really wanted an option that was battery powered rather than powered using a cord so I could pump anywhere. So I decided to upgrade for a fee to the S1 model so I could recharge rather than be tethered to a wall.
I usually went to the pumping room 3 times a day. It often felt awkward to walk from my desk back to the room. It felt like everyone was watching me and timing me, even though I’m sure that wasn’t really happening. I brought my computer, although my manager told me I didn’t need to, and my pumping bag full of equipment. I would set up my equipment using my pumping bra so I could be hands free. Then I’d open up the daycare camera so I could look in on Annie while I was pumping.
Each session took roughly 30 minutes including set up time, with actual pumping for about 20 minutes. When you add in preparing and packing at my desk, walking to the room and re-adjusting at the end I was up to nearly 45 minutes each time. I felt like my productivity was down compared to before maternity leave. At some point I just had to accept that. Adjusting back to work, living though the fifth trimester was hard enough, plus add in the beginning of the pandemic. So I was in survival mode.
I usually only got 1-2 ounces on each side, and often felt discouraged that I wouldn’t get enough in a session to provide a full bottle for daycare. I leaned on my freezer stash and pumping at night to fill in the gaps. When needed I also supplemented with formula.
After about three months of this, we went into full lockdown mode thanks to COVID-19. My office was closed and we pulled Annie out of daycare. So I went back to breastfeeding and supplementing for a couple weeks until she was 6 months old. Then we transitioned to formula and purees.
Pumping for Baby #2
Even though I was still with the same company after having Ace, my experience pumping at work was completely different and more positive. It came down to three factors: personal confidence, Ace being a stronger breastfeeder and more discreet equipment.
We were still in the pandemic, but the office was open and we were required to be in the office 2 days a week. I was offered the same office at the end of the hall that I used the first time. But I decided to hand the key over to another new mom who needed to pump at work. Since there weren’t as many people around (only 3 other people nearby) and I had new, more discrete equipment I decided I would just pump at the desk in my cubicle. This was completely my choice. Had there been more people around I may have opted for the office.
That was not something I would have been comfortable with during my first experience. In general I was a lot more open to breastfeeding in public and just tried to think about it the way it is—I’m feeding the baby.
It definitely helped that my husband offered to use some of his FSA money to get me the Elvie pump. This made it possible to discreetly pump at my desk. I did have to be more strategic about what I wore to the office though. It needed to be easy to quickly manage getting the pump on and off.
Staying at my desk also cut down on the time I needed to spend going back and forth from the office. I had everything I needed right at my finger tips. No packing up or parading down the hall. I still tried to get in at least three sessions per day. But staying at my desk meant I could pump for 15 minutes and clean up took 5 minutes. Ultimately cutting the time in half and increasing my productivity overall. I could put the pump on and then get back to work. Although I did still pull up the daycare camera (if it wasn’t already open).
Ace prefers his milk straight from the tap, but two days a week he goes to daycare and I try to send him 3-4 bottles. I get pretty close to what he needs, but I still tap into my freezer stash occasionally. I try really hard not to run into a situation where he needs a formula bottle, because he really doesn’t like formula or the bottle for that matter. I’m more productive in my pumping than I was for Annie, usually averaging 5-6 ounces total 15 minutes.
When done, rather than storing everything in the fridge, I use a frozen ice pack bag which stays frozen/cold just long enough for me to get home from work. I store the bags of milk with the pump shields after I wipe them down with the medela cleaning wipes. I bought enough Elvie bottles to get through the day with clean bottles for each session. Then I threw them in a bag and brought them home to wash at the end of the day.
We made it to my goal of breastfeeding until at least 6 months and we’re still going. I’ll keep pumping for him as long as he wants it, is thriving on it and it remains not stressful. I imagine with Ace we’ll transition to milk closer to a year and skip the formula phase that we had with Annie.
10 Things I Wish I Knew Before Pumping at Work
1. Get in the right headspace before maternity leave ends
I was not emotionally ready to go back to work with either pregnancy, so it took some effort to get myself motivated. One thing I did was read “Work. Pump. Repeat” by Jessica Shortall. She goes into how to prepare, office strategies, what to do when traveling and surviving when things aren’t working. Overall, it’s a great go-to guide for all things pumping. If you only take one thing from this post I hope it’s to read this book.
2. Have the right equipment
Think about where you will be pumping the most and what you will need in a pump. With my first baby I used the Spectra S1 and it was just what I needed at the time. I picked it because it was portable, battery powered, pumped directly into the storage bags and it was partially covered by insurance. It was great and I had originally intended to use it again.
With my second baby I use the Elvie pump which I absolutely love. My husband had extra FSA money and it was an eligible item, so we decided to splurge and I’m so glad we did. It is hands free and tube free so I can discreetly wear it while it works. It’s a game changer for pumping at work and also pumping with a two year old.
3. Practice using the equipment before maternity leave ends
No matter what pump you decide to go with, I recommend practicing with it before you take it to the office. Know how to put it together and use it so you’re comfortable when it’s time.
4. Plan out your wardrobe
Some outfits are easier to pump in than others, just like some outfits are easier to breastfeed in than others. This may depend on which pump you choose and where you plan to pump as well. If your pump has tubes, you may want to consider outfits that are looser and can be pulled up to make space for the pump and the tubes. Or if you are using a hands-free, tube-free model you may want to consider something that gives you easier access at the top like a v neck or wrap style. Either way I recommend a nursing tank underneath. Play around with what you’ll be comfortable wearing when you practice using it on maternity leave.
5. Build up your freezer stash
Practicing with your pump will also give you a chance to build up a freezer stash. You’ll want enough for the first day at a bare minimum, and as much as possible beyond that.
6. Hydrate
This is a good tip for breastfeeding in general, but especially for pumping, you need to hydrate. No. Really. Like get some water and keep filling it up all day long.
7. Skip the breastfeeding snacks
I have tried the supplements and the cookies and the bars and the drinks. In my experience, the benefit seemed pretty small, especially with the added cost of those things, and I never really found any that I personally enjoyed. Read number 6 again. Seriously, the most effective thing I’ve done to help with milk is just water. *See the footnote for a funny story about breastfeeding snacks.
8. Use your calendar to schedule and block off times
Try to plan on pumping at similar times to when the baby would actually be eating and block it on your calendar so the time doesn’t get filled up with meetings or appointments. Remember breastmilk is available based on supply and demand so missing a session could hurt your supply if it happens often. In my experience pumping is also less demanding than breastfeeding, which is where the hydration comes in and making sure you keep a schedule.
9. Be confident
Choosing to and being able to provide breastmilk for your baby is such an amazing thing and doesn’t need to be hidden or danced around. It’s okay to tell people what is going on. You need to pump. Call it like it is.
10. Remember it gets easier
The first few weeks you’re in the thick of the fifth trimester, navigating your new normal of working motherhood and missing your baby. Learning the ins an outs of pumping at work can feel overwhelming,
You got this! Do you have any advice for pumping at work? Share it in the comments.
*So for the funny story. I took my husband to Target (he really wishes he could be a Target husband check out the video on youtube if you haven’t seen it–so funny!). I was pregnant with Annie at the time and needed some prenatal vitamins. While I was searching for the brand I wanted, Ned noticed a box of lactation cookies. He said “Are those pre-milked cookies? Like lactating cookies?” We laughed – maybe you had to be there…Or maybe not. The lady awkwardly picking out pregnancy tests next to us didn’t seem to think it was quite as funny. But can’t you just imagine expressing milk from a cookie?
