Comments on: The problem with pumping milk in a public bathroom http://themilkmama.com/2009/11/05/the-problem-with-pumping-milk-in-a-public-bathroom/ Thu, 27 May 2010 01:52:07 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Andrea http://themilkmama.com/2009/11/05/the-problem-with-pumping-milk-in-a-public-bathroom/comment-page-1/#comment-386 Andrea Mon, 30 Nov 2009 19:23:35 +0000 http://themilkmama.com/?p=419#comment-386 I think I have pumped everywhere imaginable but tried my best to stay away from restrooms. They were only a very last resort! If it had to be done I would just use the hand pump for a few minutes tucked under my shirt (this made me feel like it was cleaner) until I could get to my car or other acceptable place. My car was always stocked with towels to cover up and adaptor for my electric pump. I also had an extra supply of milk bags and a manual pump in the car "just in case." I also carried an additional manual pump in my purse and was fortunate to work in a hospital with a wonderful pumping room. Most of my pumping issues arose from attending graduate school about an hour away from home and having class or 2-5 hours at a time. No one on the campus of 20,000 could tell me if and where someone could pump outside the hours of 8am to 4pm when the childcare center was open and available. So I just pumped in my car before class and tried to make it to the end (or ran for a quick pump in the ladies room) and get home to finish (I wasn't comfortable pumping in my car at night after class). Most memerable pump was a rock concert - you should see how a big security guard blushes when you bring a breast pump into a concert and ask where you might use it. I just stood in a corner by the concession stand with my friend blocking me/assisting with bottles/lids and again tried to use my under the shirt while standing method. Since I was an exclusive pumper it was easy for me to pump most places with or without my daughter but I realize for some this would not get them relaxed enough to get the milk flowing. I think I have pumped everywhere imaginable but tried my best to stay away from restrooms. They were only a very last resort! If it had to be done I would just use the hand pump for a few minutes tucked under my shirt (this made me feel like it was cleaner) until I could get to my car or other acceptable place. My car was always stocked with towels to cover up and adaptor for my electric pump. I also had an extra supply of milk bags and a manual pump in the car “just in case.” I also carried an additional manual pump in my purse and was fortunate to work in a hospital with a wonderful pumping room. Most of my pumping issues arose from attending graduate school about an hour away from home and having class or 2-5 hours at a time. No one on the campus of 20,000 could tell me if and where someone could pump outside the hours of 8am to 4pm when the childcare center was open and available. So I just pumped in my car before class and tried to make it to the end (or ran for a quick pump in the ladies room) and get home to finish (I wasn’t comfortable pumping in my car at night after class). Most memerable pump was a rock concert – you should see how a big security guard blushes when you bring a breast pump into a concert and ask where you might use it. I just stood in a corner by the concession stand with my friend blocking me/assisting with bottles/lids and again tried to use my under the shirt while standing method. Since I was an exclusive pumper it was easy for me to pump most places with or without my daughter but I realize for some this would not get them relaxed enough to get the milk flowing.

]]> By: Jenny http://themilkmama.com/2009/11/05/the-problem-with-pumping-milk-in-a-public-bathroom/comment-page-1/#comment-370 Jenny Tue, 24 Nov 2009 05:53:00 +0000 http://themilkmama.com/?p=419#comment-370 How horrible! That makes me want to gag. I've never had to pump in a restroom. I was really spoiled back when I worked. Because I worked in a hospital boutique where we rented the pumps, we had a Medela Symphony right in our fitting room. There was a sink, outlet, table, comfortable rocking chair and a lock on the door. I got to use the pump for free, too, as all hospital employees there do, but it was right in the middle of my workplace. I could even lock the door of our shop if I needed to. There couldn't be a better setup. I needed it because I don't respond very well to pumps. I doubt I could get much milk if I were stressed by having to pump in a bathroom! How horrible! That makes me want to gag. I’ve never had to pump in a restroom. I was really spoiled back when I worked. Because I worked in a hospital boutique where we rented the pumps, we had a Medela Symphony right in our fitting room. There was a sink, outlet, table, comfortable rocking chair and a lock on the door. I got to use the pump for free, too, as all hospital employees there do, but it was right in the middle of my workplace. I could even lock the door of our shop if I needed to. There couldn’t be a better setup. I needed it because I don’t respond very well to pumps. I doubt I could get much milk if I were stressed by having to pump in a bathroom!

]]> By: Missy http://themilkmama.com/2009/11/05/the-problem-with-pumping-milk-in-a-public-bathroom/comment-page-1/#comment-347 Missy Fri, 06 Nov 2009 18:36:20 +0000 http://themilkmama.com/?p=419#comment-347 Yuck! I've never had to pump in a bathroom - thank god I have an office where I can close and lock the door and sit at my clean desk while I pump. Whenever I've been in a place where there's no private sanitary place to pump, I've gone to my car to do it. But that's only because I have tinted windows and my pump comes with a battery pack. I really feel bad for women who have to pump in restrooms. Yuck! Yuck! I’ve never had to pump in a bathroom – thank god I have an office where I can close and lock the door and sit at my clean desk while I pump. Whenever I’ve been in a place where there’s no private sanitary place to pump, I’ve gone to my car to do it. But that’s only because I have tinted windows and my pump comes with a battery pack.

I really feel bad for women who have to pump in restrooms. Yuck!

]]> By: Maya http://themilkmama.com/2009/11/05/the-problem-with-pumping-milk-in-a-public-bathroom/comment-page-1/#comment-345 Maya Fri, 06 Nov 2009 06:59:03 +0000 http://themilkmama.com/?p=419#comment-345 I feel bad for the women who have to do that! I was asked by a NURSE once, at the hospital, to nurse my son in the bathroom. My mother was with me and she told the nurse to go eat her own lunch in the bathroom if she felt that strongly about it! Seriously...maybe if the CEOs were made to eat their lunches in dirty bathrooms they'd be more on the ball with getting proper pumping stations for women. I feel bad for the women who have to do that! I was asked by a NURSE once, at the hospital, to nurse my son in the bathroom. My mother was with me and she told the nurse to go eat her own lunch in the bathroom if she felt that strongly about it! Seriously…maybe if the CEOs were made to eat their lunches in dirty bathrooms they’d be more on the ball with getting proper pumping stations for women.

]]> By: Rachel http://themilkmama.com/2009/11/05/the-problem-with-pumping-milk-in-a-public-bathroom/comment-page-1/#comment-343 Rachel Fri, 06 Nov 2009 02:38:12 +0000 http://themilkmama.com/?p=419#comment-343 How unpleasant, uncomfortable, and unsanitary! I am sorry for the women who have nowhere else to pump. I had to do it once, and I hopei never hve to again. On a related note... this is the environment that many would prefer we breastfeed in. I have been told several times while feeding my son that I should feed him in the restroom because it is offensive to "expose myself". I don't understand why some people don't seem to understand that a bathroom is not a suitable place to feed an infant... Or express the food for said infant. How unpleasant, uncomfortable, and unsanitary! I am sorry for the women who have nowhere else to pump. I had to do it once, and I hopei never hve to again.

On a related note… this is the environment that many would prefer we breastfeed in. I have been told several times while feeding my son that I should feed him in the restroom because it is offensive to “expose myself”. I don’t understand why some people don’t seem to understand that a bathroom is not a suitable place to feed an infant… Or express the food for said infant.

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