You are reading a guide about pumping at work. Which means you are still feeding your baby breast milk! Bravo!
Whether your baby drinks 1 ounce or 30 ounces of breast milk a day, this is a huge win.
Our bodies were made for breastfeeding, but that doesn't mean that it is easy.
As you plan to return to work...
You may feel a little nervous about maintaining the milk supply you and your baby have worked so hard for. And rightfully so. Maintaining your milk supply while pumping at work is no small feat.
Or maybe you are just trying to figure out the best times to pump and how to actually build pumping into your workday. This can be a challenge.
And if you're a planner, you are probably trying to figure out which breast pump to choose and which supplies you need.
You are in the right place for all of these things.
I am excited to share with you my favorite practical tips for pumping at work and share a ton of helpful resources.
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Summary
How To Prepare to Pump at Work
There are a few things you need to line up as you prepare for pumping at work.
Even if you're not a big planner, like me.
Believe me.
You don't want to be caught with your shirt off, breasts full, but without the supplies you need.
Or with a boss that didn't expect you to build pumping into your work day.
Or to spend 30 minutes wandering around trying to find a place to pump on your first day back (been there).
As you begin to think about transitioning back into the work place, you are going to have many big emotions. And things to do.
As with everything else (hello, parenting life), find 15 minutes here and there to slowly chip away at your list.
Let this list of to-do's help you get organized rather than overwhelm you.
One thing at at time.
One Month Before You Return To Work
T-1 month.
If you are reading this with less than a month to plan, no worries. You can totally get these things done procrastination style.
1 - Where will you pump?
Where you work, what you do for your job, and how big or small your employer or place of work is will contribute to whether this is an easy or challenging task.
Federal law requires many (but not all) employers to provide “a place, other than a bathroom, that is shielded from view and free from intrusion from coworkers and the public, which may be used by an employee to express breast milk”.
Check out Know Your Pumping Rights At Work to determine what your employer is required to provide.
Designated Pumping Room At Work
If you work for a large employer or in a large office, there may already be designated pumping rooms at your work.
If this is the case, call the Human Resources Department and ask...
where are the designated pumping rooms located
detailed directions on how to actually get to the room
how do you access the room
what is in the room (chair, sink, outlet, place to put a computer?)
is there a schedule or are you able to use the room as long as it is not in use by another nursing mother?
You may want to pop into work ahead of time to actually find the room. I'll spare you the story about how, when working as a nurse at the hospital, I had a list of many available pumping rooms, thought I was set, but spent 30 minutes frantically trying to find a room (any room!) on my first day back. Where the heck is room C1235!
Also, if you know other nursing mother's who have used these pumping rooms, consider reaching out for tips on using the designated pumping areas.
No Designated Pumping Room At Work
On the other hand, many women work for employers where there is not only no designated pumping rooms, but it is challenging to even find a private space to do so.
As I mentioned above, federal law requires many employers to provide a designated place for you to pump.
However, not all nursing mothers are protected under the federal law. If there is no established designated place to pump, you may need to get creative.
Consider pumping at/in...
your desk
an unused office
a spot in the employee lounge
an unused walk-in closet
ante-room to a bathroom or locker room (can you hang a curtain?)
if you find a space that doesn't have a door, suggest hanging a retractable curtain so you can make the space private upon use
pump in your car
ask other nursing mothers at your work where they pump
make a pumping at work door sign so coworkers know not to interrupt/intrude
Work On-The-Go
If you work in health care, hospitality, drive around, travel by airplane, or even just have a long commute, you may need to get creative with where you pump.
The good news is, you have options...
pump in car - with a hands-free pumping bra and a battery operated pump (like Spectra S1 or Baby Buddha)
pump when traveling - with a hands-free pump (like Willow Gen 3) under your shirt
pump when working - with a hands-free pump (like Willow Gen 3) under your shirt
No matter your situation, it is worth it to figure out where you will pump now rather than on your first day back to work.
And don't be shy about reaching out to your boss or the Human Resources Department to come up with a plan.
2 - Call your boss
No need to focus so much an on details at this point.
But do reach out to your boss, let him/her know...
you will be pumping when you return to work
where you plan to pump
how often you will be pumping at work (usually about every 3 hours, check out How To Schedule Pumping At Work)
if you will need provided breaks for pumping or if you plan to pump while you work (check out Productive Pumping)
ask how others breastfeeding moms have managed to pump at work in the past
thank him/her for their support (being grateful for support, even though they are often obligated to allow you to do this, goes a long way with their flexibility and attitude about your pumping)
3- Order supplies
Do you have....?
a breast pump (Check out How To Choose The Right Breast Pump)
pump accessories (breast milk collection bottle, flange, extra membranes)
breast milk storage bags
cooler bag and ice pack for storing milk
bag to carry your supplies to and from work/pumping areas
hands-free pumping bra (a must if you aren't using a hands-free pump)
baby bottles (if your baby has been exclusively nursing)
Now is a great time to do some research and order.
Other helpful resources
4 - Begin pumping
If you have been exclusively nursing, I'd suggest getting a little practice pumping in over the next few weeks.
Why begin pumping now?
get used to the pump
figure out the settings that work best for you
figure out how long it takes to drain your breasts
pump and store some extra milk so you have enough to leave with your babe on your first day back to work
introduce bottles to your babe
Consider pumping once a day for the next month if you don't already.
Timing of your pumping session is not super important during this month leading up to your return to work.
The point is mostly to get used to the pump so you aren't fumbling around with it on your first day back to work.
And to ensure the pump and all of its parts are in good working condition.
Oh yeah, and so you don't find out that your pump isn't working properly as your breasts are full in the middle of your first day back to work.
One Week Before You Return To Work
T-1 week. Are you getting excited? Nervous? Overwhelmed?
1 - Make a pumping schedule
Now that you are just one week out from returning to work, you can actually plan your pumping break times.
You will want to pump around the time you typically breastfeed your baby. And if that timing isn't great for your work schedule, pump as frequently as your baby eats. For example, baby eats every 3 hours, plan to pump every 3 hours.
Check out How To Schedule Pumping At Work for more details.
2 - Pack your pump bag
You will need a bag to carry your breast pump, pump accessories, cooler bag, and expressed breast milk to and from work each day. And to and from the place where you pump at work.
Check out the Back To Work Pumping Checklist for a detailed list of the breast pumping supplies you will need.
3 - Evaluate your breast milk supply
How much extra pumped breast milk do you currently have?
Do you have enough expressed breast milk to leave with your baby for your first day back to work?
If not, don't sweat it. Just come up with a plan.
For example:
Challenge: You have some expressed breast milk but not enough to feed your baby for a full work day.
Solution #1: Do some extra pumping over the next week to see if you can squeak out extra ounces of expressed breast milk
Solution #2: Consider sending your baby with formula to supplement your breast milk supply for one day. If you pump at work on your first day back, you should then have enough expressed breast milk to feed your baby the next day.
First Week Back To Work
It's game time, baby!
However, be ready to go with the flow. Best laid plans. You know how they go.
1 - Tweak your pumping-at-work schedule
You made a pumping-at-work schedule. You planned to pump when your baby typically eats. But now that you are back to work, you have probably found that your schedule will not work exactly the way you thought it would.
Probably because you will have a regularly scheduled meeting smack dab in the middle of your pumping time. Or, if you are in healthcare, there will be no one to cover your patients until later. Or, your pumping time turns out to be your most productive time of the day and you need to save your pumping time for when you are brain dead an hour later.
No sweat, you will likely need to readjust your pumping schedule every so often to fit into your work day.
Check out How To Schedule Pumping At Work for tips.
2 - What can you accomplish while pumping?
One of my favorite things to do as a mom? Kill two birds with one stone.
Make your breast pumping time productive! You will feel like a badass.
Check out Productive Pumping for tips!
3 - Get into a good pump cleaning routine
The not-great-part of transitioning from nursing to feed your baby to pumping breast milk and feeding with bottles?
Having to clean pump parts and bottles every day.
Check out How To Clean Pump Parts At Work for tips including CDC cleaning/sanitizing recommendations.
Tips For Making The Return To Work
Returning to work after having a baby is hard.
By itself, just that is super hard.
Getting to work on time, getting back in the swing of things at work, having quality time with your babe during the limited hours before and after work, feeding yourself and your family. It's a lot. Some might say, impossible.
Add on postpartum hormones (or, for 10-20% of women, postpartum depression), and it is even harder.
Dump on top of that a baby who wakes to eat overnight. And a chronically exhausted mama due to interrupted sleep.
Throw pumping (so you can feed your baby) into the mix.
And you have an overwhelmed mama.
An overwhelmed mama who does not have enough hours in the day to accomplish what she needs to get done.
Who is chronically exhausted.
Who has a human relying on her for nutrition.
It is a lot.
So, what helps?
planning ahead
make pumping at work a priority, otherwise it will be the first thing that drops during a busy day
find "easy" times to pump, sounds like a joke, but its possible (Productive Pumping)
connect with other breastfeeding working moms, connection and support is everything!
snuggle with your baby before and after work, and nurse during those times if you are blessed enough to be able to do so
Have A Breast Milk Storage Plan
For tips on the best place to store your milk while at work and the best containers for storage, check out How To Store Milk At Work.
Your at home breast milk storage plan will depend on your milk supply, and if you have extra stored milk or if you produce just enough to feed your baby the next day.
The CDC advises that if you don’t plan to use freshly expressed milk within 4 days, freeze it right away.
Check out Storage and Preparation of Breastmilk from the CDC for more details.
Back To Work Pumping Checklist
Nothing like a good check list to keep us organized.
This Back To Work Pumping Checklist will help you prep both before and after you have returned to work (hello, mom brain, overwhelmed, sleep deprived moments).
Click for an easy-to-read view, save to Pinterest, or download to refer back to.
How To Choose The Right Breast Pump For Work
You and your breast pump are going to be spending a lot of time together.
So many options, how does one choose?
The best thing to keep in mind is how you will be using your breast pump.
Since you will be pumping at work multiple times a day, you will want to prioritize portability, noise level, and efficiency.
Check out my tips on how to choose the right breast pump for work.
Breast Pump Portability
Small and light is obviously best.
But how small and light do you need to go? Consider...
will you be pumping at your work desk?
will you be carrying your breast pump to and from your pumping location every day? or to and from work?
do you travel for work? will you be carrying your breast pump on planes, trains, and automobiles?
If portability is important to you (I am looking at you, breastfeeding mamas you travel for work!), consider...
Willow Gen 3 - cordless, tubeless, totally hands-free breast pump, breast-shaped, fits under a shirt, amazing for mamas who travel or those who need to be on their feet and situations where a structured break is a challenge (hello, nurses!)
Baby Buddha - cordless, recharges with USB cable, very compact and lightweight, about the size of a thick cell phone, can be worn with a lanyard around your neck, small enough to throw in any work/travel bag
Spectra 1 - cordless with a rechargeable battery, significantly bigger than the Willow Gen 3 and Baby Buddha, but still relatively portable if you are only transporting it around the office rather than on an airplane
Breast Pump Noise Level
Noise level matters. Especially once you are listening to your breast pump for upwards of an hour and a half each day.
And it will matter even more if you will be pumping while taking work phone calls or in not totally private settings (a shared office, planes/trains, etc).
But maybe not as important as if you were pumping next to a sleeping baby.
Perspective, right?
If quiet breast pumps are important to you, consider...
Spectra S1 - very quiet
Willow Gen 3 - quiet enough
AVOID - Baby Buddha and Medela Pump In Style if you want to avoid loud motors
Breast Pump Power Modes
Most breast pumps have a letdown mode and an expression mode with many settings.
Adjustable suction and pump speed - will allow you to fine-tune your pumping experience to the right settings for your breast
Dual-Phase Expression - Dual-phase expression seeks to mirror what occurs during a breastfeeding session. Most pumps automatically switch from stimulation/letdown mode to expression mode
Hands-Free Breast Pump
Yes. Hands-free breast pump is a must.
But perhaps not in the way you are thinking.
You can turn any electric pump into a hands-free option with a hands-free nursing bra.
However, if you fall into any of the below categories, a truly hands-free breast pump could be the one thing that allows regular pumping to be possible.
work in situations where a structured break is a challenge (hello nurses, doctors, healthcare workers)
frequently travel by plane for work
commute to and from work via train
work on your feet
Let me put it this way, if I was still working as an ER nurse, I would most definitely be considering the Willow Gen 3 breast pump.
If you are looking for a hands-free pump option, consider…
Willow Gen 3 – cordless, tubeless, totally hands-free/wearable, breast-shaped, battery-operated pumps, worn under your bra, spill proof, collects right into the disposable collection bag inside the pump, light, efficient, pretty quiet
Freemie Next Generation Cups – these are breast shaped collections cups that are compatible with the Baby Buddha pump (and others) via tubing. If you used the Baby Buddha pump with the Freemie, you can hang the cell phone sized pump around your neck on a lanyard and have mobility. Not as discrete as the Willow Gen 3 since it connects via tubing.
Breast Pump Efficiency
How fast can a breast pump empty your breast? That is what we are talking about when we talk efficiency.
Every breastfeeding mama will vary with how much breast milk they produce, how strong their let down is, how quickly their breasts empty.
However, some breast pumps are stronger and more consistent, resulting in faster expression of breast milk.
Breast pumps that rate most efficient are…
Spectra S1 – suction power up to 270 mmHg, 12 suction levels, can produce more expressed milk in less time than most competitors
Medela Pump In Style Max Flow – a traditional pump that is almost as efficient as the Spectra S1
Although not top of their class in efficiency, the following breast pumps are still very efficient…
Baby Buddha – strong suction at a max of 320 mmHg, 14 suction levels, resulting in efficient breast milk emptying for many women
Willow Gen 3 – many women report a matched expressed milk output to the Spectra S1
Best Portable Breast Pumps
So many breast pumps to choose from, how does one choose?
Since you will be pumping at work daily, you will want to prioritize portability, noise level, and efficiency.
Below are some of my favorite breast pumps.
Check out why...
Overview
Efficient and quiet
Easy to use
Rechargeable battery (built-in)
Suction Levels: 12
Bulky (comparatively)
Heavy (comparatively)
Weight 3 lbs
The Spectra S1 is one of the most sought-after daily-use breast pumps. And I totally understand why.
It is comfortable, efficient, and easy to use.
It has a built-in rechargeable battery, which is gold! No need to be close to an electric outlet.
It has lots of suction power (270 mmHg) and 12 suction levels, which makes it a super efficient pump. It pumps more expressed milk in less time than most competitors.
Another gold star in my book, the Spectra S1 is extremely quiet. So quiet, you can pump at your desk with coworkers close by or while taking a call, and no one will know you are pumping.
It has some helpful extras like a nightlight, built-in timer, space to place bottle, and memory that saves the prior setting.
it is a bit bulkier and heavier than some of the smaller breast pump options. If you are pumping at home or while sitting at work, this probably won't bother you. However, if you travel for work, or need a more portable option (wearable while you walk around), then this might not be the best fit.
Overview
Compact and lightweight
Weight: 0.4 lbs
Rechargeable battery by USB port (built-in)
Easy to use
Suction Levels: 14
Aggressive letdown suction
Loud
The Baby Buddha Breast Pump is well-liked for its small size (less than 0.5lbs) and ability to wear as a necklace. Use with a hands-free pumping bra, hang your pump around your neck with a lanyard, and you can be completely mobile while pumping.
It has an impressively strong suction (320 mmHg) and 14 suction levels, leading to efficient emptying for many women.
It's rechargeable battery lasts for up to an hour of pumping and can be charged with a USB port in about 3 to 4 hours.
One potential drawback to the Buddha is that some users feel the suction is too powerful, particularly in the letdown phase. Some complain it is actually painful. This experience isn't true for everyone, but it is something to consider if you have sensitive breasts or nipples.
Unfortunately, the Buddha is loud and makes a rhythmic buzzing sound you can hear over the phone.
Despite these minor hiccups, for its weight, size, and power, the Baby Buddha Breast Pump is definitely a great option if you are looking for a very small pump that is easy to throw in a work or travel bag. If you plan to pump while on the phone, the noise may bother you.
Overview
Cordless and tubeless (hands-free)
Breast shaped, fits under loose shirt
Pump in any position (standing, sitting, lying down)
Lightweight (0.78 lbs)
Expensive
How-to-use learning curve
Attention health care workers! Breastfeeding mamas who often travel by plane! Mamas with long commutes by train! This may be the pump for you!
The Willow Gen 3 is a cordless, tubeless, totally hands-free pump. It is breast-shaped, so you put it under your bra, pull down your shirt, and can walk around/sit at your desk/walk through an airport without anyone knowing you are pumping.
Mind blown.
The breast pump comes with two (one for each boob, duh) wearable pumps that include collection receptacles that hold 4 ounces of milk each.
The pump stops once the bag is full.
One draw back, if you express more than 4 ounces of milk per breast per pumping session, you will need to stop mid pump to change your collection bag.
Back to the good news. This pump doesn't spill when you bend over or lay down. So, theoretically, you could take a nap during work. I give it a gold star just for the opportunity!
The Willow has a rechargeable battery that lasts 4 to 5 pumping sessions. It links to an app giving up-to-date, accurate information like amount of breast milk collected and pump time.
Many users report matched expressed milk output to the Spectra S1.
Even though the Willow includes two pumps, it only comes with one charger. So, if you want to charge both pumps simultaneously, you will need to purchase an accessory charger. It takes about 2 hours to fully charge from empty, so an extra charger would be money well spent IMO.
One more thing to consider. The Willow has a shorter lifespan that other pumps. Willow markets its pumps to function for 273 hours, which is 819 twenty-minute pumping sessions. If you use the Willow three times a day, it will last you 273 days.
The Willow is much more expensive than almost all other breast pumps. However. if you are someone who has a job where it is almost impossible to schedule breaks or to actually be relieved to take them (hello, health care workers) or you travel by plane often, it is totally worthwhile in my opinion.
Overview
Easy to use
Efficient
Bulky (comparatively)
Loud
Must be plugged in to either wall or (not-built-in) battery pack
No time/suction info
The Medela Pump in Style is an oldie but goodie.
The new Medela Pump In Style Max Flow version is an updated version that has a closed system, a big improvement from a hygiene perspective. With Max Flow, there is no longer condensation build-up in tubing and/or backflow of breast milk traveling to the motor.
This breast pump is efficient and easy to use.
The Medela is louder than similar pumps so not great if you are trying to be discrete about your pumping at your work desk or while on the phone. Also, loud pumps are hard to listen to day after day, month after month of pumping multiple times a day at work. (Can you tell I have some post-traumatic stress from pump sounds?)
If you care about collecting details like how long you pump or the exact suction level you use, this may not be the pump for you. Medela does not have an interface that provides those details.
While there is nothing inherently wrong with the Medela Breast Pump and many women swear by them, for a quieter pump with a built-in rechargeable battery, I just may choose the Spectra instead.
The Best Breast Pump Accessories
Hands-Free Pumping Bra
You can turn any pump into a hands-free pump with a hands-free pumping bra.
This is my absolute favorite breast pump accessory.
If you don't have a hands-free pump, and you only buy one accessory, let it be this.
It allows your hands to be free during your pumping session, which means you can be productive while pumping. Which is literally everything.
Nursing Bra
Wearing a nursing bra allows for easy access when pumping at work.
By wearing a nursing bra, you can easily access your breasts without having to take your shirt off, take your bra off, and feel super naked.
Breast Milk Storage Bags
Most breast milk storage bags cannot be reused. Bags are made out of plastic and are sterilized for single use.
There are, however, special reusable breast milk storage bags made out of silicone.
Best containers for storing expressed breast milk
Disposable Milk Storage Bags
made out of plastic
sterilized for single use
all plastic breast milk storage bags leak sometimes
Lansinoh are strong bags with a double sealed and are my favorite
If you are freezing expressed breast milk, you will want a disposable milk storage bag
Reusable Milk Storage Bags
made of silicone
reusable and eco-friendly
useful if you use your expressed breast milk within a few days or use your frozen milk frequently
not practical for storing milk in the freezer for extended periods of time
Junobie Reusable Storage Bags get great reviews and are a great eco-friendly option
Storage Bottles
Reusable plastic storage bottles
avoid storing breast milk in plastics containing BPA (recycle symbol #7)
useful if you use your expressed breast milk within a few days or use your frozen milk frequently
not practical for storing milk in the freezer for extended periods of time as they take up a lot of space
Pumping At Work Tip: I like buying reusable storage bags in bulk, at least a months worth at a time. That way you don't find yourself having to stay on top of your breast milk storage bag supply regularly.
Breast Milk Pumping Bag
You are going to be toting your breast milk, breast pump, and all of your breast milk accessories/parts to and from work every day.
It will be worthwhile to have a pumping-at-work bag dedicated to your breast pump, pump accessories/parts, cooler and ice pack.
Check out Tips For Pumping At Work: Get Organized for helpful tips on getting into a good routine so you don't forget your supplies at home.
Consider leaving your actual breast pump at work, and just bringing the parts home to give a good wash. Less to carry back and forth if you don't need the pump at home.
Your pumping-at-work bag should be big enough to hold
breast pump
breast pump accessories/parts (i.e. flange, collection bottle, charger, etc)
a small cooler and ice pack
extra pumping supplies (i.e. extra milk storage bags)
pump accessory cleaning supplies (i.e. small dish soap, hand sanitizer)
Cooler/Ice Pack
You will need a small cooler bag and a good ice pack (that will stay frozen all day) to hold your expressed milk during the day and on your commute home.
Your pumping at work cooler does not need to be fancy, but well insulated is better.
The Medela Breast Milk Cooler is not fancy by any means, but it keeps milk cold for 8+ hours and the ice pack that comes with it is big and stays frozen all day.
Cooler bag can totally be repurposed later as a
lunch box
to take snacks/meals for your babe when you go out to eat
a small cooler used when you travel
etc.
Pumping At Work Tip: If you are pumping at work with no access to a refrigerator or travel around in your car/keep your milk in your car, consider investing in a quality cooler bag/lunch box and ice pack to keep your milk cold throughout the day.
Pump Parts Cleaning Brush
You are not only going to be cleaning your pump parts daily, but also lots of bottles.
A bottle brush really is needed for cleaning your bottles and pump parts.
The Munchkin Bristle Bottle Brush is well loved. If you want a brush to keep in your pumping at work bag, the Boon Bottle Brush is great.
Pumping At Work Tip:
My pump part cleaning routine was...
rinse with hot water and a little soap after pumping
reuse parts for all pumping sessions during the day
throw in the dishwasher when I got home (dishwasher would sanitize with steam)
have an extra set so I didn't have to worry about running the dishwasher daily and so I could immediately put my supplies for the next day in my bag and not forget them the next day
Check out How To Clean Your Pump At Work for more tips.
Car Outlet Adaptor
If you haven't figured it out by now, I really love being productive while I do mom things, like pumping breast milk at work.
If you spend time driving around town between clients, or have more than a 15 minute commute to/from work, consider pumping while you drive.
Not to only i s pumping while driving super productive, it will cut down on the amount of times you need to actually step away from your work during the day. Or provide you with an extra pumping session to give you a little extra stimulation and milk.
Many pumps now come with built in rechargeable batteries, but if you have a Medela pump or a pump without a rechargeable battery, grab a car outlet adaptor so you can pump in the car.
Know Your Pumping Rights At Work
Fingers crossed that your employer and coworkers are supportive of your needs to pump at work.
Whether they are, or not, it is important to understand your rights for pumping at work.
Pumping at work and taking breaks for pumping at work will likely come up in conversation with your boss, coworkers, friends, or family at some point.
Earmark this blog to reference, it will be ultra helpful to have the facts/laws/details.
Check it out.
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act requires employers to
provide “reasonable break time for an employee to express breast milk for her nursing child for one year after the child’s birth each time such employee has need to express the milk”
provide “a place, other than a bathroom, that is shielded from view and free from intrusion from coworkers and the public, which may be used by an employee to express breast milk”
if the space is not dedicated to the nursing mother’s use, it must be available when needed in order to meet the statutory requirement
the space may be temporarily created or converted into a space for expressing milk (helpful resource: suggestions on where to pump at work)
State laws may provide greater protections to breastfeeding employees beyond Federal obligations (i.e. providing paid break time, break time for exempt employees, break time beyond 1 year after child's birth)
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is an amendment under the Fair Labor Standards Act, and took effect March 23, 2010
Who Is Not Covered?
Exempt employees (i.e. salaried, executive, administrative, professional, computer, outside sales) are not covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act (which mean they are not entitled to breaks to express milk under this federal law).
Although federal law does not covered exempt employees, State laws may.
Employers with fewer than 50 employees are not subject to the Federal requirement if it would impose an undue hardship.
Hardship is determined by difficulty or expense of compliance in comparison to the size, financial resources, nature, and structure of the employer's business.
What Is Not Covered?
Employers are not required under the Fair Labor Standards Act to pay nursing mothers for breaks taken for the purpose of expressing milk.
If an employer already provides paid breaks, a mother may use that break time to express milk and must be compensated in the same way that other employees are compensated for break time.
What is Covered?
reasonable break time to express breast milk, as often as needed to express milk
coverage for one year after the child’s birth
the employee must be completely relieved from duty or else the time must be paid as work time
a place, other than a bathroom, that is shielded from view and free from intrusion, which may be used to express breast milk (3)
How To Schedule Pumping At Work
Your pumping schedule will be one of the most important factors for successfully pumping at work and for maintaining your breast milk supply.
No one routine works for every breastfeeding mother. However, there are things that every working/pumping mother can consider when planning their pumping at work schedule.
How to schedule pumping at work...
Mimic your baby's feeding schedule - Although you likely won't be able to duplicate your baby's feeding schedule exactly, plan to pump as frequently as your baby' nurses. Beginning at around 3 months, babies typically eat about every 3 hours during the day.
Keep your work day in mind - Keep in mind your ultra busy times of the work day and avoid planning to pump during these times. You want to set yourself up for success, not failure!
Pump On Your Commute To/From Work - Pumping on your way to and from work can either add an extra pumping session in, or allow you to drop a pumping session or two from your work day
Productive Pumping - If it is hard for you to find time to pump during the day, make your pumping time productive. Plan some work/life duties that you know you can accomplish while pumping - eat lunch, make make phone calls, brainstorm, work on the computer
Pumping At Work Sample Schedules
Click on these schedules to zoom in, save to Pinterest, or download to share/refer back to later.
Tips For Pumping At Work
Yay, this is one of my favorite pumping at work topics!
If you know me, you know I love figuring out how to make challenging things possible, practical, implementable. Pumping breast milk at work is no exception.
Check out my favorite tips for pumping at work.
How To Pump As Frequently As You Intend
You have a plan, but can you stick to it?
Check out these 5 tips to help you pump as frequently as you intend.
Pump at the same time each day - you will be much more likely to stick to your pumping schedule and not miss a pumping session (i.e. I pump after my team meeting every morning and before my sales call every afternoon)
Block your calendar - If you have a shared work calendar, block your pumping times so they are less likely to be booked over
Be ultra-productive during your work time - Tell Kathy you can't chat for 20 minutes about her dogs anymore. Haha, just kidding. Kinda. When I was a pumping mama, I found myself to be more productive during the time leading up to and the time directly following a pumping session. I wanted to finish what I was doing before I stepped away to pump, and make up for my time away when I returned.
Plan your work tasks around your pumping schedule - If you have (at least some) control over your work schedule, plan your daily "tasks" accordingly so you can accomplish the necessary work before, during, and after your pumping sessions each day.
Nurses, teachers, waitresses, anyone who needs to be relieved from their work duties to take a pumping break - If you have little or no control over your work schedule, scheduling your pumping breaks at the same time each day will allow your colleagues/supervisors to anticipate when you will be gone each day and have a plan to cover your work if need be.
It also allows you to anticipate your pumping sessions and manage your work accordingly
dispense your meds before a certain time (breastfeeding registered nurse)
put your customers' food orders in (breastfeeding waitress/bartender)
complete a lesson and give your students an independent assignment (breastfeeding teacher)
How To Maintain Your Supply While Pumping At Work
Get ready.
This is perhaps the single most important piece of information for helping you maintain your breast milk supply.
Lengthening the time between feedings/pumping leads to weaning.
"But, Katie, I can only make it happen once a day."
Ok, but routinely stretching out the time between your pumping sessions will cause a decrease in your milk supply.
"I hate pumping at work. Can't I skip pumping at work if I nurse/pump often when I am at home and on the weekends?"
Routinely skipping pumping sessions will cause a decrease in your milk supply, even if you regularly nurse on the weekends.
Here's a little science lesson:
prolactin = the hormone that stimulates production of breastmilk
prolactin = dependent on nipple/breast stimulation
lengthening the time between feedings/pumping sessions leads to
lower baseline prolactin levels
prolactin levels go down in between nursing/pumping sessions and rise during nursing/pumping sessions
infrequent nursing/pumping leads to lower prolactin levels and less rise even with the same amount of nipple contact during the actual nursing/pumping session
Conclusion: it is better to have more frequent short pumping sessions than less frequent longer pumping sessions
How To Be Productive When Pumping
If you haven't figured it out yet, I love to do two things at one time.
Mom life, ya know? Plus it just makes me feel like a badass.
Being productive while pumping is no exception.
Here are some of my favorite ways to be productive while pumping at work.
Pump In The Car - My all time favorite, pump on the drive to/from work. Or if you drive while you work, pump then!
Many breast pumps come with a built-in rechargeable battery, but if not, purchase a car outlet adapter, a hands-free pumping bra (a must have anyway!), and bring a nursing cover if needed.
You know what is even cooler than pumping while you drive? Pumping while you drive, while you knock out a phone call. Boom. The most productive commute to work ever!
Work While Pumping - Whether you bring your computer with you, respond to emails on your phone, or review/make edits to materials you printed out, many women can continue working while pumping.
Personal Phone Calls - Call to schedule your dentist appointment. Call the cable company to have your bill corrected. Call your mom to catch up.
Work Phone Calls - Although you may block your calendar during your pumping sessions, you can still schedule an impromptu catch up with your boss or tackle a phone call that is low stress during your pumping time.
Lunch - Pump during your lunch break. This is a great time to pump as it won't interrupt your work day and if your coworkers depend on you being on the clock during other working hours, you won't have to make alternative arrangements.
Mental Break - Note, taking a break is also productive! There may be days where you just need a break. Or maybe you need a break at the same time every day. Either way, breaks are productive.
Nap While Pumping - Sleep deprived because your baby isn't sleeping well at night? Exhausted from too many meetings? Set a timer, kick up your legs, close your eyes, and take a snooze while you pump! There were so many times when this truly got me through the day.
Get Organized
There is nothing more panic-provoking than getting to work just to realize you forgot your breast pump (or storage bags, or pump parts, or collection bottles) at home!
Every pumping at work mama will do this at some point. But set yourself up for success so this doesn't happen more than once and so you have a backup when it does happen.
Tips To Stay Organized (so you don't forget pumping supplies, run out of supplies, leave the milk in the cooler all night long, etc)
Keep Your Bag Packed - Organize your pumping at work bag with all the necessary supplies for pumping (breast pump, milk storage bags, collection bottles, hands-free pumping bra, spare valve/membrane).
Avoid taking your pumping supplies out of your pumping at work bag so you don't accidentally leave them on the counter at home. The only thing you need to change out each day are your collection containers and breast shields for cleaning.
Routine - When you arrive home each day...
immediately put your expressed milk in the refrigerator (you don't want to realize the next morning that your breastmilk has been sitting out all night)
put your collection container/breast shield by the sink to be washed
and immediately replace it with a clean set for the next day
place your pumping at work bag by the front door with your keys so you don't accidentally leave it at home
repeat every day so it becomes part of your routine and you won't even have to try to remember to do it... it will just be done
on Sundays, prep your pumping at work bag for the week with enough storage bags for the week
Extras at Work - Keep an extra set of supplies (storage bags, collection container, breast shield) at work for those days that you do forget something at home or forget to replenish your pumping at work bag. Even if you use these only one time, they will be worth their weight in gold!
How to get your milk flowing while pumping at work
Another quick science lesson:
Prolactin = production of milk = not affected by stress
Oxytocin = release of milk = affected by short term stress (adrenaline), but not affected by chronic stress
Avoid stressful work/work calls/personal calls while pumping to express the most amount of milk during your pumping session
Some women find it challenging to achieve let down when they are not with their baby. There are a few things you can do to help with this dilemma.
Check our my favorite (scientifically proven) tips to help with letdown while pumping at work ...
Look at photos or watch videos of your baby - You have a conditioned response that triggers your brain to release your breastmilk. You can assist with activating that response by looking at photos of your baby, watching videos of your baby, or listening to your baby cry (among other things).
Touch your breast - Touching your breast stimulates production of the hormone that releases milk from your breast (oxytocin). You can do this by gently touching, stroking, or massaging your breast.
Stimulate your nipples - Nipple stimulation also leads to production of the hormone that releases breast milk (oxytocin). Many breast pumps try to mimic the nipple stimulation you get from your baby. If you are having trouble achieving a let down, however, you may want to try to stimulate your nipples before you start pumping. You can do this by gently touching or stretching your nipples
Relax - Stress and adrenaline can both temporarily affect the release of your breast milk. Try to choose a time of the day to pump that is not particularly stressful for you, and take a moment while you prepare to pump to relax.
How To Store Pumped Milk At Work
You bought your breast milk pumping supplies, you figured out a way to schedule pumping into your work day. Now what to do with the breast milk?
First things first, let's review the CDC's guidelines for safe storage of breast milk.
CDC Guidelines for Breast Milk Storage
Unless you are feeding your pumped milk to your baby within 4 hours, it needs to be kept cool
CDC says breast milk can be stored in an insulated cooler bag with frozen ice packs for up to 24 hours
CDC says breast milk can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days
Refrigerated breast milk keeps for longer (4 days) than breast milk kept cool with an ice pack (24 hours)
How To Store Pumped Milk At Work?
Refrigerator - Best Option
If you have a refrigerator available to you, this is the best option of breast milk storage
still bring a cooler with a frozen ice pack so you can safely transport your breast milk home
keep the breast milk in the cooler, just put it in the refrigerator so it stays colder than it would with just an ice pack
refrigerated breast milk lasts for up 4 days
Cooler Bag With Ice Pack - Next Best Option
If you do not have a refrigerator available to you at work, a cooler bag with a good quality ice pack (that stays frozen throughout the day) will also work
expressed breast milk last for 24 hours in a cooler with an ice pack
Milk Storage Options
breast milk storage bags (check out Breast Milk Storage Bags for tips)
clean food-grade containers with tight fitting lids
avoid storing breast milk in plastics containing BPA (recycle symbol #7)
label your pumped milk storage bag with name/date/ounces
Check out Storage and Preparation of Breastmilk from the CDC
How To Clean Your Breast Pump At Work
The not-great-part of transitioning from nursing your baby all day to pumping and feeding with bottles? Having to clean pumping parts and bottles.
CDC Recommendations on Cleaning Pump Parts
CDC recommends that you wash disassembled breast pump and feeding parts in a clean basin with soap and water
do not wash directly in the sink because the germs in the sink could contaminate items
rinse thoroughly under running water
air-dry items on a clean dishtowel or paper towel
For extra germ removal, CDC recommends you sanitize feeding items (like bottles/nipples) daily using one of these methods:
clean in the dishwasher using hot water and heated drying cycle (or sanitize setting)
boil in water for 5 minutes (after cleaning)
steam in a microwave or plug-in steam system (after cleaning)
How To Clean Pump Parts At Work
rinse pump parts in the sink with dish soap and hot water after each use
buy extra pump parts and bottles (at least 2 days worth)
wash bottles/pump parts with bottle brush when returning home from work
put bottles/pump parts in the dishwasher when you get home from work
have a clean set of pump parts and bottles waiting for you for the next day
Frequently Asked Questions
How frequently should I pump when I go back to work?
The easy answer is, mimic your baby's feeding schedule.
Most babies 12 weeks and older eat about every 3 hours during the day. So, pumping about every 3 hours during the work day is a good starting point.
Although you may not be able to duplicate your baby's exact feeding schedule, plan to pump as frequently as your baby' nurses.
And if you are short on time, a quick pump is better than waiting longer to pump. Check out the science behind this tip!)
For more tips, check out
How should I store breast milk at work?
The best place to store pumped breast milk is in a refrigerator.
If you do not have access to a refrigerator, a cooler with a frozen ice pack will also work.
Refrigerator - Best Option
If you have a refrigerator available to you at work, this is the best option for breast milk storage
still, bring a cooler with a frozen ice pack so you can safely transport your expressed milk home
keep the breast milk in the cooler, just put it in the refrigerator so it stays colder than it would with just an ice pack
Cooler With Ice Pack - Next Best Option
If you do not have a refrigerator available to you at work, a cooler with a good quality ice pack (that stays frozen throughout the day) will also work
Check out How To Store Pumped Milk At Work for more tips.
What is a reasonable break time for a nursing mom?
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act requires employers to provide “reasonable break time for an employee to express breast milk."
So, WTF is a reasonable break time?
There is no one sized fits all answer because it depends on the mom. Some women are able to express enough milk with 10 minutes of pumping while others need a full 30 minutes.
What you expect from your employer will likely depend on your working environment.
A few thoughts...
Avoid "milking" (ha, get it!?) your pumping breaks. Don't pump more frequently than you actually need, or for longer than you actually need. This will help both your employer and your coworkers trust that you are using your pumping sessions honestly and be much more happy to help cover you while you are away.
If you can you pump while you work, and it is not a stressor to you, consider doing so, at least some of the time
If you can pump while you work, you may buy yourself a bit more pumping time - especially if you are a mama who needs a fully 30 minutes to express your milk
If you are not able to work while you pump, and not getting paid, you will likely want to get in and out as fast as possible - it is better to pump for shorter periods of time more frequently rather than less frequently for longer periods of time!
Is pumping at work considered a break?
Yes, pumping at work is considered a break.
The Fair Labor Standards Act states that...
Employers are not required to compensate nursing mothers for breaks taken for the purpose of expressing milk.
If an employer already provides compensated breaks, a mother may use that break time to express milk and must be compensated in the same way that other employees are compensated for break time.
Check out Know Your Pumping Rights At Work for more details.
How do I clean my pump parts at work?
The not great part about pumping at work. Cleaning bottles and pump parts.
My favorite tips for cleaning pump parts at work...
rinse pump parts in the sink with dish soap and hot water after each use
buy extra pump parts and bottles (at least 2 days worth)
wash bottles/pump parts with bottle brush when returning home from work
put bottles/pump parts in the dishwasher when you get home from work to sanitize
have a clean set of pump parts and bottles waiting for you for the next day
Check out How To Clean Pump Parts At Work for more tips including CDC cleaning/sanitizing recommendations.
Being a working and breastfeeding mama is no small feat.
Just as it took some time to find your rhythm when you first became a mom, it will take some time to figure out what works and what doesn't work for pumping while at work.
And although the many bags of breastmilk that you pump will certainly provide you with a huge sense of accomplishment, it will be the moments when you and your baby are able to snuggle and nurse together that makes the effort of pumping at work totally worth it.
References
1 Payne JL, Maguire J. Pathophysiological mechanisms implicated in postpartum depression. Front Neuroendocrinol. 2019;52:165-180. doi:10.1016/j.yfrne.2018.12.001
2 CDC Storage and Preparation of Breast Milk https://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/pdf/preparation-of-breast-milk_H.pdf
3 Department of Labor - FAQ Break Time For Nursing Mothers
4 Baby Gear Lab - Best Breast Pumps of 2021
https://www.babygearlab.com/topics/nursing-feeding/best-breast-pump
Katie Ramirez, RN, BSN, CLC
Born Happy, Owner and Care Consultant
Katie Ramirez is a Registered Nurse and Certified Lactation Counselor. She has spent more than a decade serving patients at major university hospitals such as Vanderbilt University and Penn State University Medical Centers. Katie now spends her time supporting and empowering parents of babies, toddlers, and preschoolers as Sleep Coach for Born Happy.
Katie is the proud mother of two beautiful children, Roberto and Veronica. She has a passion for health, wellness, and happy children, and believes that, with the necessary knowledge and support, all parents can live happy.
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