Help! Frustrated with pumping coworker!

[FrustratedCoworker]

I am a father of three grown children who were all breastfed and I know the importance of it. I have the greatest appreciation for women who choose to breastfed and, when working, pump as needed. However, I am so frustrated with a pumping coworker I need some advice.

The woman and I work closely together in the same office and manage a major project together. For two years now we have had to schedule meetings, tasks and everything else around her pump schedule. When she pumps I leave the office and am stuck trying to work in a break room. Fourty-five minutes four times a day five days a week for two years has gotten very frustrating!

I've hinted at the interruption pumping makes in our day and have asked how much longer she is going to breastfeed. She says her husband wants her to breastfeed until their 2 year old doesn't want it any more. I really need help in trying to balance her desire to pump (Personally, I think the child is already way too old) and my desire to have a smooth and productive work day.

[StillSingingMom]

Wow. I don't know quite what to say here; I have so many reactions.

It is so great that you have been supportive of the needs of a nursing mom. That is so fabulous.

I hate pumping, myself, so I quit pumping as soon as I can. But I must say that I am supportive of mommies feeding their kids milk as long as they want to. I personally am nursing a three year old. You may not realize how many benefits to the older nursling there are.

OTOH, I could never stand forty five minutes of pumping four times a day. That would make me crazy. And I have to wonder, is there somewhere else your coworker could pump? It's quite reasonable for you to want to work in your office all day. After all, that totals what, three hours of the work day you can't work in your office? Not reasonable.

Perhaps you could help identify a pumping room for your coworker and other nursing mothers in your company? That would put you on the side of angels, and relieve of the burden of having to be involved in deciding what someone else's child needs or doesn't need.

Don't hint at what you want; have a reasonable discussion between working adults. Don't get involved in your opinions about whether her child needs milk or not, which is none of your business; just look for a way for you to use your office as needed during the workday. The real issue is that you need your office, not that her child is too old for breastmilk, which isn't true- and for all you know, her child may have special needs that breastmilk meets. Again, none of your business.

Since your coworker is so dedicated to pumping, I'm sure she would appreciate your support for developing a pumping room with a comfortable chair or two and some outlets for the pump. A table. Bonus? A small refrigerator. Wi fi or whatever network access your coworkers might need to carry on working one-handed. You could improve productivity for everyone involved.

[crystal555rose]

Great suggestions by StillSingingMom. As a pumping working mom I did not last this long. This woman has some serious committment!!

If you frame it in the context of solutions rather than demands I think you can get what you want. I wish you the best of luck and would be really interested in hearing the outcome!