To use a breast pump in the office kitchen?

[AHedgehogCanNeverBeBuggered]

This would NOT be my first choice, but I'm not sure what else to do. I'm currently on mat leave with DS (6m) but need to attend a specialist update soon. DS is EBF so l need to express a minimum of twice during the all-day session to avoid discomfort and leakage. I asked the course organisers for a room to express in, but was told that meeting rooms are at a premium in that particular location and there isn't one available.

I really do need to attend this course but equally I can't go all day without expressing and the NHS website states that the toilet isn't a suitable place (plus the pump needs to be plugged in). I'd of course do it under a jumper so nothing would be visible, just the noise would be heard.

WIBU to do this, and if so can any wise MNetters think of an alternative?

Literally used to do this. There were two of us breastfeeding at the same time, we just stuck a DND notice on the door.
Colleagues were almost all women and very understanding.

It only lasted a few weeks then baby moved on to formula and solids.

Make sure your bottle is clearly labelled in the fridge or some weirdo might put it in their coffee.

Sorry, in the kitchen...
No such thing as a prayer room where I worked.

But that’s my point, I’m arguing that one is not more important than the other.

Just because there are more prayer rooms doesn’t mean praying is more important than breastfeeding - people have the right to do both.

My place of work said we could use the first aid room UNLESS someone was already in it, or someone came along needing it.

I did not regard this as them making provision for BF Mums and told them as much. They have a room now (and m son is 8 and I no longer work there).

I was fortunate enough to have my own office when I was expressing for DS1, though even then with a notice on the door and my immediate colleagues knowing what I was doing, there would still be people rattling the door. Doesn't help with letdown.

I had no choice but to express in the work kitchen (I work in a shop, no other spare rooms.) I used to do it during tea break whilst chatting to everyone (under my jumper!) no one batted an eyelid. People shouldn't be so squeamish about it. But yes at the same time if there are spare rooms and they're just being tight you need to sort that out.

Yes but squeamishness comes at the very bottom of the list of entitlement in this situation.

YWBVU to do that. Very unfair on the others attending. The noise would be a distraction.

If there isn't a free meeting room I think the prayer room is acceptable. When you say lockable is it designed for just one person at a time? In which case I would lock it and consider leaving a note on the door stating room will be free at x time (allowing the 10/15/whatever minutes) you need. Just incase someone has taken their break planning to pray and doesn't waste it standing outside but know to cone back later.

If it is a larger room designed for more people it might be more awkward, particularly if there is no screen (some prayer rooms have screens to seperate). As you may get groups coming in who would be just as surprised as another poster said they would be with you expressing in kitchen.

Pengggwyn. Ffs. I’m referring to this part of your comment:

“I wouldn't want to head into a kitchen to make a cup of coffee and see someone pumping from their breasts.”

Your problem. You feeling squeamish about something someone has to do. If she has no other choice (which of course is not good enough) then your issues about not wanting to see it are not the most important issues at play.

To be clear, nobody would see anything - I've got a massive baggy jumper I'd express under so all people would see would be a tube going up under my jumper and hear the weird 'mooing' sound a PP mentioned. I've emailed but not heard back.

I am lucky in that I have a private office. I emailed the boss/HR with a sanitised version of what I would be doing and to avoid embarrassment don't open the door when it says engaged. I also took an icebag with lots of ice packs and used the milk same day.

I am moving to another job soon and with another baby I would need a separate room. Contact HR as they should be able to accommodate you and you should not be forced into the loo

Does the conference centre have a first aid room? That's what our work used. Had a bed & fridge in it to store the milk.

Oh I just did in the toilets

Don’t make a mountain out of a molehill

Agree with everyone above, but wanted to share my story of expressing at work in the hope it gives someone a laugh.

Because of my long commute I was freezing my milk immediately after expressing then taking home in a cooler bag and letting it finish defrosting over night for the next days use while I repeated the cycle.

Despite using Avent tubs to store my milk, - which I assumed were obviously not for general consumption, someone kept stealing tubs of milk and the next day I'd find an empty tub in the dishwasher.

After a week of this I sent an email out to everyone, requesting who ever was doing this to stop, one colleague in particular responded very badly and hurled abuse about how disgusting it was to store excretions in a communal space. I was mortified and thankfully it coincided with DS weaning himself so stopped doing it.

Found out a couple of months later, that complainer has actually been the milk thief and had thought he was stealing someones desert.

MTB that's disgusting on many levels, might teach the theif not to touch other people's things.

I'm fairly sure our office the First Aid room was rebranded as a multi purpose private room, so 1st Aid, prayer and expressing.

It's totally wrong to ask anybody to express in a communal area like a kitchen.

Alittleconcerned. Just because you are happy to sit on a toilet pumping, doesn't mean everyone has to be.

I'd opt for the prayer room personally. I'm also in the middle east, I've seen people praying in public and noisy areas, my co workers often pray in their classrooms with the doors open and the noise of foot traffic going by. Of course you shouldn't be put in this position but if you have to use the room and explain why, it will be fine.

Definitely push for a private room.If you are under stress and feel exposed the milk might not let down well and it could affect your supply. they have to provide you with a secure safe private space.