to not want to express milk in a room used for changing cathetas

[Fatas]

There alternative, suitable rooms available at my workplace. Was recently given a room to express, it is a large room, is secure and has a lockable door. There is a desk to sit at etc.

The room is used amongst other things for toileting; changing cathetas was mentioned, I am assuming it could be used for colostomy bags- but not sure on this one.

I really don't feel comfortable expressing for my little one in there, in fact I really feel it is inappropriate.

When I expressed concerns was told that the room was very clean and it was cleaned regularly.

If that room is used for clinical procedures including catheter changes and is cleaned regularly, it is probably a lot more hygienic than some of the other spaces in the building. Personally I wouldn't have a problem with it.

From your employers point of view they have provided a reasonable space for you but for whatever reason you choose to be offended about it.

I have not heard of catheters or stoma bags being changed in a place without a sink and/or toilet. Also, even if there are being changed there, it’s far cleaner than using a toilet. Maybe they don’t want your body fluids when they have openings directly in their bodies....? I mean, I doubt anyone would think like this because it’s unpleasant.

STD
I'm sniggering at the thought of autoclaving one's boobs in the quest for optimal cleanliness!

Or perhaps a bra which mists dettol....?

Possibly missing the point slightly -but do you absolutely have to have a room? I know it is preferable - used to use the very comfy prayer room at my work but if it was occupied (usually by someone having a nap) or I was too busy to take a break I used to just express at my desk. I just had a poncho and a pumping bra for my double pump so was handsfree and nothing was visible. While that may not be your preferred solution - and I agree you should have a suitable room when possible - would knowing you could do that help at all in terms of any anxiety about room availability?

Pengggwn

Sorry to be dim but what do you mean by hairy handed? 🙈

@Fatas I am sorry that someone used a toilet to express and was not aware of the employment rights that exist to protect her.

If that's aimed at me, I was aware and had read the guidelines, but my office had nowhere except the toilet that was private. We were two rooms and a toilet, with 4 or 5 people upstairs, 3 or 4 in the downstairs office. We did arrange that I could use the neighbouring unit if it wasn't in use, but had no idea of when it was free which nearly lead to a few embarrassing situations plus it was bloody freezing in there.

You sound ridiculous.

And I guarantee you that since there's no toilet in there, nothing will be happening with colostomy bags

You have a large room with a lockable door, which is regularly cleaned.

I wouldnt want to use it either. Totally reasonable to request a different space if ones available.

Fwiw I expressed on a hospital ward for six months when I came back from mat leave. Was a massive palaver getting it sorted but actually worked really easily in the end. We all got used to it, I kept it low key. Tried out lots of rooms in the end but was flexible and just slotted in where I could. Mostly used our handover room in the end which wasnt lockable or private but fine.

Trouble is not many women choose the express at work so no one really knows much about the set up and suggest all sorts of stuff.

Hey, I've got an idea OP. If it's that much of a problem, just start using formula!

Avoids all the cathetas () that does!!

God you sound a barrel of laughs to work with. Boring everyone about your rights and demands. You disagree with everyone on here and still think you are right get over yourself.

Not sure what the OP does specifically but I find it hard to understand why she can't spell 'catheters' working in a medical setting.
You can bet your bottom dollar that the room you're turning down is far more sterile than your chairs and doorknobs at home

I don't think there is any reason for a nasty comment like that, @CheekyRedhead. The OP is worried about something, and needs reassurance and advice, not insults.

SDT I'm afraid I don't think OP sounds vulnerable and worried, but entitled and demanding. There's a perfectly serviceable room available which meets the guidelines she quotes but she prefers another one.

I think I may be (one of) the people she refers to who she believes wasn't 'aware of my rights' : I had a private space with lockable door to express (albeit in a toilet cubicle). As health-care professionals have said above (and anyone with common sense knows), germs don't 'jump' around from one surface to another. Given that there was literally nowhere else in the school in which I worked (and due to the nature of my teaching work, times were limited for expressing anyway) I was glad to be able to express at all because I was determined to do so. My employers were more than supportive where they could be - they just couldn't provide any alternative private space.

I find pregnant/breastfeeding women who bang on about their rights to be very tiresome indeed. If you choose to have a baby and choose to return to work and choose to breastfeed, then accept that there may be occasional challenges with this. I would be very surprised if this is not OP's first child (and we could all be PFB at times about our first child! admit it ladies!).

I also find people who are not understanding of genuine needs of pregnant/breastfeeding people to be extremely tiresome, but think you catch more flies with honey, so think it is counterproductive to be militant about the 'letter of the guidelines law'.

Well - I still think the nasty comment was a bit below the belt, but we can agree to differ on that.

I have done my best, elsewhere on the thread, to explain to the OP why the space she has been allocated isn't going to be unhygienic or unsuitable.

Having worked in a hospital for over 20yrs, I can assure you that those rooms are probably cleaner than toilets, or even some offices. They have to be kept clean because of the risk of cross infection. However, why are some people are being unreasonably awkward about it, regarding the other room? Are they expected to move out or leave the other space, if you use it?

That's grim, even if it's spotless. Don't they know that you may not be able to express if you feel uncomfortable?

You would feed your baby in a shops parent and baby room, where (shock horror) pooey nappies have been changed and toddler have been running round touching all the surfaces, possibly with germs all over them. This is absolutely no different. Or do you insist the parent room is sanitised between visits?

Surely you fed your child and possibly expressed in the maternity ward?

Guess what - catheters are changed on hospital wards!!!

Did you refuse to feed or express on the maternity ward?

I wouldn't feed my baby in a shop's parent and baby room unless there wasn't an available seat where I was.

Playing devils advocate breast milk is clinical waste. You would need an infection control assessment before expressing your nina clinical area

It's coming over that you're really mostly pissed off about not having the room you liked any more.

Have you requested a different room, since there are 'loads of other ones' and you don't like the new one?

Clearly the reason for you not using the one you liked isn't good enough for you, what was it?