Pumping Responses - for GTWN website.xlsx

	A	B	C	D	E
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2	When?	Where did you have to pump?	Logistical Issues	Medical issues from having lack of access to proper pumping?	Anything else?

3	The 2021-2022 school year	In my classroom during specials and lunch	Although my clasroom door was locked and there was a large sign on the door saying "please do not disturb", I still had custodians walk in to wash their hands, people knocking at door, kids coming in for their things because they were getting picked up early, etc...	I had to stop pumping before my daughter was ready to stop nursing because I gave up pumping early since it was so stressful and taking up too much time during my planning time.
4	2015-2016 & 2018-2019	a storage closet in main office	There were was only one room for entire building, NO SINK, people knocking on the door to retrieve items from room (even had someone come in and asked if I could cover up- I then decided to pump in my room because it was taking a toll on supply). Storage for milk I was offered the community refrigerator in the copy room/facility room.	Production suffered at times.	I really hope that something will be done about this for future people.
5	13 years ago! :)	I was in my room (in my closet) when I had planning time. Also, was given access to the Pyschologist's office while they were at another building.	Worrying about someone walking in and trying to eat lunch at the same time was a real struggle. Also, the Psychologist office I used some of the time did not have blinds that easily closed and I had to position myself in a way that someone couldn't see through the blinds. Also, pumping in my closet was really weird and I had to utilize a power strip since it wasn't near an outlet. My schedule as an elementary teacher didn't always align with when I had planned to pump so adjusting my pumping schedule to my teaching schedule was not ideal. Also, making sure I always had a chilled place to store my milk and an accessible sink to clean up was tricky.	I can definitely say that the ability to continue to express as much milk as I had on maternity leave was impacted. I'm sure that was also as a result of the stress of returning to work.	I am so happy to see that you are addressing this topic! Also, did you know that our new TSSC building on Latta rd has a 'Mother's Room'?!? Isn't that awesome!? Though not many employees in the building are needing that space currently it is certainly nice to have for breastfeeding mothers when we will start hosting large meetings in the new meeting rooms here!
6	2012-2014	My room was either being used during my planning time and if my room was available, there is no way to have privacy. I would pump in the kiln room which was across the hall of my classroom. I would pump all around dust and dirt, but would have zero interruptions or worry that someone would come in. The nurses office was an option, but it was so far away from my classroom, that rushing down there during my planning time to pump, use the bathroom and either plan or eat was just not feasible. When I transferred buildings to xxx, I pumped in my classroom during planning time. I was able to cover the window and pump peacefully. Twice, at the end of the day, the custodial staff didn't notice the giant "do not disturb" sign and walked in on my pumping as I was yelling at them not to. Those two instances were ridiculous and completely deterred me to pump before I came home from work.	lol...the stress of pumping during my planning time or lunch took away time I could be helping students. It was very awkward for me to explain to a kid (or a parent) as to why I wasn't available even though I was in my room. I'm not too quick on my feet when it comes to lying to someone. I don't think I should have to explain myself in regards to that (now that I've been in the profession long enough), but the guilt alone was stressful.	no	thank you for your interest in my pumping stories! :)
7	2012-13	Nurse had a room that was not in use at the time I needed it.	I did not have any, but I did have a co-teacher who had to miss most of one of our classes almost every day. It was also a particularly challenging class. Obviously, she needed this pump time, but she was never given any coverage. That would have been workable. It was really hard with that class.	No
8	2013	I was lucky enough to use my office	non instructional role as school counselor - had the benefit of being able to make it work	no	Many times, I have given other staff use of my office to pump when I was in other buildings
9	2012	my office	Even if my office was locked, blinds drawn, and a sign on the door, someone would still barge in using a key. Also struggled with needing a sink and refrigerator, etc.	no	no
10	2005 and 2006	The nurses office was offered as there was a small room used for medical exams and a refrigerator. Wasn't an issue until one day when the nurse forgot I was in there and walked in with a student behind her. Luckily the student was far enough away that she closed the door before they saw me. After that, I would use my classroom with the blinds closed and a sign on the door that I used to let me collegues know not to walk in. There was often a 'close call' as collegues forgot about the sign and would unlock the room. I would have to scream from my location not to open the door.
11	2021-2022	Breakout classroom or my own classroom during lunch	Always feeling rushed or feeling bad for needing to, students asking where I'm going	No	I actually didn't even tell my admin or secretary that I'm pumping b/c I didn't feel the need to and felt weird telling them. My schedule tends to workout with times to pump (during my lunch at 10am and then again during a class, but I have a TA in there to cover). My position as a self contained teacher benefits me because I have a TA and also have a second classroom to use for pumping.
12	2022 (current)	In my classroom/other teacher's classrooms	It was (and still sometimes is) difficult to find times & places to pump. This caused a lot of anxiety when I was preparing to return to work after my maternity leave. My lunch time and planning times are not consistent, but I needed to be pumping at a consistent time daily. I never know if I will definitely have coverage or not which has also caused a lot of anxiety. I also feel very rushed when I am pumping - I was never told the technical amount of time I'm supposed to get to pump. But, I have to pump twice a day right now and although it only takes 12-15 minutes for me to pump, it also takes time to get my pump set up, find a private location, lock doors and cover windows, then bag my milk and clean my pump parts, unlock door, uncover windows, and get to whatever classroom I'm supposed to be in.	Thankfully, no.	The expectations for/around pumping were not communicated to me clearly (or really at all). My rights as a pumping mom were also not communicated to me at any point by anyone. I was able to talk to other new moms in my building and asked them what they did/were doing. However, it would have been incredibly helpful for admin or GTA to provide clear directions about my options/expectations/rights for pumping. For example, the options of locations where I could pump, when/how often I'm allowed to pump for, how I get sub coverage for pumping, etc... would have been incredibly helpful. Also right now, I'm spending most of my planning and lunch periods pumping which makes it very difficult to actually get to eat my lunch or do my planning.
13	2021-2022 school year	Nurses office or my classroom or my car	Finding coverage, finding a private place to pump	No	I did not feel calm pumping in a classroom because someone could come in at anytime and as a special education teacher my students were often in crisis and needed to come to my room to take a break. Thankfully, the nurse was supportive and allowed me to pump in her closet, however sometimes that didn't work out either if she had students coming in for heading or vision testing. They also used that room for the COVID testing for staff. Overall it was complicated and an added stress.
14	on and off between 2007 - 2014	a back room in the nurse's office	Because the back room was not private, I could not leave my pump set up. Anyone who knows what it is to pump knows what a pain it is to set up and take down a pump. That alone takes at least 10 minutes. I would end up running from my classroom to be able to pump during my lunch block.	Yes, on days when my schedule didn't allow me to pump for hours, I would become so engorged that I would leak. This engorgement lead to mastitis more than once.	The back room contained a bathroom that was used by teachers. I would have to pump in that room smelling the bathroom odors that lingered. It was disgusting.
15	2019 & 2021	Various rooms within the building. Sometimes in my classroom while my co-teacher was at the same time (planning).	I had to pump during my lunch period, so that gave me limited time to eat/plan for the next class.	No.
16	2010-2011	Find my own space - many classrooms without doors (mine was without doors); often went to my car	I could not "let down" comfortably in my car or in a room that others outside could hear the pump. I struggled to retrieve enough milk for the baby after returning to work. My body transitioned to when I was available to pump to fill with milk and then transitioned to only filling when I was home with the baby because I could not comfortably and productively pump from school.	I ended up having to give it up and nurse only when I was home - in the afternoon and evening. He's my only child that I had to do this with and the only one with chronic allergies and illnesses. I do not have any evidence that this is from lack of breast milk, but it was something I was trying to avoid by breastfeeding.	Breastfeeding my children was important to me. My career choice gives me school breaks and summers with my kids, but it put me back to work with them so young and my particular school location for my last child made it so I could not properly provide breast milk for him. He was supplemented with formula so much younger than I would have liked.
17	2016-2017 and 2020-2021	I had an option to go to the nurses office but it was very inconvenient and where all of the sick kids go so I decided to pump in my room and my office	I had to pump in the car to and from school, it took up my entire lunch and much of my planning time. I did not have enough time to fully pump. There were times that I went too long between pumping because of teaching, meetings, etc. I probably could have gotten coverage but I didn't ask for it.	Yes, my supply dried up too fast and I had to supplement with formula. She would not take formula at first so at daycare refused to drink (I almost had to take a medical leave because she was not getting the nutrition she needed) Once she started taking formula she had severe constipation and blockages which led to more doctors appointments and stress.	There NEEDS to be changes when working and nursing (especially when babies are under one all of their nutrition comes from breastmilk!)
18	2020	I would go to a bathroom stall	1. Finding the time. With pumping, it needs to be done in regular intervals, so I would look through my schedule and hope that I had time every 1.5-2 hours to pump (when subbing, sometimes my schedule would be completely full). 2. Finding a place. I would go to a bathroom stall to pump, which could be difficult because there is certain amount of equipment/space needed to pump (pump/bags/cooler). Without having a place to set my things, it would be a juggle to do what needed to be done efficiently. 3. Sanitation. As I only found a place to pump in the bathrooms, it was not always clean. 4. Privacy. Pumping takes time, and if it was a single-person bathroom, I would be occupying it when others might have needed to use it.	No	Pumping can be a private issue, and I did not feel comfortable requesting a place to pump or an adjusted schedule as a substitute teacher. If there was a place that was designated for pumping, I would definitely have used it!
19	2018-19, 2021	nurse's office back room.	my coverage was during teaching time if a TA was available just once a day, and half hour start to finish. By the time the person came, and everything was set up in the nurses's office and door was closed with other people out of the space provided I never had enough time to pump. Two mothers could not pump at the same time in our building.	long story short- supply dwindled and I had to stop pumping all together. There was never enough time, coverage, or enough space in school to pump comfortably. Behind a door in the nurse's office, with a partition between beds was not enough for me. By the time let down happened, and pumping started it was time to clean up- Also had fire alarm ring in the middle before.	Pumping in school was NOT supported. Time was arranged one time a day with a TA IF They were available and it was minimal. it was not sustainable, and supplying enough to feed the baby!!!.
20	2018-2019 and Sept - December 2021	I had an office. I shared it with a male coworker. I would put a "privacy" sign outside my door so my officemate knew i was pumping and not to come in.	It was hard to relax while pumping when I was often still working (doing things on the computer, making phone calls etc...) while pumping. Sometimes there would be knocks on the door etc.. and my time would be unintentionally interruputed.	No	I was told our lactation room was the bathroom in the nurses office. Because I had an office I never need it or asked if that was the room. However, knowing the state laws, a lactation room cannot have a toilet in the room and the nurses office bathroom did. I am unsure if there is a set lactation room in our building. I am happy to help get more support for teachers returning from maternity leave. Working moms/returning from maternity leave is a cause I feel strongly about!
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