Do you think a woman should be allowed to pump breast milk at work? Should her employer be required to provide a private, sanitary place in which to do so?

A place to pump in the workplace is actually required in my state.

She can do it at my desk anytime

I'm sorry, I say no.
I've always thought that be something better done at home where a woman would be more comfortable and not at work where anyone could just walk in. And what if your employer is a perv? He could find a way to watch... icky.

If she wants to she can use the restroom, but they shouldn't have to provide a special place for her.

So... do you prepare your food in the restroom?

Actually, I used to have my lunch in the restroom....we had a sitting room in there and a few of us would have lunch in there. No big deal. Most restrooms in department stores have that same kind of a setup.

No worries

I'm a woman and no I don't think so.

It's called the ladies restroom.

So then it's ok for you to eat food prepared in the bathroom too then? Cause that's essentially the same thing.

Not really, unless it's a totally nasty bathroom. What if you had a job where you were on the road?

If I were on the road a lot I don't know if I would pump at all. Because its extremely difficult to maneuver in a car. And I would never feed or prepare my child's food in the bathroom.

Most places have a quiet room somewhere. I don't think every business should be forced to make a separate room for that which will get used very little. Some common sense should be used.

The law only states that women should have a place that is NOT the bathroom to pump. I personally did it one of our larger supply closets. There was chairs and outlets. I was fine and comfortable in there and the door locked (which I think is the law as well). But women should not be subjected to the bathroom to pump, it really is disgusting, even if it's cleaned regularly. I also used my two 15 minute beaks andy hour lunch to do so.

I did not know you needed an electric outlet.

You do if you use the more effective electric pumps. The hand pumps are not nearly as effective and are not very suitable for people that have to pump frequently. It's also quicker to pump with an electric pump.

She needs to provide her OWN place out of the public eye and away from fellow employees to do this, OR, do it before she goes to work. I know it can be done, because I have.

What about us overproducers that NEED to pump more than just before or after work? And I'm sorry, I'm not going to prepare my child's food in the bathroom. That's disgusting. And I don't want other people to see it while I'm pumping in the car. So now where?

It's actually the law in many states. And science has stated that if it is at all possible to feed an infant breastmilk it is better for them. Not to mention the fact that breastfeeding (including pumping) can reduce the risk of breast cancer in women. As well as women who breastfeed (including pumping) have infants who are less likely to be sick, thus allowing women to stay at work and not have to take off extra days.

And to be honest I wouldn't want to eat anything that hung out in the bathroom. Would you? So why should we force infants who still don't have a decent immune system yet to do so. ;-/

ONLY IF A GUY IS PROVIDED A SANITARY PLACE TO HAVE SEX OR JERK OFF!!!!!!!!!!!

Typical male response. The two aren't even remotely the same thing. Way to creat a hyperbole that is not even relavent.

BS

Just because you think it's BS doesn't make it true. Breastfeeding (or in this case pumping to feed) a child is NOT the same thing as sex and if you think so then... Well I can't decide if you are a pervert or puritanical. Either way it's NOT even in the same realm.

If you provide a special area for one SEX, by LAW, you have to provide a special area for the other OR BE GUILTY OF DISCRIMINATION!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Shaking my head. Well when men can breastfeed (which is what the room would be for NOT for "jerking off") then guys can have one too. :-/

NO, it's a workplace not a friggin dairy barn!

You obviously have never lactated or breastfed otherwise your tune would be so very different.

Wrong button..but anyway, I suppose if she did it on her break it would be ok..If you have never breast fed you cannot understand how it feels to not be able to get rid of some of the milk. It hurts!

Why couldn't they pump the milk at home before she went to work (If there is a really obvious answer here, please forgive me)

Because an infant typically eats every 1-3 hours and the supply of breast milk dimishes when the breast isn't frequently (at least every 3 hours) emptied of milk. not only that but it freaking hurts when a breastfeeding woman has to go hours without emptying the breast and there is the high likelihood of her leaking all over (even with breast pads).

Fair enough. I stand corrected.

I'll probably get all the women on my big flabby blindingly pale white as* for this question too. O.o I think if one chooses to get pregnant, have a child, and raise it, they should be willing to deal with certain things. One can set aside time to pump their breast milk without making their employers or their fellow employees have to deal with it. My mom did it on her own time while holding a job, no other woman should be entitled for paid time at their job if they aren't working. *runs and hides now*

Grrr you can run but you can't hide!! You will have to face everyone sometime!!
JK!!

Most women do if they have adequate break times. I was fortunate. I would go to work early, then pump before work, during mornings break, during lunch, then afternoon break and then feed after I got home. That would be every 2-3 hours. The problem isn't so much time to do, but a place to do it. A bathroom is disgusting but many women have no choice but to pump in their cars where their is no privacy (and it's very awkward. I know cause I've done it before) or in the bathroom where people eliminate their waste. Even though it's state law in many states for employers to provide a room, that isn't the bathroom, for women to pump. But if a woman needs to empty here breast of milk more frequently, she should be allowed. I wouldnt want to see a woman leaking because her breasts are full of milk. Not to mention the pain and discomfort it can bring.

I won't even begin to pretend that I know what a woman goes through during that period, but knowing women, including my mother, who got through the situation just fine, it seems discriminatory to mandate that they be allowed and their employer provide a place. I apologize if I come off as a jerk, I'm not trying to but I just don't think it's the responsibility of anyone but the individual to do what is needed to provide for their child.

So do you expect women to pump in the bathroom then? Where the milk can be contaminated by human waste? Why do you think it's acceptible for babies to consume there nourishment that can be contaminated by human waste (or subject a woman to possible onlookers if she does it in the car, not to mention that it's really confining and stressful) when you wouldn't want that for yourself or your kids (if you have any). He benefits to provide a place far outweigh your (and every other male and puritanical woman) notion that it's discriminatory. Look at my original post for just a few examples of the benefits. Not only to the woman's health, but the child's as well. Not to mention the fact that there would be less time off in the case of the mother AND possibly lower insurance premiums due to a lesser chance of illnesses.

And just because your mother did it a certian way doesn't mean it's right. During your mothers time I'm sure she was pressed to feed formula, regardless of whether she was capable of breastfeeding or not.

It should be voluntary for the employer