Pumping at Work as a Waitress

Going back to work is stressful enough after having baby, but adding the thought of having to pump while you are there is even more worrisome. Especially if you work in a busy restaurant.

I work at a high volume breakfast/brunch place. Average table times are around 35 minutes and if you are a waitress then you can relate, I like to flip them tables fast. The service industry is quite different than the average 9-5 job. Our breaks…well,there really are no scheduled “breaks.” You see when we are slow we eat and “break,” but when we are busy we  can go non-stop for hours.

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All I could think about was how I would find time to pump. My friends and family kept trying to reassure me that it is the law and they HAVE to. I didn’t want to lose out on tables though. Luckily half the ladies I work with are also mama’s and have been through this before.

I am the opening server at my restaurant. This means I leave my house around 5:30 a.m. and get there at 6. We open the doors at 6:30. I usually get cut (for you non-servers that means I am no longer taking tables and about to get the hell out of there.) between 1p.m. and 2.

I was thinking that maybe I could get away with pumping before I went in to work, and then immediately after I got cut. My first day back I discovered that wasn’t going to fly.

I told my boss I was going to pump at nine a.m. right before the rush and have someone cover my section and then again at 1 p.m. She said okay, do what you got to do.

Putting off pumping for long amounts of time can really mess up your milk supply. When we go with out feeding our baby or pumping for a long period of time, our bodies believe we are weaning them so we produce less milk. I pump every four hours, but every three hours is the ideal.

Tips for Pumping at Work as a Waitress:

• Pump before you go in. Then you have some fresh milk for little babe while you are gone. Although you should have built up a stash before heading back to work.
• Try to pump around your breakfast, lunch, or dinner rushes. Obviously managers are not going to be to happy about you having to leave in the middle of a rush to pump. Plus you are missing out on money honey!
• The establishment has to allow you time to pump. Your baby is the most important thing and getting him or her their food to keep them healthy and growing is a must. Make sure to let your employers know someone is covering your section while you are gone.
• If the only private place for you to pump doesn’t have an outlet, then invest in a battery powered adapter. Keep a spare set of batteries in your bag just in case. I use this one: Medela Battery Pack for 9 Volt Pump in Style Advanced Breast Pump. They also sell car adapters if the only place you can go is your car. Medela 9 Volt Vehicle Breast Pump Lighter Adaptor.
• Tell every server that you are going to pump so that they know to watch over your section, but make sure at least one is really covering it: greeting new tables, topping off drinks, running your food, and closing them out if needed. (So make sure they have your number or code) If you want to you could tip them out at the end of your shift for helping you out.
• Pumping doesn’t take that long, I’m done in under ten minutes every time.
• I pump into the same bottles twice while at work. I’ve looked intot his and many women do it. As long as the temperatures are not insanely different and it is within the same day, then it is okay to do. This will save you space in your bag. 
• Breast milk can be in room temperature for up to 8 hours. If you are working longer shifts bring a little bag with an ice pack in it. 
• I have a friend that face times her husband while pumping so that she can see her baby. It helps her let down to happen sooner allowing her to pump faster. My let down happens with just the thought of feeding my baby, but if you are having a hard time she swears it works. 

I hope these tips help you out. Remember baby comes first. If your employers do not allow you time to pump, remind them it is the law that they have to allow you breaks. Happy pumping ladies!