40 SEPTEMBER 2023 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL For Nursing Mothers Planning to Pump Foreign Service moms have pumped milk all over the world—while staffing VIP visits, helping American citizens in trouble, visiting foreign assistance projects in remote locations, observing foreign elections, and beyond. And we have found colleagues, supervisors, and foreign counterparts across multiple posts to be remarkably supportive in this endeavor, both helping identify private spaces to pump or accommodating pumping needs in the course of Foreign Service work. Partners take note: Enabling support for your nursing partner is critical. Not all working moms will choose to pump. A whole book could be written (and many are) about the choices we make to continue pumping versus using formula and making it all work. But for those who do choose to pump, here’s what we found to be useful: • If you plan to continue breastfeeding after returning to work, begin planning a schedule and approach for pumping during the workday. Many find it helpful to begin pumping at least a few weeks before heading back to work, both to build experience and comfort with pumping itself and to begin building a freezer reserve of milk. • Well in advance of your return to work, identify where you can pump and obtain necessary door codes and access to the sign-up SharePoint. In Washington, you can reserve lactation rooms in advance by searching in the general room reservation system, “ReserveIt”; GTM cautions that availability can be limited if you’re reserving same-day, so plan ahead. • Use calendar alerts to remind you to pump, which is especially helpful on packed days. • Consider hiring a lactation consultant if you are having difficulties pumping or to support your planning to continue breastfeeding after returning to work. (This is covered by many federal insurance plans.) • The breastfeeding support group in the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs is open to all nursing moms and has excellent tips for pumping at work, as does the FSO Moms page on Facebook. There are also great tips on pumping while on official travel, pumping in classified space, and even tips on the best brands of pumps to buy. • Health insurance covers the cost of one pump per pregnancy. • Have an up-front conversation with your supervisor once you return to the office about the fact that you are pumping and the time commitment involved. • Know your rights as a nursing mother in case there is pushback. The new PUMP Act, passed in 2022, provides protection for nursing mothers for two years after birth, mandates certain characteristics for pumping spaces, and guarantees employers allow enough daily times to pump. In addition, if there is no dedicated lactation space available during the times you need to pump, please be aware that legally your management must help you find a suitable location. • The Breastfeeding Center of Greater Washington offers great resources for nursing moms, including sessions focused on preparing for the transition back to work, setting up a pumping schedule, and a pumping space near Main State. Pumping During Orientation and Long-Term Training Courses The State Department’s intensive initial Foreign Service orientation training class or long-term training courses can be tricky because for the most part you are not the master of your time or your space. Here are a few tips from those who have found a way. • Email your course coordinators to let them know you’re a nursing mother, so they can give you up-to-date information about lactation facilities and other resources. The Foreign Service Institute (FSI) has a large lactation room in the newly built B building (with three private pumping areas, a fridge, and sterile microwave), as well as other lactation areas in, for instance, the F building. The FSI Registrar and orientation staff have the door code you need to enter. Many breaks in FSI courses are 15 minutes, which may be insufficient time to pump. In that case, check with coordinators, who may advise that it is better and less distracting to quietly leave at the end of a session than to come in late. In the first week, request to be seated in the back row for the duration of a large course. • On days at sites other than FSI, consider using the health unit at your destination—many have accommodations for nursing mothers. Work with the coordinator in charge of the field trip ahead of time. —The Authors
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