I recently transferred to another department,
I was surprised that the space I miss most was NOT my workstation
instead I miss this space the most.
This is the ONE and ONLY so call 'lactation room' we have in the building.
It is slightly bigger than the size of a regular bathroom.
It can fit up to 4 person (tried & tested)
This was where at one point of time, during my second child time,
4 mothers cramped inside together to do their motherly duties.
and the best part was this space does not have any power socket (since it is a small partitioned space between the pantry and office room).
and we have to use extension wire (the turn to roll type) to connect power point to this space and extension plug to accommodate 4 electric breast pump.
It was not on purpose that all 4 of us from the same department pump together, our boss didn't like it anyway.
It was all because this is the ONLY lactation room we have in the building and everyone is waiting for their turn to use. So we figured it is better for all 4 of us to occupy the room at one go rather than wait for one another.
Our number twiddle from 4 to 3 to 2 to 1.
And then back to 2 when I had to slot in to other people time (I was on different floor) which make it hard for me to 'book' the room.
And then I had the room all to myself thereafter.
I remember making myself comfortable in there, momentarily throwing away all my work stress and concentrated on my motherly duties while listening to Ai FM.
The people on that floor has been so used to seeing me around that they notice that I'm missing when I'm on leave.
They too have been very kind to reserve a electrical point for me to connect from pantry to the room. The other are used for microwave oven and some other electrical appliances.
I miss the birds who likes to walk and chip near the window.
I miss the eavesdropping of people talking in the pantry (either phone call or chit chat)..I know this is not good.
I miss the privacy at least this room provide
Cause at the new place (the building) ...
they have an even SMALLER and ONLY lactation room (half the size).
Even equipped with 1 small table, 2 chairs, 1 power point, and some magazines,
it feels devoid as it is fully booked throughout the day (a few slots by the same person - kiasu), and no one is willing to share pumping session,
so much so that I've upgraded myself to 'workstation pumper' with 'very the thick skin'.
(a sure very notorious way to gain popularity)
if you are thinking what about vacant meeting room / store room?
meeting room - fully booked most of the time and is all glass from ceiling to floor.
store / document room - too small, too packed and too risky if anything goes missing from inside.
surau - not a suitable place and ONLY 1 small partitioned surau for the whole building also.
So,
This is my OPEN PLEA to organisation especially BIG ones
At least have the courtesy to RESPECT the RIGHTS of mothers to breastfeed their children.
We don't do it on purpose to escape from work (we have better ways and excuses than breast pumping).
For all you know, we all have mother / wife / daughters ... someone will surely benefit enormously from this 'room'
Well, again as always, I'm still very grateful for being able to at least benefited from the 'room'.
And again as usual, I'll continue voicing this need at every opportunity until someone HEAR us.
I'm not sure if something will happen if someone stumble upon this post, but
LET IT GO, LET IT GO!
Can't hold it back any more
View from outside (left side is the pantry)
View of inside
View from inside
I went with an empty mind to learn.
