I welcomed myself back to work on January 11 after only 8 weeks of maternity leave.  I wasn’t excited about coming back, afterall I now had to leave my precious new baby girl (Dani).  I was only relieved by the fact that I was able to leave my baby with my sister Holly instead of a random daycare and that I had a privacy room to use at the office for the purposes of expressing breastmilk.

A privacy room, so it seems HOK is following the new health care bill that requires employers (of 50 employees or more) to provide “a place, other than a bathroom, that is shielded from view and free from intrusion from co-workers and the public, which may be used by an employee to express breast milk.”  [It's odd to talk about such a taboo subject (breastfeeding), but it shouldn't be]!  At the St. Louis office, we’ve always had a sort of privacy room, rather, more of a sick room to allow for employees to rest within when not well, etc .  It was however recently moved, remodeled, and gained access to a sink and small refrigerator for storing breastmilk.  All employees that use the room are required to check in at the front desk and get the key. 

When I first found out I was pregnant I happened to read an article about this new health care policy.  The exceprt talks about what a breastfeeding room would need,

A breastfeeding room doesn’t have to be fancy, but should have a table, chair and outlet for plug-in pumps, said Dr. Melissa Bartick of Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts Breastfeeding Coalition. There should also be easy access to a refrigerator and a sink. -cnn

Fancy would not be used to describe our room, but I can tell you this, that room could be the most drab room in the house (er, office) but I love it!  It makes me worry a little less knowing I have help pulling off  this working mom thing!  Thanks!

Now, I wonder if we can get a daycare around this place…