https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 24 Apr 2026 08:10:22 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastmilk-in-a-meeting/page/2#post-2412495 Thu, 07 Jan 2016 10:43:29 +0000 MrsLonghorn 2412495@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MamaBehr: :shocked: wow!! Despite my previous post, something that would make me uncomfortable!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastmilk-in-a-meeting/page/2#post-2412492 Thu, 07 Jan 2016 10:42:02 +0000 MrsLonghorn 2412492@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It's weird, but so is bottles of formula. If baby isn't there, there is no need for this to be on your desk during the work day. </p> <p>That said, I work in an office with 15 women, 13 of which are moms. I pumped in my office (closed door) but there were times when someone would knock, I'd cover up, and they'd come on in to discuss something. I didn't care, and they'd all pumped before with their own kids, so everyone knew what they were getting into! But that was their choice -- otherwise, all baby-related things were done in private and not mixed with work. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastmilk-in-a-meeting/page/2#post-2412467 Thu, 07 Jan 2016 10:24:31 +0000 MamaBehr 2412467@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When I was working after my first was born, my department head made me attend department meetings WHILE pumping. No joke. I was pumping while the meeting was going on with men and women. I wore a nursing cover, but everyone knew what I was doing (well shoot, how could you not with the sound the pump makes). I now realize how ridiculous it was to demand this (they thought I was missing out on important discussions) and I should have said that it wasn't ok. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastmilk-in-a-meeting/page/2#post-2412463 Thu, 07 Jan 2016 10:22:02 +0000 ShootingStar 2412463@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think it's weird and not work appropriate. To me, pumped milk (especially freshly pumped) makes me think of boobs and pumping. It doesn't really make me personally uncomfortable, but I would understand if it made men in the room uncomfortable. And I would never leave milk on a conference table, because I feel like everyone in the room would be thinking about my boobs. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastmilk-in-a-meeting/page/2#post-2412450 Thu, 07 Jan 2016 10:16:56 +0000 Ali-oop 2412450@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It wouldn't bother me, but I know many men who would feel a little uncomfortable. </p> <p>Some lactation consultants are actually advising that breastmilk can be out for up to 10 hours. Apparently it's been tested when pumped and then at the end of the day and the quality is the same. I pump into the same bottles all day and leave them at room temp in a cooler under my desk. My first pump is around 11:00 and it goes into the fridge when I get home at 5:30. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastmilk-in-a-meeting/page/2#post-2412438 Thu, 07 Jan 2016 10:11:20 +0000 Alivoo01 2412438@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrswin: Agreed! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastmilk-in-a-meeting#post-2412437 Thu, 07 Jan 2016 10:10:50 +0000 snowjewelz 2412437@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I pumped while meeting with another coworker once, so... No big deal for me, hahaha. FYI, she was totally cool with it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastmilk-in-a-meeting#post-2412410 Thu, 07 Jan 2016 09:57:11 +0000 Umbreon 2412410@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Wow that's strange. I don't think I would have felt uncomfortable, but I definitely would have thought it was odd.</p> <p>@MoonMoon: To answer your question - yes I think this would be weird as well. If someone came into the meeting with a couple litres of cow's milk from the store, and just had it sitting on the table during a meeting, I think I would find it equally as strange. Maybe even more, because it's just not something you bring to a professional meeting. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastmilk-in-a-meeting#post-2412398 Thu, 07 Jan 2016 09:51:10 +0000 Greentea 2412398@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Anagram: I completely agree! Thank you! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastmilk-in-a-meeting#post-2412364 Thu, 07 Jan 2016 09:35:57 +0000 Anagram 2412364@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I thought about this. I think my initial reaction would be that it's weird. But after thinking about it, I think that's because our society still views BFing and pumping as something kind of gross/intimate/super private and I don't think it should be viewed that way.</p> <p>SO I think I would try to overcome my initial reaction to be supportive of her normalizing breast milk as something NOT gross or weird. RE: room temp milk. I work in a school and I routinely finish pumping right before the bell and keep the milk at my desk until the next passing period when I can run put it in the fridge. So....45 minutes ish. And Kellymom says that's okay. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastmilk-in-a-meeting#post-2412361 Thu, 07 Jan 2016 09:34:22 +0000 MrsKoala 2412361@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The only reason I felt weird if I left my milk out was because I work with 18 year olds most of the time... and they don't really get it. With other adults, I don't think it's that weird. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastmilk-in-a-meeting#post-2412357 Thu, 07 Jan 2016 09:32:15 +0000 mediagirl 2412357@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@blackbird: exactly. </p> <p>Breastmilk makes people uncomfortable (maybe not YOU (reading this) specifically but people in general). I would feel weird if someone's breastmilk was on the table. It would make me think about pumping, which would make me think about her boobs. It's obvious what it is. Coworkers know she pumps. Why not just put that bottle in your purse? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastmilk-in-a-meeting#post-2412349 Thu, 07 Jan 2016 09:29:06 +0000 Mrs Spoon 2412349@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wouldn't be upset by it, but I think it's weird and honestly unprofessional. There is just no reason why it needs to be on the table during a mtg. </p> <p>But I also don't like eating in mtgs. Not that I haven't done it when there are b2b mtgs, but it's not something I normally do. I prefer to just get the work done. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastmilk-in-a-meeting#post-2412347 Thu, 07 Jan 2016 09:27:53 +0000 blackbird 2412347@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think this is so strange and relatively unprofessional, to just leave it on a table during a meeting. And very HEY LOOK AT MY BREAST MILK. No. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastmilk-in-a-meeting#post-2412325 Thu, 07 Jan 2016 09:15:47 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2412325@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: yes! I realize people take "lunch" when it's convenient, but I'd rather sit in the lobby for an extra 10-15 minutes than watch someone try to multi task a meeting. </p> <p>Don't give me back a paper to point something out after your food hands have molested the sheet! Say it, don't spray it! Chew just chew this pause isn't awkward! Yeah, raw onion on your delivery sandwich or left over warmed up fish makes me want to dig in too! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastmilk-in-a-meeting#post-2412305 Thu, 07 Jan 2016 09:07:24 +0000 Adira 2412305@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Truth Bombs: haha, I was just saying that not everything that's on a table in a meeting is work related, in reference to what @Corduroy: said. Wasn't trying to say she was going to drink the breast milk! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastmilk-in-a-meeting#post-2412304 Thu, 07 Jan 2016 09:07:10 +0000 rachiecakes 2412304@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Truth Bombs: yes. I could bring my groceries and set them on the table, but it's a little distracting, haha</p> <p>Unless it's something you're actively consuming (water, coffee) or sharing with the group (box of donuts) , I def. think it's a little weird. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastmilk-in-a-meeting#post-2412300 Thu, 07 Jan 2016 09:02:06 +0000 winniebee 2412300@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Personally, I would feel self-conscious leaving my milk out. But I wouldn't be grossed out or weirded out if someone else did. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastmilk-in-a-meeting#post-2412295 Thu, 07 Jan 2016 08:58:17 +0000 Truth Bombs 2412295@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Adira: unless the woman was planning to drink the breastmilk herself, a cup of coffee isn't exactly a good comparison. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastmilk-in-a-meeting#post-2412224 Thu, 07 Jan 2016 08:07:07 +0000 looch 2412224@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Adira: So do I, I usually have a bottle of water. But sometimes I have tampons too and I don't put those out on the table :silly:</p> <p>eta: totally not the topic of this thread, but it always bugs me when people eat lunch in a meeting that's not in the "lunch window." I don't want to smell food or see people eating. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastmilk-in-a-meeting#post-2412222 Thu, 07 Jan 2016 08:05:35 +0000 Mama Bird 2412222@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think that's weird, it must have been distracting for people who realized it's breast milk. I wouldn't want people's minds going there at work! Maybe she was just distracted, especially if she had to sneak out of the meeting to pump. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastmilk-in-a-meeting#post-2412187 Thu, 07 Jan 2016 07:22:43 +0000 Adira 2412187@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Corduroy: I bring coffee to meetings and have that on the table and that's not work related.</p> <p>I only think it's weird she didn't have a cooler to store them in or some bag, just to make it easier to carry! But other than that, I don't think it's a big deal. Maybe she pumped and she's going to give that milk to her LO right after work so she doesn't want to have it cooled down only to then need to warm it back up, when fresh milk is fine being left out for a few hours. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastmilk-in-a-meeting#post-2412132 Thu, 07 Jan 2016 01:59:29 +0000 Corduroy 2412132@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think it's odd because it isn't work related and why would you put something non-work related on the table during a meeting? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastmilk-in-a-meeting#post-2412126 Thu, 07 Jan 2016 01:24:38 +0000 youboots 2412126@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Eh. Its a little distracting in a professional setting. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastmilk-in-a-meeting#post-2412125 Thu, 07 Jan 2016 01:14:59 +0000 mrsbubbletea 2412125@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think it's odd because it's not like she's gonna carry it home outside the bag. Like holding her keys and her two bottles? Yeah I think that's just weird. Not gross, just weird. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastmilk-in-a-meeting#post-2412071 Wed, 06 Jan 2016 23:20:21 +0000 Foodnerd81 2412071@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JenGirl: that's a good point about forgetting it. I could see that. </p> <p>@MoonMoon: I'd think it was almost as odd to put bottles of formula on the table. Not like, incredibly strange, just odd. </p> <p>But it wouldn't bother me, just odd. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastmilk-in-a-meeting#post-2412056 Wed, 06 Jan 2016 23:06:02 +0000 Charm54 2412056@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I mean, it's odd...in the same way I think it's odd if someone had bottles of formula on a meeting table. Not uncomfortable, just ... Odd? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastmilk-in-a-meeting#post-2412055 Wed, 06 Jan 2016 23:05:07 +0000 Madison43 2412055@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Uh, I'm all about normalize breastfeeding but I would think this is weird. I can't think of any reason why I would ever need to keep a bottle of bm on a conference table during a meeting. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastmilk-in-a-meeting#post-2412053 Wed, 06 Jan 2016 22:59:29 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2412053@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No, I would not feel comfortable bringing bottles of BM and sitting it on conference room table during a meeting. To me that's personal stuff that should sit on the floor or a nearby credenza with other personal stuff that doesn't pertain to the meeting task at hand. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastmilk-in-a-meeting#post-2412042 Wed, 06 Jan 2016 22:46:21 +0000 PurplePeony 2412042@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wouldn't have kept it on the table, but breastmilk can actually stay out for several hours before being refrigerated. If it was freshly pumped, I'd personally be fine with letting it cool to room temp during the meeting and sticking it in the fridge later. But I'd probably put it somewhere unobtrusive, not front and center! </p>