Pumping at work - what do I need?

If you'll be expressing milk at work, your employer should support you with suitable facilities and reasonable breaks.

While workplaces differ, most breastfeeding employees need the same things: a private place to express, enough time to express comfortably and somewhere to store milk and equipment.

To express at work, you'll generally need:

• A private space: Talk to your workplace about a suitable space, ideally a room you can lock so you won’t be disturbed. It's important for you to feel comfortable and relaxed so your milk will flow easily. If there isn’t a dedicated room, talk with your manager about using a shared space, like First Aid room, prayer room or an unused office space. 
• A comfortable chair: Ask your workplace about putting a comfortable chair in the space.
• Storage for your pump: You’ll need a convenient and spot for your electric or manual breast pump. 
• Storing milk and equipment: You’ll need somewhere to store your expressed milk and milk collection kit during the workday. A workplace fridge is often the easiest option. Keep everything in sealed bags or containers.

If you spend part of your workday driving, visiting clients or working away from your usual workplace, you'll need to think about expressing and storing milk on the go. A personal electric pump that doesn't need to be plugged in may be useful. You may also need a quality cooler bag with ice bricks or a small car fridge.

Expressing takes longer than just pumping milk. When planning your workday and discussing arrangements with your employer, remember to allow time to:

• walk to and from the expressing room
• set up your pump
• express your milk
• transfer the milk into a storage container and label it
• clean your equipment and pack up
• put your milk in the fridge and store your equipment
• get back to your workspace

Many mums already have some kind of breast pump, but not all pumps are designed for regular, long-term use at work.If your baby is having only breastmilk, you may need to express several times during the work day. It’s important that your pump is up to the job. A good quality electric breast pump – especially a hospital-grade one – will usually be the most effective and comfortable for frequent expressing. 

If your baby is older and is having some solids, you may find you need to express less often than when they were younger. A personal electric pump may be all you need. 
Compare different pump options and find more tips and guidance in our article on Choosing a breast pump.

You can also hire a pump from ABA for a while to test out a good quality pump before buying your own. ABA Virtual Village members receive 50% off pump hire. 

• Taking milk home: Use a cooler bag with ice bricks to keep milk cold on the way home.
• Work clothes: Choose clothes that make expressing easy. If you wear a uniform that is a dress, talk with your employer about options. Patterned clothes or a spare top can help if you’re worried about leaks.

It's helpful to discuss expressing at work with your employer before you return. This gives you both time to talk about practical arrangements and any support you'll need in the workplace.

If you’re the first employee at your workplace to return while breastfeeding, this might be new for your employer. While most managers want to support their employees, they may not know what practical arrangements are needed.

Find out how your workplace can support you

© Australian Breastfeeding Association July 2026