Babypalooza Summer 2019

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5 CHALLENGES OF PUMPING AT WORK
We asked three working moms about the hardest
things about pumping at work. Here’s what they had
to say.
Scheduling Challenges: “Life happens, and things
get in the way of pumping,” new mom Molly told us.
Though coworkers were initially supportive of her
schedule, they’d forget over time and schedule meetings
that interfered with pumping time.
Time-Consuming Nature: “Breastfeeding while working
is similar to having two full time jobs,” new mom
Sonya says. Molly agrees: “There is a lot of time
eaten up each day by pumping, washing pump parts,
thinking about the pump schedule and how that fits
with daily activities, writing on bags to freeze extra,
rearranging the freezer contents to make milk fit, ordering
new pump parts and bags, and reading tons of
mom blogs on how to make pumping sessions more
efficient,” she says.
Privacy Issues: Not every mom is fortunate enough
to have a private space for pumping. New mom
Kendal had to pump in a space that included
restroom stalls and a shower. “I would sit in there
pumping for two or three times a day, 20 minutes
each time, listening to people go to the bathroom
and take showers,” she recalls. Sometimes people
would hear her pump whirring and poke their heads
around the corner to see what she was doing.
Dipping Milk Supply: Molly noticed that her milk
supply would dip if she became ill, didn’t drink
enough water, experienced stress, or deviated from
her pumping schedule. She combated the issue by
taking Fenugreek (a seed used in herbalism) and
doing her best to stay hydrated.
Requires Lots of Gear: Heading to the office
sometimes feels like packing for an overnight trip.
Moms need to bring a pump, pump part, hands-free
bra, milk bags, bottles, a Sharpie, hand sanitizer,
wipes, and so on. Whew!
MAKE A PLAN FOR PUMPING AT WORK
If you know you’ll return to work after your baby
is born, it’s a good idea to make a plan early on.
Consider these tips.
Prepare Yourself: While you’re still on maternity
leave, you should work toward establishing a strong
breastfeeding relationship so your milk supply holds
up. You should also secure a high-quality breast
pump and experiment with bottles to find which
works best.
Communicate With Your Employer: Ask your HR
department about the company’s lactation policies.
Make sure you understand the guidelines regarding
time and place. Many companies would also like
you to write a letter outlining your lactation plan.
Practice Self-Care: It’s easy to become stressed when
you’re juggling parenthood and work. Make sure
you are eating nutritious meals and drinking enough
water. Consider bringing along soothing music
and a photo of your baby to make pumping easier.
“Utilize the time you legally have to pump as a way
to decompress, think about your gorgeous baby,
and breathe deeply,” Malatt advises. “We let down
(milk ready to flow) more quickly and easily and
make more milk when we are relaxed.”
If you know you’ll return to
work after your baby is born,
it’s a good idea to make
a plan early on.
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