There are many creative ways to continue nursing, pumping, and providing human milk to your children while working. Whatever that looks like for you, we see you and recognize your efforts to provide breastmilk for your nursling. We have compiled stories from mothers and families from a recent discussion on our Facebook page about the ways they struck a balance between working and lactation. Below you’ll read accounts from a teacher, a nonprofit employee, a nurse, a contractor, a government worker, and a freelance writer. You’ll find in all their stories the common thread of finding support and getting creative in order to make it work.
Cassie W. recalled her experience as a school teacher and leaning on support from her colleagues. “When I had my second child, I was pumping at work. My administration was great and allowed me to schedule my own times when I needed to be free to pump. During reading time, the reading coach at our school would come into my room and teach the reading lesson so that I could pump. I didn’t feel guilty because who could better step into my shoes than the reading expert at our school!”
Kylie P. shared her experiences working at a very small organization. “I was the first employee to ever take maternity leave at my workplace! My work was mostly from home or on site where I could actually bring my daughter. I’d nurse her in a carrier while working on site or hold her in my arms while on calls at home. On my days in the office (once every other week for meetings), I’d nurse my daughter and dash off for the metro. Sometimes I’d pump on the metro with a manual pump. She was a bit older when I went back to the office, so our caretaker was able to offer her solids with small bottles of expressed breastmilk. My office days were very busy! Since I was only going in every other week, I would schedule all my meetings for that day. Still, I would pump and video chat my little one while I pumped – that made it more enjoyable. Then I’d finish up my meetings and hurry home. I always communicated with our caretaker when I’d be there so I could nurse her right away. It was hard to be away from her on those days, but we made it work during that season!”
Leslie J. was a nurse in a NICU while pumping for her own baby at home. “I’m a neonatal intensive care unit nurse, and I went back to work twelve weeks after my first child was born. My hospital supported lactating parents by providing pumping rooms and the time needed to express breastmilk. Typical work days had me taking care of three babies, which included feeding, changing, vitals, medications, helping parents breastfeed, and holding their little ones. In my mind, my pumping times were like taking care of a fourth baby (my own!) and definitely not a break. It was always very busy, but providing breastmilk was important to me, so I always made it a priority to get away and pump. I remember one shift where I was responsible for attending deliveries, I was paged to a c-section mid pump. That got a little messy! I love being a pumping/working mom, because it’s super important even if it’s a difficult hat to wear.”
Kenisha B. works as an independent contractor and does a bit of traveling for work, too! “I travel to different sites for work. I went back to work when my daughter turned 3 months old, and she is currently 13 months old. I spend a ton of time in the car pumping while other people are with me for the day. I am very grateful to have wearable pumps because that makes it easier for me. but not always comfortable for others. Once I explain that I can do my whole routine without any unnecessary skin showing, it eases away awkwardness. Having a private space to pump is wonderful but not realistic when I am in the field, so I adjust. My favorite part about pumping at work is the educational portion of it all. I get asked multiple questions, and I do not mind sharing my experience with nursing and pumping. I have spoken with moms who have breastfed in the past that are amazed at how much has changed: people who have never been around a lactating woman before, people whose partners have nursed their children, those who are expecting a baby, and people who have fed bottles of breastmilk or formula to babies before. Definitely challenging being a pumping mom, but I’m blessed by it all the same.”
Melanie L. explained her experiences working in the United States Senate. “I pumped at work after returning from maternity leave and nursed at home for 13 months! I used wearable or portable pumps as needed for car rides to/from work, but I was able to pump three times daily in the office without issue. I feel very, very fortunate that the Senate provides a number of lactation suites equipped with high quality pumps! Also very grateful for an employer that allowed pumping time, no questions asked.”
Grace L. described what it was like pumping and nursing as a freelance writer. “I’m thankful for how flexible my schedule is, since it’s helped me breastfeed on demand. My husband is in law school right now, so our daily schedule usually has me taking care of our baby from the morning until the afternoon. During this time, I feed her whenever she gets hungry. She had a tongue tie that we’ve just revised, so up until recently, we were breastfeeding around the clock to make sure she was getting enough. Now, we can feed in between errands and appointments.
Once my husband gets home, he and I alternate caring for the baby so we can both get work done. The baby goes to sleep around nine p.m. every night. After she falls asleep, my husband puts her in the baby wrap and takes care of her until about one a.m. During this time, I get my last bit of work done for the day and then go to bed to get some uninterrupted sleep. Around then, my husband brings the baby to bed, and I co-sleep with her, breastfeeding on demand for the rest of the night.”
We’d love to hear your experiences of working and human milk feeding. Please send your stories to Kylie at [email protected].
Below are some resources and stories on the topic of nursing and working from New Beginnings:
Editor’s note: La Leche League International’s core book, The Art of Breastfeeding (9th edition), formerly known as The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding is available now. You can order your copy here. You can learn more about the book here.
Supporting Breastfeeding Families–Today, Tomorrow, Always
Please consider donating to La Leche League USA.
Your gift helps support this blog and the website!
Donations of any amount are gratefully accepted. Thank you!
Follow us on:
Leave a Comment
Posted: November 12, 2024 by Yael Breimer
Getting Creative, Making it Work
Cassie W. recalled her experience as a school teacher and leaning on support from her colleagues. “When I had my second child, I was pumping at work. My administration was great and allowed me to schedule my own times when I needed to be free to pump. During reading time, the reading coach at our school would come into my room and teach the reading lesson so that I could pump. I didn’t feel guilty because who could better step into my shoes than the reading expert at our school!”
Kylie P. shared her experiences working at a very small organization. “I was the first employee to ever take maternity leave at my workplace! My work was mostly from home or on site where I could actually bring my daughter. I’d nurse her in a carrier while working on site or hold her in my arms while on calls at home. On my days in the office (once every other week for meetings), I’d nurse my daughter and dash off for the metro. Sometimes I’d pump on the metro with a manual pump. She was a bit older when I went back to the office, so our caretaker was able to offer her solids with small bottles of expressed breastmilk. My office days were very busy! Since I was only going in every other week, I would schedule all my meetings for that day. Still, I would pump and video chat my little one while I pumped – that made it more enjoyable. Then I’d finish up my meetings and hurry home. I always communicated with our caretaker when I’d be there so I could nurse her right away. It was hard to be away from her on those days, but we made it work during that season!”
Leslie J. was a nurse in a NICU while pumping for her own baby at home. “I’m a neonatal intensive care unit nurse, and I went back to work twelve weeks after my first child was born. My hospital supported lactating parents by providing pumping rooms and the time needed to express breastmilk. Typical work days had me taking care of three babies, which included feeding, changing, vitals, medications, helping parents breastfeed, and holding their little ones. In my mind, my pumping times were like taking care of a fourth baby (my own!) and definitely not a break. It was always very busy, but providing breastmilk was important to me, so I always made it a priority to get away and pump. I remember one shift where I was responsible for attending deliveries, I was paged to a c-section mid pump. That got a little messy! I love being a pumping/working mom, because it’s super important even if it’s a difficult hat to wear.”
Kenisha B. works as an independent contractor and does a bit of traveling for work, too! “I travel to different sites for work. I went back to work when my daughter turned 3 months old, and she is currently 13 months old. I spend a ton of time in the car pumping while other people are with me for the day. I am very grateful to have wearable pumps because that makes it easier for me. but not always comfortable for others. Once I explain that I can do my whole routine without any unnecessary skin showing, it eases away awkwardness. Having a private space to pump is wonderful but not realistic when I am in the field, so I adjust. My favorite part about pumping at work is the educational portion of it all. I get asked multiple questions, and I do not mind sharing my experience with nursing and pumping. I have spoken with moms who have breastfed in the past that are amazed at how much has changed: people who have never been around a lactating woman before, people whose partners have nursed their children, those who are expecting a baby, and people who have fed bottles of breastmilk or formula to babies before. Definitely challenging being a pumping mom, but I’m blessed by it all the same.”
Melanie L. explained her experiences working in the United States Senate. “I pumped at work after returning from maternity leave and nursed at home for 13 months! I used wearable or portable pumps as needed for car rides to/from work, but I was able to pump three times daily in the office without issue. I feel very, very fortunate that the Senate provides a number of lactation suites equipped with high quality pumps! Also very grateful for an employer that allowed pumping time, no questions asked.”
Grace L. described what it was like pumping and nursing as a freelance writer. “I’m thankful for how flexible my schedule is, since it’s helped me breastfeed on demand. My husband is in law school right now, so our daily schedule usually has me taking care of our baby from the morning until the afternoon. During this time, I feed her whenever she gets hungry. She had a tongue tie that we’ve just revised, so up until recently, we were breastfeeding around the clock to make sure she was getting enough. Now, we can feed in between errands and appointments.
Once my husband gets home, he and I alternate caring for the baby so we can both get work done. The baby goes to sleep around nine p.m. every night. After she falls asleep, my husband puts her in the baby wrap and takes care of her until about one a.m. During this time, I get my last bit of work done for the day and then go to bed to get some uninterrupted sleep. Around then, my husband brings the baby to bed, and I co-sleep with her, breastfeeding on demand for the rest of the night.”
We’d love to hear your experiences of working and human milk feeding. Please send your stories to Kylie at [email protected].
Below are some resources and stories on the topic of nursing and working from New Beginnings:
Editor’s note: La Leche League International’s core book, The Art of Breastfeeding (9th edition), formerly known as The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding is available now. You can order your copy here. You can learn more about the book here.
Supporting Breastfeeding Families–Today, Tomorrow, Always
Please consider donating to La Leche League USA.
Your gift helps support this blog and the website!
Donations of any amount are gratefully accepted. Thank you!
Follow us on:
Facebook
Instagram
Category: Making It Work, Pumping
Subscribe to Our Blog
Upcoming events:
La Leche League Meetings