I’m a working & breastfeeding mama

Welcome to The Breastfeeding Cafe Carnival!

This post was written as part of The Breastfeeding Cafe’s Carnival. For more info on the Breastfeeding Cafe, go to www.breastfeedingcafe.wordpress.com. For more info on the Carnival or if you want to participate, contact Claire at clindstrom2 {at} gmail {dot} com. Today’s post is about breastfeeding and employment. Please read the other blogs in today’s carnival listed below and check back for more posts July 18th through the 31st!

About three months ago, I wrote a post about working and breastfeeding (Why I pump at work: priorities). Well, we’re nearing the 7 month mark of exclusively breastfeeding. That’s right, Ryan hasn’t had any baby food or rice cereal yet. He’s not interested yet! But I also increased my hours at work recently and work 30 hours a week. So I pump.

I hate pumping. I hate being in the middle of a project at work and needing to take a 15 minute break to go pump. It’s boring and it’s a hassle. But it’s a priority. There isn’t any other way to say it–I do it for Ryan. As long as I can make milk and Ryan wants it, he is going to get it.

THANKFULLY, I work in a very friendly environment that makes this possible. I’ve heard horror stories from moms that have to go pump in their car at work or that don’t get a break that allows them to pump. If I’m super busy, I just shut my office door and pump right there while I keep working. Otherwise (and most often), I go to the break room and pump in the bathroom. I really have my pick of offices and rooms that I could pump in, but the bathroom off the kitchen is just easiest… I have a sink to clean pump parts, I can grab my lunch or a snack, and no one bothers me 😉 And? it’s usually the one time during my work day that I’m able to check twitter or call my hubby. So I guess it’s not that bad, haha.

When I first started back at work, I wasn’t pumping enough–Ryan was eating more while I was gone than I was able to pump. So I pumped at night after Ryan went to bed, too. Now? Ryan usually eats quite a bit less than I’m able to pump at work so we have been able to stock some up in the freezer! Thank goodness–I need to make sure I have enough while I’m gone at BlogHer!!! (which I’m attending thanks to my AWESOME sponsor: Simplisse Breastfeeding Products–how fitting, right?!) Speaking of Simplisse, I cannot wait until their new electric pump comes out so I can use that at work! Their manual pump has been wonderful to have at home for quick/night pumps.

Where do you pump at work? Do you ever have any issues with people/bosses that don’t understand or respect your needs? I hope it’s as easy for everyone else as it has been for me!

 Here are more post by the Breastfeeding Cafe Carnival participants! Check back because more will be added throughout the day.

• Emily @ Baby Dickey—I’m a working and breastfeeding mama
• Sylko @ Chaotic Mama—Breastfeeding Carnival: WOHM Breastfeeding
• Claire @ The Adventures of Lactating Girl—Breastfeeding Student
• Veronica @ Crunchy VT Mommy—Business Boobies: Breastfeeding & Today’s Workplace
• Whitney @ According to Waddlebug: The (Un)Balancing Act of Motherhood—My Perfect Job
• BoobiesNBabies @ Num In Mind—I Remember a Baby Friendly Workplace
• Claire @ Geeky Gaming Mama—Breastfeeding and Employment
• Natasha @ Natural Urban Mamas—Breastfeeding at Work-In Canada is this an issue?
• Brooke @ Milk Maid Mamma—Pumping Sucks
• And of course the guest poster on the Breastfeeding Cafe’s Blog today is Christy Porucznik—Maintaining Breastfeeding While Separated from One’s Baby—Often Known in the USA as Gainful Employment