One of the biggest adjustments to going back to work has to be pumping. I had though it would be easy enough:
1) Bring the pump
2) Schedule time to pump
3) Go to the Mother's Room
4) Pump
Wrong.
My office has one pump room and LOTS of nursing mothers. So the only available time to pump is 9:30 a.m. Not very helpful, considering the consequences of not pumping regularly are losing your supply, leaking, clogged ducts, and mastitis (basically the flu).
I, luckily, am friends with two administrative assistants who's managers were out of town last week, so I was able to pump in their offices. But next week they're back, and I'm not sure what I'm going to do.
Also, even when you can find a space to pump, there's the odd experience of whipping your boobs out in an office environment, and having to discuss the fact that you need to excuse yourself for a 20 minute break from your all day meeting with your male boss.
Good times.
I know an option is to feed my baby formula... And that feeding my baby formula isn't the end of the world. But I'm sort of liking that she's never had it. And somehow, it seems as foreign a concept as giving her a Coca Cola or something.
I don't miss pumping at all! I came back to work when Luke was 5 months and managed to keep it up until he was 9 months. I was lucky enough to only have to share the room with one other woman which made it alot easier. I do know women who couldn't find a good place at their jobs and pumped in their cars or bathrooms. Not ideal but you gotta do what you gotta do!
ReplyDeleteI think the car may be my best option... It's kind of degrading, having to go to my car, park away and make it happen. But I know I wouldn't be the first!
DeleteIt's amazing that you kept up until 9 months! I hope I'm able to.