Helping Mama unpack the breast pump

My son is a year old now, and we have officially entered the world of “extended breastfeeding.” In my last post, I explained a little about my decision to continue nursing my son.

But as a full-time working mom, a big part of breastfeeding is pumping. I’m away from my son for over 10 hours at a time on my working days. For the past several months, I have faithfully pumped breastmilk 3 times every day at work.

Nearly all the working, breastfeeding mothers I have known have stopped pumping by their child’s first birthday, if not before. “If you’re ready to ditch the breast pump or pricey formula, you’re right on schedule,” I read today in my daily What to Expect email, targeted to the birthdate of my son.

In our society, fully breastfeeding to a year is a rare accomplishment, but pumping beyond a year is even more unusual. Nursing a toddler at the breast is often as much, or more, about the close relationship and enjoyment of breastfeeding as about the nutrition of breastmilk. In comparison, pumping milk is strictly business. There’s little enjoyment in sitting hooked up to a machine and washing pumping equipment through the day. Since at a year, babies can drink cows milk, mothers who have been pumping can quit without having to use infant formula.

I don’t love pumping. But I DO love breastfeeding my son when we are together. With long workdays, my milk supply might drop quickly without daytime pumping.  I intend to breastfeed to at least 2 years, and I want to maintain an ample milk supply. Drinking pumped breastmilk gives my son the best nutrition possible, and that’s important, but what motivates me the most to keep pumping is that it helps to maintain our nursing relationship.

So my decision is to keep pumping, but now I don’t have to pump quite as much. There were times in the first year when I thought I would run out of milk, and now I no longer have to worry about milk supply. If there is an office party during the lunch hour, I will skip pumping without guilt or stress.  I will probably drop gradually to pumping twice a day, then once a day, over the next year.

I would love to hear from other moms who have pumped milk. How long did you pump? Did you continue breastfeeding after you stopped pumping?

A new use for my breast pump?

Playing around after dinner, my husband pretended to call our son on the phone, saying, “Ring ring . . .Ring ring.” The baby scanned the room for the nearest phone-like object to pick up his end of the call, chose his new “phone” and started babbling into it while I snapped this picture.

Related Post:   Meet my new breast pump

]]> http://themilkmama.com/2009/12/09/breast-pump-telephone/feed/ 1 http://themilkmama.com/2009/11/18/meet-my-new-breast-pump/ http://themilkmama.com/2009/11/18/meet-my-new-breast-pump/#comments Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:02:43 +0000 Christina http://themilkmama.com/?p=499

Showing off my new pump

I was thrilled to hear from Judy at A Mother’s Boutique Mommy News Blog that I won a giveaway for an Ameda Purely Yours breast pump. The giveaway was part of her Blogiversary Celebration, with several more great giveaways you can still enter.

I will soon have to return my borrowed hospital-grade pump (a Medela Lactina) that I’ve been using since my son was 3 days old. I pump 3 times a day at work during the week, and every night before going to sleep. Every day, I carry the heavy pump with me to work, and bring it home at the end of the day. It has traveled with me twice on cross-country flights to 3 different states. It’s been a big part of my life, especially in the early months when I was pumping exclusively, then when I was using it 8 times a day after breastfeeding to build my milk supply. But I’m ready to say goodbye.  I no longer need a hospital-grade pump, and the thing is so heavy and awkward to carry around.

For the past 3 days, I have used my brand-new Ameda Purely Yours breast pump. It’s working great for me.

Here are some of my favorite features:

• It’s small, very lightweight, and it’s so easy to carry. The bag is attractive.
• I love the ability to control not only the suction (the only control I have with my former pump), but also the speed. Who knew. . .slowing the speed all the way down actually empties the breasts faster!
• The parts are easy to clean. There aren’t many crevices in the collection pieces where, in my former pump, milk would get stuck, and no finger, brush, or sponge could reach in to clean it out.
• The bottles fit securely into holders on the pump. This feature is good for me: I have knocked over bottles of my freshly pumped milk more than once because there was no secure place to set them down.

My baby is turning 1 soon, so I won’t be pumping quite as often, but I plan to keep pumping once or twice a day for many more months!

Thanks, Judy! I love the pump.

(this one's much nicer than the bathroom I pumped in)

The other day, I pumped milk in a public restroom. I was out of my normal routine, and there was no one to ask for better accommodations within a reasonable timeframe.

My choices were either the bathroom or the industrial kitchen, sitting on the cold cement floor in the dark, or skip pumping and become engorged. The bathroom was a single stall, with an electrical outlet, toilet with a tank and closing lid, and a cement floor. I chose to pump in the bathroom, and I will never do it again.

Yet many women find the bathroom the only private place to pump milk at their workplace, like the woman in Ohio who was fired for her unscheduled pumping breaks  (see the CNN video here, including discussion of using the restroom to pump). Before I tried it myself, I thought it would be unpleasant, but I didn’t realize how unsanitary it can be. Let me present to you my analysis of the disgusting details I hadn’t considered before I was faced with this experience myself.

Bathroom surfaces are filthy.

We all know about the aerosol effect of toilet flushing right? You may not see or feel it, but the contents of the toilet spray out with every flush. The little bacteria-laden droplets go airborne. Here is a quick video showing the spray out of a toilet bowl. It is safe to assume that all surfaces surrounding the toilet are coated with droplets of urine, fecal matter, and bacteria or mold present in the toilet bowl.

Pumping in the bathroom is a juggling act.

While pumping in my home or in the office, where I have plenty of clean space, I hardly think about this, but here are the dilemmas I went through in the bathroom at each step of pumping :

1. Where to place the pump: The toilet in this particular bathroom had a tank with a level top, so that’s what I used, although it was  small. Most public toilets don’t have this feature. Alternatives would be resting on the toilet paper rolls, or (if your pump has long tubing) on the floor. There’s no good option.
2. Where to sit: This bathroom had a lid that covered the toilet bowl, so I closed it and sat on it. Most public restrooms don’t. You’d have to sit directly on the toilet seat. People pee on the toilet seat. Maybe you could stand up. I don’t know about your breast pump, but the tubing on mine won’t reach that far.
3. Assembling the collection pieces: Between leaning forward to pull pieces from my pump bag, pressing the flanges into the connectors, turning around backward to plug everything into the pump, I found it difficult in this small space to assemble the pieces without brushing my arms or the tubing against some surface of the bathroom. And where do you set down the first side while assembling the second side?
4. Where to set down the bottles/bags full of milk: At some point you have to set the bottles/bags down while you button up and pack everything away. In my office, I place the bottles full of milk on my clean desk until I’m ready to carry them to the refrigerator in the break room. In the restroom, I guess the best option is to put it in your lap and hope it doesn’t fall into the toilet or onto the floor.

Other mothers might experience it differently, depending on what kind of pump and case you have. Mine doesn’t have any special holders or compartments that helped with bathroom pumping.

It ties up the bathroom for others who need it.

Especially if there’s only a single-stall restroom available. A pumping session takes longer than your typical bathroom break, and it’s hard to rush. It’s awkward to walk out and face the other women lined up, waiting for you.

It’s unpleasant and uncomfortable.

This isn’t the worst thing in the world, but still, who wants to spend all their break time in the bathroom? It smells bad. It’s ugly. Whether pumping standing or sitting on the toilet, it’s hard to relax, which can inhibit the milk ejection reflex.

Sanitary lactation space should be a working mother’s right.

In many US states, it is a right. Several states have breastfeeding laws that require employers to provide facilities for pumping milk, “other than a toilet stall” which you can see in this compilation of state breastfeeding protection laws. Women should not have to pump in a bathroom to provide food for their babies. Some workplaces may not have the luxury of setting aside an entire room for pumping, but there must be some space that could be partitioned off when the pumping employee needs it.  I have been in two offices that used cubicle dividers to create a small pumping room. The room I pumped in while on jury duty was actually a  large closet adjacent to the restroom, and that worked fine.

If you are a mother who pumps milk in a bathroom, please don’t be offended. I commend you for enduring the unpleasant surroundings to provide the best food for your baby. I realize that, where there are no laws to mandate a designated pumping area, you might not have any choice. Maybe you’ve found a way to keep everything clean and you’ve got the routine down. But you should be entitled to a better space.

Moms, have you had to pump milk in a public bathroom? How did it work out for you?

After a month of full-time work, I’ve been forced to find ways to cope. Like other working mothers, my days are packed and I wish I had more time with my baby. A month ago, I wasn’t sure I could handle it, but it’s getting more comfortable. Here are a few tips that I want to share- the things I didn’t start out with and have discovered along the way.

Use a hands-free pumping device.

It has revolutionized my pumping experience. The first time I tried one, it was awkward to put on, and in the time it took to get it secured with the pump parts in the right place, I could have been done pumping. So I didn’t start using one consistently until a few weeks ago. After using it a few times, I was able to put it on in seconds. It helps me pump within my allotted break time since I can pump and eat at the same time. I can also read books, write emails, and blog. (Yes, I am pumping as I write this). And I noticed a surprising result: I get more milk.  Apparently, the milk flows better when I can sit back and relax. Some people find these a waste of money because they can rig up their own version like this one (I haven’t tried this, so let me know if it works for you). Here are a couple examples of hands-free pumping bras that I know of, at Easy Expressions and Simple Wishes.

Don’t waste time washing the pieces after each use.

I made this mistake at first, and it was cutting into my work time. Instead, between pump uses, you can just grab all the pieces, stuff them into a clean bag and put them in the refrigerator or insulated bag with your ice packs. (I do a quick rinse first so the milk doesn’t get stuck in the hard-to-clean places). I only do a full washing with soap and hot water at the end of the day, and I leave all the parts in my office until the weekend.

Enjoy it.

Pumping is the only time I have to myself during the day. That’s why I can’t bring myself to be productive during this time. No going online and paying bills, scheduling appointments, or catching up on my job-related work. I often look forward to the days when I don’t have to pump, I can socialize with my coworkers on breaks, and not worry about lactation accommodations at conferences and special events. But for now, I enjoy these few minutes to get away and breathe. I may even find myself missing it some day.

For a great collection of posts on working and breastfeeding from other bloggers, check out the September Carnival of Breastfeeding on working and breastfeeding. Scroll down to the bottom of the post for the links.

What suggestions or questions do you have about pumping at work?

My related posts:

Life after maternity leave

Back-to-work nursing strike

The courtroom attendant, a kind but awkward gentleman, checked in with me several times to make sure the timing of our breaks was ok with my pumping schedule.  “Juror number 9? [lowers his voice nearly to a whisper] I talked to the judge about your [voice drops even softer] . . . situation. . . ”

The judge offered to open the juror deliberation room, right behind the courtroom, for my pumping. It saved me a lot of walking and made the process much faster. I got to sit back in a comfy chair with a huge window-wall overlooking the city of Los Angeles as I pumped. Not bad.

I’m sure the other jurors wondered what was up with me, why I was being called aside, escorted out of the courtroom through a different door, and why did I carry that gym bag around everywhere?? I would have been more than happy to tell them about breastfeeding, but nobody asked. I remain a mystery . . .

My Related Posts:

1. Me and my breast pump. . . on jury duty
2. Pumping on jury duty: Part 2

March? That’s great! But wait,  that’s my husband’s spring break. Our only chance to travel for months. Can’t I come in January or February? No, they have no openings until March. It’s either serve now and pump, or skip vacation.

So I reported to jury duty today. And I am happy to say that the accommodations for my need to pump have exceeded my expectations!

The security guard paused as my breast pump rolled through the X-ray machine, but after calling another guard over to look at it, they let it through without a comment and without opening it. I was assigned to a juror assembly room on the 11th floor, while the pumping room was on the 5th floor. They immediately transferred me down to the 5th floor for easier access to the room. The room itself was really not very impressive: small, cold, and no lock on the door. But it had a comfortable chair and an electrical outlet. They made me a “Do Not Enter” sign.

The judge whose courtroom I was assigned to is amazing. The courtroom clerk privately informed the judge of my need to express milk. My fellow potential jurors didn’t know that the reason we were dismissed early for the day today was because I needed to pump. She will be making the breaks for the entire courtroom longer so that I have enough time to pump. I wonder if this judge was once a breastfeeding mother?

No more worries about losing my milk supply or having to pump in a bathroom. I’m now rather excited about fulfilling my jury duty!

California has a law that allows breastfeeding mothers to postpone jury duty for one year. Problem is, the clerk who initially postponed my service, months ago over the phone, wasn’t aware of this (neither was I, at the time). She told me, in an impatient tone, that September 14 was the absolute latest I could postpone, and that I was already beyond my extension limit.

When I made a call last week to inquire about pumping accommodations, the courthouse staff person had to ask her supervisor. I was informed that I could request to postpone it until December at the latest, when my baby turns 1. But I was thinking of taking vacation that month. If I have jury duty then, I’m stuck.

She told me there are facilities for pumping my milk, but she wasn’t able to describe these facilities, when I asked for details, other than it is a space with an electrical outlet. Sink? Chair? Privacy? She wasn’t sure.

Because of my hope for a winter vacation, I decided to leave my jury duty as scheduled for this week. And that would mean lugging my (rather heavy) pump and all my supplies with me downtown via public transit, uncertain of where and when I would be able to pump.

Then, in the process of writing this post, the night before I am scheduled for jury duty, I actually looked up the law and read it myself. Wait a minute. . . not only can I postpone it for a full year while breastfeeding, but then at one year, I can submit a written request to postpone it further as long as I am still breastfeeding.

Awesome law, California! Now, why doesn’t your courthouse staff know about it!? I talked to 3 different people, one of whom consulted a supervisor, and never was I fully informed of the extent of the law as it affects me.

Time to make some more phone calls. Quick, before they call me (and my breast pump) into the courthouse!

My related posts:

Pumping on Jury Duty: Part 2

Pumping on Jury Duty: A Final Update

Initially, I dreaded the return from maternity leave to part-time work. I thought of how much I would miss my baby, wondered how I would manage to get myself ready and out the door on time in the morning. I imagined breaking down crying in front of my coworkers from the stress of it all, and I worried that my milk supply would diminish.

But it wasn’t bad. I found some ways to juggle my time, continue to provide breast milk, and spend quality time with my son. I’ve gotten used to this, and I like my part time schedule. I pump 3 times during a full work day to maintain my milk supply and provide milk for the bottles.

A few things that helped me transition from full-time mommy to part-time work:

• Pictures of my baby in the office

• Adding a lamp with soft lighting. When I turn off the fluorescent overhead lights and turn on my lamp, it’s a different world in my office, one that helps me relax and feel comfortable as I pump.

• Phone calls home while pumping. My son loves to “talk” on the phone, and I love to hear his babble and button-pressing.

• A great babysitter. We have similar values and she loves spending time with my son. I know that he is safe and well-nurtured during the day. She helps with housework during his naps, so my husband and I come home to a clean kitchen and have more time to spend as a family.

Next Step: Working full-time

Now that I face a new transition to even more time away from home, I’m having those same fears I faced a few months ago. Working part-time is one thing, but full-time? How will I have time to get anything done at home? Will I miss all of my son’s upcoming milestones. . . his first steps, new words, new games?

I have weighed the options, and the bottom line is, with my husband in full-time graduate school, we need my income. I enjoy my career. The expense of full-time babysitting is going to hurt, but still leaves us enough to live on. My job is a full-time position, and that fact would be difficult to change. So back to work it is.

My Full-Time Work Survival Plan includes the strategies above, plus:

• Cooking and freezing meals over the weekend, so we can skip weeknight cooking and spend more time together.

• Getting up EARLY before my son awakens. This will be tricky, as he’s an early riser. It will take some discipline to get to bed early to get enough sleep. But getting ready for work once he awakens is slow and stressful. I think the time to start getting ready in peace will be worth it.

• Exercise. I’ve let this slide lately, but even though it takes time from my day, I sleep better, feel more energy, and it makes me happy. Oh, and I discovered that a few minutes of stretching and yoga poses before pumping at work helps me make more milk.

• Buy baby food. When starting solids, I made all of my son’s foods. Then I discovered jarred food. They make his dinner prep quick and easy, so I picked the most nutritious ones and stocked up for weeknight meals.

• Lots of weekend nursing. To help my milk production keep up, I’ll nurse him more often than he’d normally take a bottle. I don’t think he’ll object!

If you are a breastfeeding mom preparing to work outside the home, I’ve found a couple good resources. The first, Nursing Mother, Working Mother, is a book I have flipped through but haven’t read. And I just came across another called The Milk Memos that I would love to read. . . someday. When I have more time.