All for the Love of Baby

I mentioned I am back to work. Did I mention I am also a breastfeeding mom back to work?

It is a very love-hate relationship to breastfeed.

Pros

• Convenient - lunch on the go
• Cost effective
• Nice size boobs! :)
• Amazing bond with my baby

Cons

• You're the only one that can feed at 1:00 a.m.
• Constant monitoring of boobs - as they fill up
• Have to sleep on your back
• Leaking - nuf said
• Privacy....and can I get some please!

So I used to work for a company when I had Sydney that provided a lactation room - a quiet atmosphere just for nursing mothers. At my new company, the lactation room is right next to a row of cubes, right where my peers work...with a wall that doesn't go all the way up to the ceiling. So it's pretty clear when you hear a whirring, pumping sound what's going on. So to avoid a breastfeeding concert for my peers, I have opted for a bathroom stall. It's not serene but it's not by my co-workers either. So everyday at 9:00 a.m. I drag my heavy bag to the ladies to set up shop....the tubes, the bottles, the cups. I also invested in a hands free bustier (thank you to a tip from my niece) that allows me to read a few pages while I'm pumping.

So it's a women's restroom, so when my machine begins to pump - MOST women should know what's going on. But how many times I'm sitting in my stall and hear a lady say to another, "What's that sound??" I decide to hide out until the heels disappear. Today, however, I had the pleasure of the mantenance crew (men) knock on the door RIGHT when I sat down - lovely. "Maintnenance - anyone in here?" Well I had to respond or they'd come in. "Ummmm, yeah." And it's not like I can make the milk come out faster. So 10 minutes goes by, I fill my jugs (or empty them rather), clean up and out I come with the maintenance crew waiting - lovely.

So, privacy, maybe tomorrow there will be a fire drill and the fire department will show up.

I hope my daughter appreciates her lunch. Bon appe"tit" Natty!

Comments

[Jenny Weisser]

I am just reading many of these as Ron just cued me in to them. I am lucky not to be in the bathroom (my classroom is my lactation room) but amazingly enough 4 out of 5 fire drills we have had at the school where I teach where while I was pumping! Seriously what are the odds?! It's gotten much better though. Melissa you are a tough cookie.