For most of us, we enjoy talking about our babies and about the process of breastfeeding. In fact, if we aren't careful we can end up being downright boring to those who either aren't lactating or aren't nearly as fascinated by our children as we are. I have made a big effort to be aware of the fact that as much as I love Abigail and love discussing her that not everyone will be as intrigued by her as I am. So I hit a bit of a motherlode (so to speak) the other day when another woman on my floor at work returned to the office after ten weeks of maternity leave. She is now breastfeeding her second child (and second girl) and I ran into her in the kitchen when she was doing what else...cleaning her pump parts!
Now because of when I started my current job, she had never seen me in a non-pregnant state so that was the first thing to get over, but then naturally we started talking about our girls and even more so about the logistics of pumping at work. We do not have a lactation room, but almost everyone has a private office and we have good kitchen facilities that are well maintained so overlap a breastfeeding mama is in good stead here. I assumed because this was not only her second child, but her second round of breastfeeding that she would be old hat and dispensing fabulous tidbits.
As it turns out, I had the opportunity to be something of a resource. We discussed prolactin levels and getting in more pumping early in the day. We discussed fenugreek if her supply really did end up becoming a problem. We even discussed how to create a hands-free pumping system and I sent along the links for the Easy Expressions bra (which I haven't bought, but had heard good things about) and the link from kellymom.com about creating a "poor woman's" hands-free system using hair ties (this I still currently use and it works reasonably well). We even discussed how to deal with cats who have taken to soiling the carpet appparently in response to the new "invader".
Then when I saw her a few days later she exclaimed' "You've been my inspiration. I took my pump home over the weekend and have been able to add a few more bags to my freezer stash." I was both taken aback and completely humbled. All I have wanted to do is get as much information as I can for myself so that I can feed my daughter as effectively as possible. I feel like I am accomplishing that goal because she is not only thriving but at five months, she is now weighing in at 18 pounds, 6 ounces. And here was a whole other mother, an experienced breastfeeder at that, saying that I had given her something to think about.
It speaks to how powerful it is when we reach out and give voice to our experiences. Behind how many office doors in America are women working not just on their reports and their conference calls but also to feed their babies? If we give a voice to the practice of routinely pumping, if we make it assumed that this will be part of our work life for at least several months, think about the power we would have. And apparently, I had done something good for her, but she had more than returned the favor by letting me know the impact. That makes me proud of not just what I am doing for Abigail but what efforts like this blog may do for other women.
So whether you are happily or reluctantly strapping into your flanges today, remember that there are more of us out there than you are probably aware of. I would love to have a "pump in" in the workplaces across America, have every woman who is pumping sit down one day, all at the same time, and do it together. Businesses wouldn't be able to operate without our hard work and how great a demonstration of our strength than by acknowledging the balance between our jobs and our babies.
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Sunday, July 15, 2007
Disaster averted?
This past week I experienced something that could have threatened my ability to continue nursing my son. And it all started with a tiny spec of dust, or something of that sort.
While visiting a plastics machine shop on an errand for my husband, I felt something go into my eye as someone flopped a sheet of lexan down on a counter. I didn't think much of it at first, I rubbed my eye and went on about my day. But later that night that my eye was swollen and very painful. I rinsed it out as best I could with the shower sprayer on a low setting, and called the eye doc the next morning.
The good news was that the spec was gone, and that only the white of my eye and the underside of my eyelid was scratched and irritated. He wrote me a prescription for an antibiotic ointment, which I assumed would be safe for me to take while nursing (you know what they say about ass-u-me-ing). After all, I had checked the yes box and even circled the word "nursing" on the information sheet I'd filled out at the beginning of my appointment.
Thankfully I read the information packet included with the medication before applying it to my eye. It advised to weigh the benefits and risks to the mother and to either "discontinue nursing the infant or discontinue taking the medication". Discontinue nursing?! Gah!
You hear warnings about having extra milk on hand in case of a situation like this, but I couldn't believe it was actually happening. I did not have nearly enough frozen milk to feed Luc for a week (the length of time I was supposed to be on the medication). I didn't even have enough for two days.
I decided not to take the antibiotic, which was a preventive measure anyway. I would just be very careful to keep my hands clean and not to touch my eye, and I would hope against hope that I didn't get an infection.
I complained to Sarah, who of course immediately offered me some of her abundant freezer stash (can you believe this woman?!). I wouldn't feel right taking her milk though, she's worked so hard to have that stash, and I've admittedly worked much less hard on my two day's worth. But still, I'm humbled by her offer.
I am proud that I've been able to provide breast milk for my son for almost ten months, and haven't had to supplement with formula. Though at this stage of our nursing relationship, introducing formula isn't what worried me... I can't even imagine having to stop nursing him. No nursing in the morning. No nursing before nap times, and no nursing after work. And most importantly, no nursing at night. What would he think? How would he cope? Would he feel like I was rejecting him? Would he even want to return to nursing after a week of being continually turned down? Would he... love me less?
The thought of it just breaks my heart. I'd be absolutely crushed, for both of us. Nursing is a vital part of our relationship. It's one of the things in life that needn't have been threatened for me to appreciate it. I'm thankful for the ablilty to nurse my child every day. And I'm floored that such a tiny thing (literally) could have meant an abrupt end to our nursing relationship. Maybe that's the worst-case scenario. But I'm just glad that my eye is healed, and I didn't have to find out.
And yes, this was the kick in the pants that I needed. I pumped extra hard this week and was able to add two more bags of milk to my freezer stash. It's not much, but it's a start.
While visiting a plastics machine shop on an errand for my husband, I felt something go into my eye as someone flopped a sheet of lexan down on a counter. I didn't think much of it at first, I rubbed my eye and went on about my day. But later that night that my eye was swollen and very painful. I rinsed it out as best I could with the shower sprayer on a low setting, and called the eye doc the next morning.
The good news was that the spec was gone, and that only the white of my eye and the underside of my eyelid was scratched and irritated. He wrote me a prescription for an antibiotic ointment, which I assumed would be safe for me to take while nursing (you know what they say about ass-u-me-ing). After all, I had checked the yes box and even circled the word "nursing" on the information sheet I'd filled out at the beginning of my appointment.
Thankfully I read the information packet included with the medication before applying it to my eye. It advised to weigh the benefits and risks to the mother and to either "discontinue nursing the infant or discontinue taking the medication". Discontinue nursing?! Gah!
You hear warnings about having extra milk on hand in case of a situation like this, but I couldn't believe it was actually happening. I did not have nearly enough frozen milk to feed Luc for a week (the length of time I was supposed to be on the medication). I didn't even have enough for two days.
I decided not to take the antibiotic, which was a preventive measure anyway. I would just be very careful to keep my hands clean and not to touch my eye, and I would hope against hope that I didn't get an infection.
I complained to Sarah, who of course immediately offered me some of her abundant freezer stash (can you believe this woman?!). I wouldn't feel right taking her milk though, she's worked so hard to have that stash, and I've admittedly worked much less hard on my two day's worth. But still, I'm humbled by her offer.
I am proud that I've been able to provide breast milk for my son for almost ten months, and haven't had to supplement with formula. Though at this stage of our nursing relationship, introducing formula isn't what worried me... I can't even imagine having to stop nursing him. No nursing in the morning. No nursing before nap times, and no nursing after work. And most importantly, no nursing at night. What would he think? How would he cope? Would he feel like I was rejecting him? Would he even want to return to nursing after a week of being continually turned down? Would he... love me less?
The thought of it just breaks my heart. I'd be absolutely crushed, for both of us. Nursing is a vital part of our relationship. It's one of the things in life that needn't have been threatened for me to appreciate it. I'm thankful for the ablilty to nurse my child every day. And I'm floored that such a tiny thing (literally) could have meant an abrupt end to our nursing relationship. Maybe that's the worst-case scenario. But I'm just glad that my eye is healed, and I didn't have to find out.
And yes, this was the kick in the pants that I needed. I pumped extra hard this week and was able to add two more bags of milk to my freezer stash. It's not much, but it's a start.
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Boosted!
Though it may not seem like a big victory, I feel like sharing how my pump-esteem has been boosted. Since returning to work full time, I have been pumping four times per day, in part to make sure I get out the ounces I need for my little one and in part to make sure I am continuing to stimulate my supply. However, I have had the occasional day when I was only able to pump three times. One of those days happened last week, but I was still able to get out the ounces I needed plus a little extra. So I decided to try an experiment and see if that trend would continue and so far, IT HAS! I have been getting out my ounces and for the most part, I have had a little extra. We will see if this continues and if I see production drop, I'll reincorporate that fourth pumping, but it feels really good to be balancing what my daughter needs with a simplification in my working day. While I will pump as long as she needs me to, it isn't exactly my favorite thing to do so if I can do it less with the same results, I will.
At the same time, I don't want to be negative about the act of pumping. While plastic flanges aren't the same as having your baby cuddled up to you, it does give you reason during the day (or night depending on when you work) to be entirely "mom". The American workplace isn't famous for being supportive of families, but if you are pumping at work, then that is changing and you are part of the change. Plus, you get the emotional boost of knowing that you are providing for your baby not just financially but also physically and nutritionally while you are still at work. That is huge and you should eek every bit of comfort you can out of that thought. And who knows, maybe thinking about it that way will even help your letdown a bit more.
Final side note: the term "letdown" - prior to breastfeeding, this had nothing but negative connotations as it meant one was disappointed, but now it's what your baby wants and needs, even when he or she doesn't know what to call it. Funny how parenthood and breastfeeding can even change the English language.....
At the same time, I don't want to be negative about the act of pumping. While plastic flanges aren't the same as having your baby cuddled up to you, it does give you reason during the day (or night depending on when you work) to be entirely "mom". The American workplace isn't famous for being supportive of families, but if you are pumping at work, then that is changing and you are part of the change. Plus, you get the emotional boost of knowing that you are providing for your baby not just financially but also physically and nutritionally while you are still at work. That is huge and you should eek every bit of comfort you can out of that thought. And who knows, maybe thinking about it that way will even help your letdown a bit more.
Final side note: the term "letdown" - prior to breastfeeding, this had nothing but negative connotations as it meant one was disappointed, but now it's what your baby wants and needs, even when he or she doesn't know what to call it. Funny how parenthood and breastfeeding can even change the English language.....
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