Many of my pump rentals are to low income women. Today I was brought up
short by one woman's situtation and thought you all might like to hear.
I often have these Moms call me after they go back to work and say they are
not getting much milk pumping. We go over the basics and it often
transpires that they are hardly pumping at work.
The woman today, for example, works an 8 hour late shift on a factory
production line. She is renting a pump so she can get breast milk for her
baby when she's at work. She told me last time she did this, she didn't get
enough milk. After discussion I realized she is NOT planning to pump at
work AT ALL! She is simply planning to pump extra milk during the hours she
is home, so she can leave it for the baby.
This is why many of my clients don't get enough milk! They add all the
pumpings during their at home hours and are not able to pump at work, due
to lack of suitable space, time, acceptibility etc.
I know, the new legislation, etc. I did discuss this with Mom. She thinks
she might be able to keep the pump in her locker and pump once in her 30
minute dinner break, if her supervisor agrees. But she just took her
maternity leave and is not keen to make trouble.... geez, sounds like the
middle ages. Anyone have any experience working with this situation? I told
her the obvious like, ask a woman boss with kids, etc. etc....
Anne Merewood