Can she explain to her boss that if she weren't breastfeeding, she'd have
to miss an average of 17 days of work in the coming year due to baby
illness, then ask if she can take it in 15-minute increments instead?  Are
there smokers where she works that are allowed unscheduled breaks because
they "have" to have their cigarette?  Perhaps she could tell them she's
"addicted" to the pump and will go into "withdrawal" (engorgement) if her
"craving" isn't satisfied? (Tongue planted very far in cheek!)

Becky Saenz, MD
Assistant Professor
University of MS Medical Center
Department of Family Medicine
[log in to unmask]

On Thu, 6 Aug 1998, JMowatt wrote:

> This is my first post so a brief intro...
>
> My name is Jennifer and I am a volunteer Nursing Mothers' Counselor
> with my local health system. I am also a mom to 3 wonderful kids and I
> am an LC wanna-be. I was s*bbed to Lactnet since May and recently
> changed my email address so I lost about a week's worth of posts and
> only saw the tail end of a working mom thread. I will go back and read
> these to help me gain insight.
>
> Here is my situation...I talked to a mom Tuesday night that will be
> returning to work at 8 weeks post-partum. She will work 12-hour shifts
> 3 days one week and 4 the next. I started to talk to her about pumps
> and here is the dilemma. She is a pharmacist and has no scheduled
> breaks. There would be no one to cover for her for even two 15-minute
> pump breaks. She works for a very family-UNfriendly drug store and is
> salaried so her argument of a guaranteed break is not valid.  We are
> in PA if anyone has specific advice regarding our laws   would
> appreciate it. I was unable to dig anything up.
>
> We discussed her options. Buying a good pump and trying to sneak in
> pump time whenever and wherever she can (she has a private room she
> can use). Partial breastfeeding--some EBM and supplementing during the
> day with formula and nursing at night...I discussed the fact that the
> baby might reverse her day/night schedule to nurse more at night and
> also what she would do on her days off i.e.: maintain schedule so
> breasts will get used to schedule or nursing on demand to maintain
> production and expect some fullness during the week. I think what she
> decides will be dependent on whether or not she can sneak in pump
> breaks or not.
>
> What did I miss? I want to help this mom work something out so that
> she doesn't wean if she doesn't want to (intentionally or
> accidentally).
>
> Please send me your thoughts ASAP as I will be calling her back in a
> few days.
>
> Thanks a lot.
> Jennifer
> Nursing Mothers' Counselor
>