Dear Anne
I think this is a very common problem - not just for blue collar working
mums either. A number of women find themselves so busy at work - deadlines,
heavy shifts ie nurses. that finding enough time to express is beyond them.
Blue collar working mums are finding it really hard because their
supervisors will often dock their pay if they take time out to express. I
had a woman with this problem last year. she would have lost equivalent to
1 days pay if she expressed for her 4 month old - she was the sole
breadwinner for this family - hubby lost his job. She decided to give the
baby AF when she was at work - only way she could cope. havent heard if
still breastfeeding. yes I
sometimes get really angry and frustrated that this is still happening with
such sickening regularity.
warm regards
jenni
RN RM IBCLC in private practice and mother to Daniel, Alicia, Michael,
Ashley, Leighton & Kathryn
[log in to unmask]
"When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot in it and hold on!"

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> From: Anne Merewood <[log in to unmask]>
> To:
> Subject: working/pumping
> Date: Friday, March 13, 1998 1:56
>
> 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
>