Breastfeeding and Working with Pumping Breaks

by Kat
(UK)

Visitor Breastfeeding and Working Story: I returned to work when my daughter was 8 1/2 months old and she was still feeding once in the day, So I told my employer i would need a blind and a lock putting on one of the offices. That was a bit embarrassing in its self, but they were fine.

So day one came, luckily I thought to wear breast pads, something I hadn't done for months, as come 2.30 my break time, I was leaking!

I was worried about being able to relax and to be able to establish a flow so had some pics and videos of my daughter on my phone to keep me going!

Over the 4 months I pumped at work, there were ups and downs.

First one was an upset about my expressed milk not being given or being given at a different time to what i had said. I got upset about that, perhaps because it was my little way of remaining involved in her life whilst I was away! But after communicating that with my husband and childminder, all was fine.

The next was a male colleague who for some reason had no idea where I disappeared to every afternoon came looking for me, and kept trying to come in the room, asking what I was doing etc, saying he could see me through the crack in the door.

It was a bit annoying at the time but highly amusing when I came out and told him and he went a bit red! He didnt bother me again!

Sometimes I left my pump at home and sometimes I left my milk at work, but it all worked out ok!

Wouldn't have changed it for the world though! I'm proud of myself for continuing.

Fed until she was 1 year old, have now stopped the day feeds, will continue evening and morning till she self weans!