In my journey to create a guide for working mothers who are breastfeeding, I interviewed numerous women who faced the challenge of pumping milk while balancing their careers. A staggering 84% of these mothers reported that their jobs hindered their ability to achieve their breastfeeding goals.
Why is this the case? The reality is that managing work responsibilities alongside breastfeeding can be incredibly challenging. Many workplaces lack adequate facilities for pumping, and some employers make the process even more difficult. The act of pumping itself can be exhausting, even for those who have managed to produce a sufficient supply.
Real-Life Pumping Experiences
Here are a few real-life examples of how diverse pumping experiences can be:
- A police officer had to pump in her squad car parked next to a creek where a murder victim was being excavated.
- A nonprofit worker at a conference venue was directed to a non-locking locker room to pump, only to be walked in on by the Harlem Globetrotters.
- A journalist was given a mere 15 minutes to pump, with a 10-minute walk each way to the lactation room.
- A female lawyer was told by a partner that she couldn’t participate in a trial because the jurors might hear her pumping sounds from the bathroom.
- A woman was questioned by her boss about why pumping is referred to as “expressing” since there was nothing “express” about it.
- A hospital had a lactation room for patients but not for staff, leaving doctors without a private space.
- A literary agent had to pump in a printer closet, holding the door closed while the printer buzzed around her.
- A kindergarten teacher experienced frequent interruptions from both adults and children due to the lack of a lock on her classroom door.
Many women expressed frustration when they struggled to keep up with their babies’ milk needs while working. Instead of receiving support, they were often told to “just try harder”—to pump more or for longer, even when they were already overwhelmed. Some were encouraged to wake up in the middle of the night to pump, which is not feasible for everyone (like my daughter, who is a notoriously restless sleeper).
For more insights on managing these challenges, check out one of our other blog posts. Also, if you’re considering options for your own family journey, you might want to explore the leading at-home insemination kit provider in the world, which can be found here. Additionally, for comprehensive information on infertility and home insemination, the CDC offers an excellent resource.
Summary
Working mothers face substantial challenges when it comes to breastfeeding while managing careers, often leading to unmet goals. Many encounter insufficient support at their workplaces, making it difficult to maintain a breastfeeding routine. Despite the obstacles, it’s essential for each mother to set her own breastfeeding objectives based on her circumstances.
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