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“I was on the WIC program when by daughter was born, which supplies low-income families with food supplements, formula, and nutritional counseling. The counselors seemed like they were totally uneducated about breastfeeding. Breastfeeding was hardly ever mentioned when I was pregnant, and the counselors were constantly pushing formula “Are you sure you don’t want any?” “If you ever change your mind just let us know.” I honestly felt like I was doing something wrong. I think agencies like this one are important, but they should be required to promote breastfeeding, and provide resources like breast pumps, lactation consultants, and references to breastfeeding groups.”

I’m sorry you had such an “un-WIC” experience when attending your WIC education sessions. Breastfeeding promotion and support is a MAJOR aspect of WIC. WIC is not even allowed to have pictures of formula or write with pens that have formula company names on them (the one exception is during a formula contract change- signs can be put up for a few months alerting participants about the change). Some WIC clinics are piloting a breastfeeding peer counselor programs to help support moms postpartum and encourage breastfeeding during their prenatal period (the counselors even nurse in the waiting room so moms can see how normal and natural breastfeeding is). Many clinics also have breastpump loan programs (with manual, foot-pedal, and/or electric pumps) and have a certified lactation counselor on staff. My hope is that the staff you came in contact with DOES have more training… on WIC guidelines AND on the importance of breastfeeding (advantages of breastfeeding are global: reaching beyond baby, mom, family members, schools, healthcare & insurance industry, and even the work place.)

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How sad that you can’t tell the difference.

By the way, if you would do a little research on the rest of the planet, you would discover that it is quite beneficial for the entire society for the working force to support family rearing.

Ignorance begets bigotry, I see.

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My first child breastfed for eleven months, which meant eight months of pumping at work two to three times daily (with a quick trip to her daycare at lunchtime as well, hoping that she would be hungry). My second child is now six months old, and I have the same arrangement, although I work for a different company.

I feel very fortunate to work for organizations/people who are extremely supportive of nursing, pumping, privacy, and respect, and feel sad to see new mothers who are probably not able to nurse/pump, given their work schedules or environments.

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It was between 14 and 25 years ago that I was fortunate to have the opportunity to breastfeed all 4 of my children, while still working as a nurse for the State of NJ. Most moms who chose to breastfeed in the 70′s and 80′s were looked upon as a bit odd – at least that was my experience. It was a wonderful opportunity however, to do a lot of teaching by example. Some of my friends, one of whom thought it was “disgusting”, ended up breasfeeding their next child.

With regard to my work situation at the time, I remain grateful for the supervisors that recognized not only the value of keeping me on as a dedicated employee but also the value of this important task on a future generation. I was always afforded a quiet place to pump, and when the schedule allowed, I was able to run home for a quick feed since I lived only a few miles from my work. My children, the oldest of whom is now a doctoral candidate at Princeton, are healthy, happy and contributing citizens. Breastfeeding gave them many advantages. All moms and their babes should have that advantage.

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This issue is not about women being able to “flaunt” their breastfeeding or bare breasts. Its about allowing working mom’s the time and PRIVACY to pump/breastfeed during the work day. Let’s try to support all moms, whether they work in the home or elsewhere.

I really think those who wish to be negative and cruel should take it elsewhere.

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I was not so lucky concerning pumping. It was impossible for me to pump, I could not express one drop. I ended up rushing home every evening, engorged, hoping to come home to a hungry baby. I wish I had planned things better, so I could have stayed home with my baby. Lorraine

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I wrote this as a response to a posting earlier in this string but wanted to post it again because I think this is important.

I’m a working mother of a 4 month old and I think it shouldn’t be an employer’s responsibility to pay for maternity leave (assuming we had maternity leave)– I think it should come from the government. I like to think of such a tax as an insurance that all people pay into over their lifetime with the idea that someday they might have a baby and want to take off a year to bond and take care of them.

I don’t think companies should be responsible because:

1. The more companies are forced to pay for support for mothers, the more there will be discrimination and pay discrepancy, and I’m sure it will happen whether laws are in place or not!

and 2. Women who work for small companies, are part-time, unemployed, or self-employed have just as hard a time as women who work full time for a big wealthy company, so why shouldn’t they get the same support!

I lived in Germany for a while and there, everybody gets a small amount of money to help make ends meet– for 18 months after a baby is born. If the woman wants to go back to work right away then it’s the man who gets the money. What I find enlightening about the German system is that you get the same amount of money whether you’ve been employed or not, whether you worked for a big company or small, or whether you made a lot of money or a little. The system simply acknowledges that babies under 1 1/2 are best taken care of at home by a parent. I also know, by the way, scores of women who used this time to become entrepreneurs and ultimately contributed much more to society than if they’d stayed in a job for survival.

I currently work full time. If I could get even 25% of my salary ($600/month), we could squeak by, but I can’t afford to quit my job and it’s what’s providing my baby’s healthcare benefits. I worked for years to get as financially established as I am, and I’m already 34 so I didn’t want to wait any longer to have kids. We rent a modest apartment and take public transit and even with 2 decent salaries (around 40,000 each) we just make ends meet. I would consider it heaven to stay home and take care of my baby but somebody explain to me how we can live on one salary in Los Angeles! Childbirth shouldn’t be a privilege reserved for the wealthy.

(see my earlier post titled “Theater Techie Mom” if you want my breastfeeding story)

p.s. Anybody in LA want to get together and discuss these issues? I’m making a documentary about how moms make ends meet (or not) and would love your story! Contact me– kindredg@gmail.com

-Kindred

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I returned to work after 5 months with both of my children. I work for a great company (Pitney Bowes). I approached our in-house medical staff about letting me borrow one of their examining rooms. They were completely supportive, and eventually several girls used the room. That was 6 years ago and just last week the head nurse joked sympathetically with me about how I had to pump in the steril environment of a medical room. Apparently now they have a comforable private lounge for nursing moms. I was then, and I am now, grateful for their enthusiasm and warm hospitality at the time, regardless of the color of the walls! If you are lucky enough to have a medical office at work, and no nursing room, that might be a good place to start.

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i have a bebe au lait cover from babycenter that is great. i drape that over myself where ever i need to pump and it helps alot. the other thing you can do is drape baby blankets over the windows – a bit tedious, but will give you full privacy. just know you are not alone!

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I think one thing that might make things better is if pregnant/postpartum moms were simply introduced to a successfully breastfeeding mom. Someone who has made it past the “difficult” first 6 weeks or so, when your breasts get bloated, you leak all over, and the baby hasn’t yet settled into life. After things settle down, breastfeeding is MUCH easier than bottle feeding.
1) Baby is healthier and happier. All the time.
2) Breastmilk diapers don’t stink-at least not like the formula ones do.
3) If baby is upset, cries, teething, or having trouble sleeping, popping a tit in her mouth will calm her right down.
4) If you share a “family bed” with baby, nobody has to get up for the middle of the night feedings-in fact, you can get so that you don’t really have to even wake up all the way. VERY cuddly!
5) No waiting, anytime, for bottles to warm up while baby cries unconsolably. Food is ready NOW, perfect temperature.
6) Fewer dishes to do.
7) Nothing to buy! Formula is expensive.
No indigestion problems.
9) Mom gets these wonderful hormones too, very relaxing.
10) There is NOTHING in the world like the look your baby will give you as you are breastfeeding. You will never be so close to another human being in your life.

If we could just convey that to all new moms, the breastfeeding rate would skyrocket.

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