My Experiences Pumping at Work

When we were contemplating moving and accepting this job, one of the cons for staying was my hesitation at how I would be treated when I came back from maternity leave and needed to pump at work.  Arizona's laws are very vague about the rights of a woman, especially in a company with less than 15 employees, which was my old school and my experience pumping there before wasn't exactly positive.

When I had Merrie, I had my pumping schedule all figured out.  The SPED teacher let me use her room and her fridge, but I would still need to clean all the parts in the drinking fountain.  I was fine with that.  For my afternoon time I needed the 6th grade TA to cover my class.  This worked for about a month, but controlling kids wasn't really her forte, so I always came back to chaos.  Eventually, my boss told me I had to stop pumping during that time because the TA couldn't handle my kids.  She also told me that the VP had breastfed all of her kids without pumping during the day, so it was possible.  Being a new parent, and because Arizona's laws are so vague, and not knowing how PHYSICALLY painful it would be not to pump, I didn't fight her.

I also had another faculty member verbally bully me about pumping ALL THE TIME.  She told me it was about time to stop and that Merrie "didn't need it" once I went back to work.  After Merrie turned one, she would often ask if I was still nursing and when I told her yes, her response was always "still?" or "Why don't you stop?"  Eventually, my supply dwindled during the day and I stopped pumping completely.  Luckily, I was still able to nurse during the evening - which became our bonding time until she totally weaned herself right after she turned 2.

This time around, I told my boss right away I planned to pump after I returned to work, for the rest of the year and into next school year.  He not only okayed it, but we've rearranged my schedule so the kids have recess in the middle of the morning instead of right before lunch.  My TA takes them out - so even if she couldn't control them in the classroom they're just running around so it's easier.

When she's been unavailable he's covered for my class or like yesterday, another teacher watched them for me.  I've only had a couple other teachers notice me cleaning my stuff, but when they have it's been nothing but support.  It is a lot of work and it is exhausting - but I know I'm blessed with the ability to feed my kids this way...so I will, until they feel ready to stop.  With Merrie, that was at about 26 months.  With Micah, we'll see.  But at least I know I have the respect to support my son here, I didn't have before.

http://breastfeedinglaw.com/articles/pumping-9-to-5/

First Full Day Back :)

Made it the full day today, but will definitely have to go back in this weekend to have everything ready for Tuesday.  There is a lot of stuff I need to sort through and my room definitely needs a face lift.  I found piles of papers all over my room, and because they may be student work I don't want to throw them away.  I may just make a huge pile and go through it as I have time.  My tables need to be cleaned/wiped down with a very good spray and my white boards need a good cleaning.

I do however, know where my kids are in each subject and where I need to start Tuesday.  For the most part, they are just a bit behind where I wanted.  Whenever there is a substitute there is always a margin of error that increases the longer you are gone.  I don't think they're knowledge level decreased which is good My boss also has allowed my kids to take their recess between math and reading with our instructional assistant, instead of right before lunch, so I have a break in the middle of the morning to pump.  There is definitely more support here for my desire to feed Micah naturally, than I had in Douglas - BY FAR.  It's a nice change.

I've added three plastic containers, a filing cabinet and a mini-fridge to my room.  I'm also revamping my behavior management system (think clothes pins and colors) and my literature circles per my master's theses.  I can't wait to explain the great mechanics of master's courses to my kids (haha) and I am most excited for the mini-fridge in my room.  I am also happy to see my kids again too...

Thomas, Merrie and Micah made it through the day great.  Micah is taking bottles really slow, but he's taking them and still nursing great.  We are giving him 4 oz. bottles, which he's taking about every 3 hours.  They're on a slow drip (which contributes to his taking longer to drink them) and he likes to fall asleep while eating too.  Today, Thomas said he barely slept.  I got home, nursed him for about five minutes around 6 and he's been asleep ever since...figures :)  Hopefully we'll still get some sleep tonight!

Merrie has been AMAZING helping Thomas out.  When he needs to go outside Thomas sets the bouncer up by the door and Merrie watches Micah.  She puts his blanket back up if it falls down and she's become a master at giving him his pacifier.  Thankfully, she knows if he's sleeping and pushes it out not to give it back to him. She also hasn't been giving Thomas as much trouble pushing his buttons as normal, which helps my stress level too.

Micah seems to be treating the pacifier like Merrie did.  He'll take it, but he tends to spit it out and is still okay.  It just calms him down.  Hopefully in about a month we'll be done with it.  We failed Merrie with her thumb, so we're glad that, so far, Micah hasn't found his yet either - that might contribute to a bit longer time with the pacifier though...we'll see.

We've also found that Micah is much more dependent on us than Merrie was at this age.  He DOES NOT like to be put down.  Merrie was good chilling in the bouncer forever.  I think this is just a personality difference.  Hopefully, he'll grow to be more independent as he gets older.

Another funny thing we've noticed is that Micah is also not fond of ANY poop in his diaper.  Today, Thomas said he was screaming and he didn't want to bottle and didn't want to rock.  So Thomas took his diaper off, with what he said was just a "speck" of poop, and then put the same diaper right back on...and he quieted down right away.

In all, today was very busy and I'm very tired - but it was educational and looks like the kids at least are ready for me to go back to work.  I however, really am not ready to leave my babies.  But it is what it is!

For the record, a full day is from 7:30 to 4:30...

I JUST had a baby!

I don't know how many different personality tests I've taken over the years, hundreds probably, but they all say pretty much the same thing...I am a people pleaser - I do everything possible to make those around me happy, often at my own expensive (I have a hard time saying "no").  I also don't take failure well and hate receiving gifts/compliments in front of a lot of people.

One of the side effects to this particular personality trait (along with not being able to say no) is that I have a hard time relaxing, especially when I have extended time off of work.  So, over the last 6 weeks, I've found myself working more often than I probably should be.  Whether it's lesson planning or filling out forms for something needed at school - teachers do most of their work away from school.  I haven't been sleeping enough, I've been stressing about making sure I get things done and see people and get Christmas/birthday presents/cards sent out and disappointing people because I'm not able to go to something because all I want to do is sleep and making sure everyone in my little family is happy too.  I've also been worrying about my supply once I go back to work and whether or not I'll be able to pump at work - which is probably my biggest fear right now.

I read an article today about how I need to sit back and remember that I just went through a pretty traumatic experience and need to give myself time to recover - everything else can wait.  So, although I only have a couple days left of my maternity leave, I am going to do just that.  Until Wednesday I am not
> Going to stress about making other people happy
> Going to work on ANYTHING work related
> Going to answer ANY emails or texts from work
> Going to stress about what other people think about ANYTHING
> Going to worry about losing my supply or having to struggle to find time to pump

I know I only have a few days left before I go back to work, but maybe they will be more relaxing than the last several weeks have been.  I've got to remember to take care of myself too!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ashlee-gadd/you-just-had-a-baby_b_6439326.html?ncid=fcbklnkushpmg00000037