I hated pumping milk (who doesn't?), but I ended up pumping for a year for both boys. That was a personal goal that wanted to reach and was about as long as I could do it without going crazy. I've tried to put together a few tips that were helpful for me, that I figured out over time. They might not work for everyone, but might come in handy for someone who is just starting out and wants to hear what other people did. Read more

Tags: breastfeeding

I'm not quite sure I got enough details to decide if I agree, but this was an interesting article nonetheless. A medical student is taking the National Board of Medical Examiners to court in order to get extra time to pump during the Step 2 CK exam. I think it's reasonable to ask for some extra time, even though I think that many students would probably just try to deal with it as best they could (pump before starting, take half the test, pump during a 45 minute break, then take the other half, and pump immediately afterwards). Maybe I'm just a pushover when it comes to these things. In any case, I think a reasonable request should be considered.

There is also the added complication that she is already taking the test over 2 days to accommodate her dyslexia and ADHD. Perhaps that is part of the reason why the NBME is reluctant. I'm not sure if I have this straight, but it sounds like she is taking half the test each day (so 4.5 hours per day). I can't tell if she is requesting an additional 60 minutes on top of a 45 minute break, but I'm not sure why this all matters (105 break minutes strikes me as somewhat excessive though). On one hand, what is the harm in giving her the extra time to pump, but on the other hand, based on my own experiences, 45 minutes could be sufficient to pump once during the half-day session (but then again, every woman is different). I can totally see both sides - breastfeeding advocates might cry foul, but medical students might fret, since the test is given under stressful circumstances as it is, and other than the minimum time needed to pump, any extra time would be unfair. So I guess the tough part is trying to determine what a reasonable time period is.

She has a supportive physician stating it is insufficient time (though it is a rather generalized statement), so she's got good backup. However, when I read the statements, I felt it was a bit over-dramatized. I guess it's possible that she expresses milk very slowly and needs a lot of time. I'm not sure how I feel, but I just don't see what the harm would be to just give her the extra time (even if I don't think you really need all that time). It's so bizarre that this can be such a big deal.

Breastfeeding certainly has been in the limelight - I don't see why people get so bent out of shape about it (from both sides). I do think moms should be discreet, and I get frustrated when it's clear that some moms are trying to make a statement when they feed their baby, because I don't really think it helps the cause. In any case, I'm not going to get into it, since I don't think it's easy to convey one's opinions on a written platform like this without your words being totally misconstrued. I'm all for breastfeeding, but I totally respect a woman's ability to choose what she wants to do (including formula - gasp!). And even though it is a mother's right to be able to feed her child the way she wants to, how one goes about requesting it will certainly affect the response. And demanding something vs. being amenable to reasonable compromise might not always get what you want. Baby steps, right?

Tags: breastfeeding

Many nursing moms have difficulty finding a clean, discreet place to pump milk. While some might feel comfortable pumping in public places (waiting areas at airports, for example), I've always sought out more private locations. It's a tragedy that in this day and age, there aren't more designated areas in workplaces for women to pump and/or nurse. This is particularly unfortunate in hospitals, where you would think there might be more emphasis on creating such environments. Other than the newborn nursery, there aren't really many places in our university hospital that welcome nursing moms. There is a "lactation room" in the medical school building, but it is really a converted closet with two tiny spaces separated by a huge vinyl curtain. The spaces are no bigger than a shower stall (seriously), and can barely fit a chair and small stool to place your pump on. It's a struggle to set up and a challenge to avoid spilling milk all over the place because it's so easy to knock everything over. Also, with only two spaces to accommodate the school and hospital staff, it is usually occupied every time I go (usually around lunchtime). And it's not like I have that many opportunities to run off and pump during the day.

I am actually not rotating through the university hospital for my Ob/Gyn rotation, and instead, am spending 6 weeks at an affiliated private hospital about 20 minutes away. Coincidentally, I did one half of my Internal Medicine rotation there as well, during which I was pumping milk for M. The lactation room is larger, but it is also where nurses unofficially store their lunches, so it was pretty awkward to keep getting interrupted (since I usually pump during lunch) with people coming in to pick up their food. The last time I was there, I just ended up pumping in my car under a nursing apron my good friend Sofi gave me. Not cool. But it seemed more private, even though I'd get occasional looks from people parking nearby who probably wondered why I was sitting in my car for such a long time. There is a new hospital facility that is being finished, which is gorgeous and spacious, and I have clinics and ambulatory surgical cases there. There aren't any designated lactation rooms there that I know of (yet), and when I asked the controller desk nurses in the OR, the sympathetic woman there told me she used the shower stall in the women's locker room (which I had scoped out and initially rejected because 1) It was tiny and 2) there wasn't an electrical outlet (and I hate going off of batteries - it just doesn't pump as well)). I asked a good friend of mine, who is a transitional intern there, where she pumped (she had a baby several weeks before internship - gutsy!) and she gave me some good leads (individual study rooms, unoccupied clinic rooms). I guess maybe I should be more aggressive in finding appropriate locations.

I think I will try to pump until A is one year old. I've got nothing against formula (I can't stand the breastmilk vs. formula debates). Moms should quit judging other moms and be more supportive of all our choices. I've thought about switching A to formula now, but part of me prefers not to have the additional transition to cow's milk in a few months. It's only a few more months (and then it's bye bye to the pump!). Plus, I did the same with M, and that seemed to work out well for us.

As if pregnancy, labor and delivery were not hard enough - moms just don't get any breaks!

Tags: breastfeeding

There's a Starbucks within walking distance of our home (what a shock), and we've started strolling over there every once in a while when I need a chocolate-y coffee fix. J and I usually share a Java Chip Frappuccino with whipped cream (J wants the whipped cream and who am I to complain?). M likes to ride his tricycle over there too, and while I'd be happy to get him some steamed milk or apple cider, we always get him a cup of ice water. He loves ice water. Especially from Starbucks (I think it's the cup). He won't let me push his tricycle on the way there, but he will on the way back while he savors his ice water. It's a treat for all of us (simple pleasures, yes).

About coffee and breastfeeding, while I am sure it is fine to have coffee while I'm breastfeeding (everything in moderation just like during pregnancy), I tend to play it safe when it comes to what I eat and drink. I pump extra milk and use pre-pumped milk for several feeds after I have a decent serving of caffeine. I'm sure this is just paranoid behavior, but even if it was safe, I'd hate to think that it was the reason why A couldn't sleep well during a particular night.

Tags: breastfeeding