The Motherwear Breastfeeding Blog

Stephen Colbert and Rep. Carolyn Maloney on pumping at work.

 

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Should you store your milk in the office fridge?

On Sunday, the Boston Globe's etiquette column, "Miss Conduct," published a question about breastmilk in the workplace.  Read on, and then tell me what you think of the response.

Question:  A co-worker recently returned from maternity leave, and upon opening our office refrigerator today to grab my yogurt, I came face to face with a bottle of what appears to be breastmilk, labeled with this woman's name.  Although I breastfed my children and am an ardent supporter of it, I always took pains to be discreet about it at work.  If I pumped milk in the office, I stored it in a paper bag or small cooler so others wouldn't see it.  What's your take on this?  Should we all be exposed to her daily output of breastmilk every time we venture to the fridge?

Answer:  Your co-worker's behavior is seriously inappropriate, and I hope it can be attributed to the emotional upheaval of having to leave her baby the million-and-one things she must be trying to keep track of right now.  One does not store bodily fluids - even sacred, precious, life-sustaining bodily fluids - in containers where others might see.  Reasonable discretion and unreasonable body shame are not the same thing.  Look, you're uncomfortable about this, and you're a breastfeeding veteran; imagine how childless colleagues, male and female, would feel.  Worse yet, imagine a colleague both childless and clueless piping up at the morning staff meeting, "Hey Sue, I ran out of half-and-half.  Hope you don't mind I used some of your soy milk!"  This must not be allowed to happen under any circumstances.  I think you should address the matter with her, since you have lactation cred yourself, and she won't think you're a child- or body-hater.  Explain to her how you handled the situation for yourself, and why.

If I'm reading this right, Miss Conduct is not actually saying that the mother shouldn't store her milk in the fridge.  She's agreeing with the author of the question, who feels that it should be kept in a bag or cooler, presumably within the fridge.  There's an awful lot of "ew, gross" in the answer, but I guess that's to be expected. 

I never stored my milk in our office fridge.  It actually never occurred to me, since it kept cool just fine in the insulated cooler in my pump bag.  Frankly, I'd worry a whole lot more about other people's rotting sandwiches and year-old yogurt getting near my milk than anything else; the office fridges where I've worked have been pretty nasty.

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Pumping on campus.

Over the last year I've been working with a group of women to help get a lactation program set up at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. 

Massachusetts doesn't (yet!) have a law requiring employers to accommodate breastfeeding employees, so part of the job is persuading people in leadership positions that this is a good idea.  I've noticed that sometimes it helps so show what other institutions are doing - it shows that this is considered important by peer institutions. 

So I did a little online digging to learn about lactation programs on large public university campuses.  What I found was really encouraging.

Lots of campuses offer places for mothers to pump.  Some are centrally organized, with online room scheduling and breastfeeding support on campus.  One even has a listserv to connect pumping mothers.  Some are a patchwork of spaces, with different rules for how they're used.  Many campuses provide hospital grade pumps in their pumping rooms, and some offer free or discounted pumping kits.

Here are a few examples:

• University of California, Davis:  26 pumping locations, each with a hospital grade pump. Support group and breastfeeding clinic on campus
• Ohio State University: 12 locations, all new construction plans will include lactation space
• University of Washington: 8 pumping locations, hospital grade pumps in each

To see more examples, including links to the program websites, here's a link to the chart (Word doc) I made with what I found.  I was looking for institutions comparable with the University of Massachusetts, so it doesn't include any information on smaller colleges or universities. Feel free to use it to advocate for lactation accommodations on your campus!  And here's a great free toolkit from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to get the conversation started.

Do you work or study on a college or university campus?  Leave a comment telling us how it works for you!  

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Can you be a feminist and breastfeed?

This Monday morning I want to talk about something complicated but really interesting.

I was recently reading an article on breastfeeding and feminism called "Is Breastfeeding Fair?" by Dr. Deborah McCarter-Spaulding, IBCLC. 

The article outlines "the feminist problem of breastfeeding."  What's that, you ask?  McCarter-Spaulding provides a summary:

"The problem arises because breastfeeding is sex-specific, and therefore challenges the feminist principle of gender-neutral childrearing.  It is an even more difficult problem than pregnancy because whereas pregnancy is necessary for childbearing, many do not consider breastfeeding to be critical to an infant's survival, at least in industrialized countries."

So, to summarize, feminist theory views social expectation and roles as potentially oppressive to women.  Pregnancy is a part of parenting that obviously cannot be shared, but some argue that breastfeeding doesn't fall in the same category.  Some feminists (see below) view infant feeding as an activity that can and should be shared equally.  You can only get to this point of view, it seems to me, if you think that breastfeeding is not a biological imperative.  And that is the argument that some feminists (not all, see below) make, questioning whether there truly are health benefits to breastfeeding. 

There are, however, several different feminist views on breastfeeding.  I'll summarize them here:

Liberal feminism:  In this view, breastfeeding is a social arrangement.  Lactation - making milk - is a distinctly female biological function which only women can perform, but feeding the baby is a form of social labor which can be negotiated.  Proponents of this view question claims of superiority of breastmilk over formula.  McCarter -Spaulding says that in this view, "Breastfeeding is seen as a gender difference that stands in the way of liberating women.  Bottle-feeding in this perspective would be seen as liberating."

Cultural feminism:  In this view, breastfeeding is seen as a special female role which should be protected.  In this view, complete gender equality may threaten those things that are uniquely female and male.  McCarter-Spaulding states, "Cultural feminism strives to reconfigure social and economic structures to accommodate this gender difference without resorting to biological determinism."

Feminist health activism:  In this view, breastfeeding is part of a political agenda which is aimed at helping women take control back over their bodies with information and support (think Our Bodies, Ourselves, but also La Leche League).  Viewed as a unifying perspective, this approach focuses on removing barriers which constrain women's choices, such as lack of paid maternity leave, the absence of break time or facilities to pump at work, and the particular challenges faced by disadvantaged women. 

I'd love to hear your perspective.  Do you consider yourself a feminist and also a breastfeeding advocate?  Do you think that it's possible to come up with an arrangement which allows for equal division of responsibility while allowing a mother to breastfeed?  Which of the perspectives above, if any, appeals to you?

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California company fined $4,000 for violating workplace pumping law.

And speaking of pumping...

A California company has been fined $4,000 for violating the state's law requiring employers to make a reasonable effort to provide a clean, private space for pumping (that is not a toilet stall) and a reasonable amount of break time to do so.

The Sacramento Bee reports:

"In the first citation of its kind, California's Labor Commission on Friday fined a Santa Clara-based company $4,000 for violating a state law that requires employers to reasonably accommodate employees who are breast-feeding.

The commission cited International Security Services Inc., a private security firm, after investigating a complaint by one of its employees.

The woman, who was not named in a press release, said she had to express breast milk in a room monitored by security cameras and didn't get the time she needed."

This reminded me of the discussion I had with Jake Marcus about enforcement provisions in laws protecting breastfeeding mothers in a recent podcast interview.

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The 17th Carnival of Breastfeeding: Taking a bottle.

Welcome to this month's Carnival of Breastfeeding!  June's theme is pumping, and since all that pumped milk has to go somewhere, I thought I'd write about breastfed babies and bottles.  Be sure to check out the great posts from other bloggers on the topic of pumping at the bottom of this post.

Whether you're introducing a bottle because you're going back to work, or you want to share some feedings with your partner, there are some tips below that can help.  I've also included some strategies for dealing with a baby who won't take a bottle.

Speaking of which, here's a great example of a baby who isn't at all interested in bottles.  Thanks to Alicia for posting it!

Tips for introducing a bottle:

• Wait until roughly the end of the first month to try a bottle.  Before that time, some (not all) babies develop a nipple or flow preference and may have a hard time latching on to the breast correctly, or even refuse it.  The danger of this is greatest in the days and weeks right after birth.

• Don't wait too long, since at some point babies will reject the bottle.  In my experience this happens most often with babies who haven't tried one by six weeks.

• If it's important that your baby be able to take a bottle (for example, you'll be returning to work), after introducing the bottle at four weeks, continue to re-introduce the bottle at least a few times a week.  Don't go overboard with it, though.  Up to a bottle a day is usually fine, but too many may cause latch difficulties or breast refusal.

• Have someone other than yourself introduce the bottle.  Babies are smart, and some won't take one from you because they know you have the goods.  Some books recommend that you stay out of the room when a bottle is given.

• Practice "paced feeding (halfway down page)," which helps the baby manage the flow of milk.

• Use a bottle nipple which is more like a breast (with a wide base), and use the slowest flow nipple at first.  You'll probably also want to look for bottles that are BPA-free.

• If you're going back to work, gradually increase the frequency of bottle feedings so that your baby is solidly taking the bottle by the time you return to work.

Tips for babies who refuse bottles:

• Don't force it.  This doesn't work, and often makes the situation worse.  If your baby refuses, like the one in the video above, take a break and try again at a better time (see below).

• Experiment with different nipples, different size nipple openings (for flow).  Try to match the nipple shape and flow with your own.

• Use distractions like movement, talking and singing, going outside.  The Nursing Mother's Companion has a good picture of an outward-facing hold which seems to work for some babies.

• Try at times when the baby is sleepy, in a good mood, or not hungry.  In general, the more hungry and distressed a baby is, the more "disorganized" he/she is likely to be.  In that state a baby is less likely to do something new or difficult.

• Make sure that your milk doesn't taste or smell "soapy."  This may mean that you have excess lipase in your milk. 

• In a pinch, try other feeding devices, like a medicine cup, finger feeder, syringe feeder, or sippy cup.

• Know that your baby will be fine even if she/he only "sips" while you're gone.  He/she will make up for it when the two of you are together, a pattern known as reverse cycling.

• Say to yourself, "this too shall pass."

Be sure to check out these great posts from our blogging friends (updated throughout the day):

• Raising Baby Bee writes about pumping at work (and shares a great 'do not disturb' sign).
• Breastfeeding Mums says "electrify me!"
• Breastfeeding 1-2-3 writes about exclusively pumping for a baby with a cleft palate.
• Hobo Mama writes about donating milk for an adopted baby.
• Adventures of a Breastfeeding Mother shares her pumping tips.
• The Attached Mother writes about pumping and becoming a milk donor.
• Mama Knows Breast invites you to enter to win a free Medela Freestyle pump.
• Mike and Toni's writes about how a pumping experience turned into a business idea.

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Recent breastfeeding news.

Catching up on lots of breastfeeding in the news this week:

• Breastfeeding protects babies from breast cancer as adults, though not for first-born women.
• Breastfeeding reduces risk of mother developing rheumatoid arthritis by half
• Washington Post covers difficulties implementing D.C.'s new workplace pumping law
• Extended breastfeeding discussed on the BBC (video)
• FDA recalls Mommy's Bliss nipple cream
• Study finds breastfeeding increases intelligence scores
• Popular brand of organic formula is made with cane sugar, raising concerns (though breastmilk is barely mentioned)
• FDA announces a new system for rating the safety of medications during breastfeeding and pregnancy

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Check our our new iTunes store!

When I tell people that I run this blog they always assume that I'm technologically savvy.  I'm really not.  I know no HTML and almost nothing about Photoshop.  The fact that I can do this is just a testament to how easy blogging software has become.

So, it took me quite a while to do it, but I finally set up an iTunes store for the Motherwear Podcasts, and I've been patting myself on the back ever since.

If you use iTunes (which you can download for free), check out the new Motherwear iTunes store.  You can download all of the podcasts to your iPod or other mp3 player for free, and you can also subscribe to the podcast feed so you'll never miss an episode!  The little icon to the left on the sidebar will also take you there.

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Making More Milk: Diana West talks about milk supply and answers your questions.

Welcome to another Motherwear Podcast!  This episode features Diana West, IBCLC.  Diana is best known for her work supporting mothers who have had breast surgeries through her website Breastfeeding after Reduction Surgery and her book, Defining your own Success.

Diana is co-author of a new book, The Breastfeeding Mother's Guide to Making More Milk, which will be out in December of this year and is available now for pre-order.  This is the first book to focus solely and in great detail on milk supply, and it looks like a wonderful resource.

This interview is divided into two parts.

Part One discusses what determines milk supply, what causes low milk supply, what mothers can do to increase milk supply, and what feelings are common among mothers with low milk supply.  You can listen to it on the player below, or download it.

In Part Two Diana answers your excellent questions about milk supply (shown in the comments section of this post), on topics including the impact of birth on milk supply, suggestions for maintaining milk supply when pumping at work, how stress and periods impact milk supply.  You can listen to it on the player below, download it.

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From Afghanistan with love.

Thanks to reader Kelly in Nevada, here's a pretty inspiring story for you: 

Air Force Captain Ginger Bohl, deployed to Afghanistan in August when her son was about 6 months old, has been sending pumped milk back to him ever since.

The San Angelo, Texas Standard Times reports:

"It's my wife," says Michael Bohl, her husband and Silas' father. "She is an amazing woman - her spirit, her faith, everything about her just shines."

Ginger Bohl, an Air Force captain, is an active-duty doctor deployed in Afghanistan from Goodfellow Air Force Base. Since leaving in late August, Bohl has sent home biweekly shipments of her breast milk, frozen and shipped in 30- to 40-pound quantities directly to the Bohl family.

Thirty-five pounds of milk is about 4 gallons' worth. This delicate commodity makes it halfway across the planet, a distance of more than 8,000 miles, in just three short days.

The father notes that Ginger has been very lucky to have an power and a freezer at her post, and that the family is lucky to be able to afford the shipping costs.  He suggests a moratorium on deployment for breastfeeding mothers beyond the current four month limit.  He also notes that the importation hasn't always been smooth:

Shipments have been held up by customs and the USDA because of the potential for infectious diseases.

"There's one guy at JFK (airport in New York City) who is now very informed about the benefits of breast-feeding and why we needed the milk right away," Bohl said. "I was even sent to the IRS to get the milk because they thought we were running some kind of Afghani breast-milk ring."

Ginger Bohl will return home in a few days.  Her husband says:

"She's been gone for so long, nearly half of his life," Bohl said. "Every time he hears her on the TV [through a webcast], he crawls up to touch it. He knows her face and her voice. He knows his mommy. I know it won't be a problem."

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