CLIENT INTERVIEWS: Janet’s Story

Breastfeeding is an incredible journey, filled with joy, bonding, and challenges. For career-driven moms, like Janet, balancing work and breastfeeding can be particularly tricky, especially when it comes to managing milk supply. Janet’s story highlights how with the right support, you can maintain your breastfeeding goals while transitioning back to work.

(This post was originally a video. Check it out, here!)

The Importance of Breastfeeding

For Janet, breastfeeding wasn’t just about feeding her baby—it was a commitment to providing nutrients, immunities, and comfort. As a midwife and experienced mother, Janet knew firsthand how vital breastfeeding was for her children, both emotionally and physically.

“I love breastfeeding, the bonding, the nutrients, and the immunity,” she said, emphasizing the deep connection she felt.

Challenges of Pumping at Work

Returning to work as a certified nurse midwife with long shifts posed new challenges for Janet. Unlike her previous jobs, where she could bring her children along, this time she had to rely heavily on a breast pump. “The pumping was really intimidating,” Janet admitted. Despite her experience in healthcare, using a breast pump was new territory.

Janet faced common challenges, such as finding the right flange size and learning how to use her Spectra and wearable Elvie pumps effectively. These tools were crucial for her to maintain her milk supply during long shifts, but learning how to use them properly took time and guidance. Early on, she struggled with alignment and not fully emptying her breasts, leading to discomfort.

The Value of Support

Janet found support through the Pumping for Working Moms coaching program, which helped her build a sustainable plan to continue breastfeeding. “I felt more confident that I could figure out what went wrong, and it probably wasn’t going to be devastating for forever,” Janet shared, noting the comfort of knowing how to troubleshoot on her own.

Through the program, Janet also learned about the importance of pumping at regular intervals. In her busy role as a midwife, she sometimes had to pump early or miss sessions altogether, but the advice to pump early rather than skip a session gave her the flexibility to keep her supply steady.

Balancing Work and Breastfeeding

One of the most significant challenges Janet faced was balancing her unpredictable work schedule with her pumping needs. Her job required 24-hour shifts in a high-demand environment. “Sometimes I just didn’t see it coming,” Janet explained, referring to when unexpected work demands interfered with her pumping schedule. However, she learned to adapt by pumping early when she could or relying on wearable pumps during busy clinic days.

Navigating Setbacks

Like many working moms, Janet encountered days when everything went wrong. From forgetting pump parts to being called into action mid-pumping session, she learned to be flexible and resourceful. Knowing that her journey wouldn’t always be perfect helped Janet stay calm when things didn’t go as planned.

Advice for Working Moms

Janet’s advice for moms returning to work is simple but profound: get breastfeeding established first before focusing on pumping.

If you know your breast and supply well, it’s easier to bring those things to the pump.

-Janet

She emphasizes that understanding breastfeeding makes transitioning to pumping more manageable, as it reduces the stress of trying to learn both skills at once.

Conclusion

Janet’s journey is a testament to the importance of support, flexibility, and preparation for working moms who are committed to breastfeeding. By finding the right tools, learning how to pump efficiently, and seeking guidance when needed, Janet has been able to maintain her breastfeeding goals while balancing her demanding career. For other working moms facing similar challenges, her story serves as an inspiration that it’s possible to achieve both work-life balance and breastfeeding success.