Maternity Leave Guest Series: Transition to Pumping at Work

Filed Under: maternity leave guest series, motherhood // August 20, 2018

As most of you know, I will be away from blogland a bit while I’m on maternity leave. Lucky for me – AND you!- I’ve partnered with some lovely bloggers to consistently bring you great content.

I am in denial (and very sad) that I return to work from maternity leave in just a couple of weeks. However, it is happening so I want to be prepared for the transition from predominantly nursing to predominantly pumping. That is why this week I am especially happy to share an informational post by breastfeeding advocate Marilys Candelario about the transition to pumping at work.

Enjoy!

Transition to Pumping at Work
by Marilys Candelario

Hey World! I am Marilys, networking queen, breastfeeding advocate, and working mami. I’ve watched so many friends struggle with breastfeeding and never thought I could have a successful long nursing relationship with my daughter, Azaris. I was fortunate to find some good resources and support groups and somehow managed to nurse Azaris for 16 months. While spending countless of hours pumping at work I developed #PumpLifeChronicles to entertain myself and showcase all the cool tips and accessories I was using to make pumping seamless. I am a total amateur, bad at editing and cursed a lot so I had to remove most of the videos since you can’t be too careful with what you post on the internet these days. I hope this post helps you prepare for a seamless transition into #BreastfeedingWorkingMom life.

>>Preparing to return to work

The U.S. has a far ways to go when it comes to supporting working moms, especially breastfeeding mothers. I work in corporate america and even as a human resources professional I found it difficult to find the proper literature to support me in my transition back to work. For some women, the thought of returning to work can build a lot of anxiety and fear. Breastfeeding mom or not – it can be terrifying to leave your baby! I cried every single day the week leading up to my first day back at work. To those mothers, I assure you it gets better, especially after you spend your first few days back with uninterrupted eating while on coffee or lunch breaks! To the mothers who can’t wait to get back, shout out to you! There shouldn’t be shame in knowing you weren’t cut out to be a stay at home mom. It can be difficult to actually say out loud that you enjoy being baby free while at work and feeling like more than a human cow to your child. I am especially reminded of this every time I go to the nail salon and they ask where my baby is since I have the day off work. I say, ummmm she is at daycare because momma needs alone time- yea I said it, and I don’t feel bad!

Back to preparing to return to work…

After trying on work clothes to see what fits your post baby body, and figuring out your childcare routine, you may be full of questions like:

How do I get my baby to take a bottle?

Will I be able to pump enough milk?

How much milk does my baby need while I am at work?

Will I have time to pump at work?

How do I store breastmilk at work and during my commute?

How often do you nurse when you get back from work?

And many more….

Check out my suggestions below. I hope this helps you feel better prepared. You’ll notice I provided a lot of links to posts on KellyMom.com. This site was developed to provide evidence-based information on breastfeeding. It is crucial that you follow evidence based information rather than suggestions of loved ones to avoid incorrect, potentially harmful, advice.

>> Introducing a bottle

If your baby has been exclusively nursing it is important to begin to introduce a bottle so they baby can learn to transition from breast to bottle easily. Did you know there are bottle feeding techniques to protect the nursing relationship? If the bottle makes it too easy to drink the milk than baby can get a bit lazy and not want to latch or suckle at the breast which can lead to exclusively pumping if your baby ultimately refuses to latch.

>> Building up a supply

If you are exclusively nursing or intermittently pumping it may be difficult to understand how much milk baby needs while you are away at work. A good estimate to use is the following, if baby usually nurses around 8-10 times per day, you can guess that baby might need around 3-4 ounces per feeding when you are away. You can read more about the calculation here. So in order to have the amount of milk necessary for baby on your first day back to work you may need to begin adding a daily pump session, at least a week before returning to work, and begin storing that milk. I suggest having at least five 3 to 4 ounce bottles for your first day away. I calculated that by assuming one 3 to 4 ounce bottle every 3 hours that you are away, including your commute time. If you find it difficult to have this ready in time for work you can always supplement with formula. Don’t give yourself more stress as that can impact your supply.

>> Maintain a balanced nutrition so that your supply is protected.

>> Proper accessories

You’ll need the basics to properly pump, for examples: a pump, tubing, breastshields/flanges, connectors, valves, membranes and collection bottles or bags. There are some accessories that will make your life much easier! I suggest checking out the following cool breastfeeding accessories:

SimpleWishes hands free pumping bra helps you hold the breast shields in place so you can be hands free during pump sessions.
PumpinPals are angled flanges that allow you to pump in a comfortable posture while the milk easily flows down into the bottles.
Freemie Cups are an accessory that replaces all the basic pumping equipment – you only need the pump and tubing, Freemie cup handles the rest. You place this cup in your bra and connect the tubing, that’s it! Check out my review here.
Kiinde Twist Pouch allows you to securely pump into storage bags without spilling any of your liquid gold! This leak proof disposable breastmilk storage bag is a must have!

* If you are a driving breastfeeding mom I strongly suggest considering a travel power adapter or car adapter for your pump. With the Freemie Cups pumping while driving is super easy!

>> Practice day

I suggest practicing your first day away from baby, prior to your first day at work, to help prepare you for the emotions you may feel on the real day. One way to do this can be by setting up the caregiver to start a day before you return to work. On that practice day you should ensure to pump at least 3 times every 3 hours. Example routine can be:

6am nurse

9am pump

12pm pump

3pm pump

6pm nurse

You can setup your sample routine based on your working hours and your commute. The milk you pump that day will be used for the following day. When you don’t work the following day you can store the milk in the fridge and use for up to 3-8 days, although ideally you want to stay within the 3-5 day range. If you won’t be needing the milk within that time frame you can freeze it. Note that everyone’s milk is different, please follow the guidelines for storage as described here.

When setting up your pump sessions, in order to activate let down it is important to focus on thinking about your baby. Look at a picture of your baby (nursing, if possible). Try listening to a video recording of your baby fussing before nursing and/or feeding sounds. These acts, along with massaging your breasts, will help stimulate your body to release the milk.

>> Pumping at work

Depending on your industry, your employer may accommodate you in slightly different ways. You should know you have legal rights that protect you pumping at work and this link may help you understand how your industry can support you pumping at work. Overall WomensHealth.gov is a wonderful resources and has a wonderful guide on how to speak to your supervisor about your needs so you can have a stress free pumping experience. It’s important to, at a minimum, discuss your anticipated pumping routine and how to manage the breaks with competing priorities, such as meetings that run over the scheduled time. There is nothing worse than having breasts full of milk and feeling engorged while a colleague continues to speak for ten minutes past the anticipated end of the meeting!

>> Storing breastmilk at work and during commute

There are many breast milk coolers that allow you to place bottles or bags with frozen ice packs inside for easy commuting. If you aren’t sure where to start here are my favorites: Medela Bottle Cooler and Kiinde Bag Cooler. Since your milk can be safely stored in a cooler for up to 24 hours one cooler bag and ice pack should be sufficient enough for your working day and commute.

>> Nursing when you reunite with Baby

It is helpful to nurse your baby once you get home as it is easily accessible organic fast food! All jokes aside, it alleviates having to wash more pump parts and bottles but also is crucial for your baby’s bond with you. Additionally, your mammary gland receptors (located in your breasts!) interprets the baby’s saliva for bacteria and viruses and, if they detect something i.e., the baby is sick or fighting off an infection, your body will actually change the milk’s composition, tailoring it to the baby’s needs and building antibodies. Hence the saying, “I make milk, what’s your superhero power?”

Thank you for reading my post, I hope these tips were helpful! If you are interested in supporting organizations that educate mothers for evidence based mother to mother support I urge you to consider making a donation to Breastfeeding USA. I am currently in the application process to become a Breastfeeding Counselor and look forward to continuing my education with them so I can offer the best mother to mother support possible. Feel free to reach out to me with any questions: Mcolon5@gmail.com 718-308-7619 IG: @mari_vega

Thanks Jackie for letting me support you in your transition to #PumpLife

Maternity Leave Guest Series: That Time Momming Caught Up With Me

Filed Under: maternity leave guest series, motherhood // August 13, 2018

This week, I am happy to share a post by Sierra of Beautifully Candid. She writes candidly about a time she decided to make changes in the ways she mothers. I’m sure many, if not all, of you can relate.

Enjoy!

That Time Momming Caught Up With Me
by Sierra of Beautifully Candid

A question I get asked a lot is how I’m able to manage everything and hold everything together. And if I was being honest (which I think I always am on here), I don’t have it all together, probably not even close. Although, I really don’t know who actually has it all together. I think different things work for different people and for different families.

I’m a working mom trying to juggle everything in a 24 hour period all while trying to cherish and enjoy precious moments with my two young sons. I think being a working mom is extremely difficult. I think being a stay at home mom is extremely difficult. I think being a mom in general is extremely difficult.

Correction, it’s the hardest job in the world.

I started a book, Grace Not Perfection, back in the spring but mom life happened and it sat on my nightstand and served as a coaster for my nightly glass of water for the weeks—maybe more like months—to come. It was nothing against the book, at all. I actually think I kept putting it off because I knew deep down there were changes I could be making but just couldn’t bring myself to follow through with it.

Let’s rewind to a few weeks ago when momming finally got the best of me and I had a complete meltdown. I lashed out at my husband (who’s amazing by the way) having a fun moment hitting the t-ball in the back with my boys all while I slaved (not really) in the kitchen to prepare a home cooked meal. After my neighbors witnessed me acting like a crazy person, I made a promise to myself that night—backing off in the kitchen is ok and ruining a special moment between my husband and boys will not be happening again.

After that crazy episode I picked up the book and began to read it again. I brought it down the shore with me that weekend and finished it on the beach. I tried to make up for my previous crazy outburst and gave some special time back to my husband with the boys who were off using a kiddie metal detector to try and find some burred treasure. When I got to chapter 11 one of the paragraphs really got me and I started to cry. Good thing I don’t wear mascara to the beach. Does anyone actually wear mascara to the beach?! And, I had my trusty sunnies to hide a lot. Anyway, it really spoke to me and I felt like if I could have formulated how I was feeling she was already in my head and wrote it all out.

I knew right then and there that I might not be able to make all of the changes I hope for right away, but the ones that I can implement, I would.

For starters, we have always been a home cooked meal kind of family. In general I enjoy cooking, but when you get home after 6pm everyday and everyone is hungry, it’s a race against the clock. I always heard everyone talking about these Traders Joe’s meals and how good they are, so that week we went and picked some up (shout out to the orange chicken). We decided even if we took two nights off and did a meal like that, it could make things easier. It definitely has, but I wouldn’t say it’s been life changing. We’ve tried out a cleaning service before, and while I love the smell of my house when you walk in, for the money, I don’t think it’s something we would continue with. If the boys were older and didn’t make so many messes I could see this being an amazing thing, but I can’t see spending the money to have it look messy by the next day.

There are still a lot of things we are working on, like meal planing, taking Thursday nights to clean things up so it’s a fresh start to the weekend and we don’t have to worry come Friday, and treating the boys to a hot lunch every now and then instead of packing lunches every night have all helped. We won’t get started on laundry that continues to be my enemy and our mornings that are usually hectic because we are not a morning family, at all.

But what I have learned is, that even in my moments of weakness, God’s grace is sufficient. That even when I fail to be an example, or let life get the best of me, there are still those moments that humble me and bring me back to reality.

Momming isn’t easy. Keeping it all together isn’t easy. At some point it might get the best of me again. I need to continue to remind myself that while I might not be home with my kids all day, the moments we do have together are so precious. That it’s ok to ask for help or lean on friends and others moms to vent. That not looking at my day as a race against the clock but an opportunity to accomplish as much I can in that time frame makes my days more enjoyable. My boys may continue to push my buttons and cause me to question every idea of parenting I thought I had figured out, but just like I’m shown grace, I also need to show them grace. They need to be able to learn and to see us to grow as a family.

So for the moms who may have cried those tears trying to wonder how you’re going to figure it all out, you aren’t alone. For the women who are overwhelmed with work and balancing life in general, I understand the feeling. For the women who aren’t sure about making a career move or starting something that scares you, you’ll never know until you try. For all of us, perfection doesn’t exist. Once we let go of the idea of perfection we allow the perfect lives for each of us to begin to fall into place.

Maternity Leave Guest Series: Mothering Without A Mother

Filed Under: guest post, maternity leave guest series, motherhood // July 30, 2018

This week, I am honored to share a post by my college friend Jackie of The Joyful House Queens. She writes a heartfelt letter to her pregnant little sister about what it’s like to be a mom without their mom, who passed away from cancer July 2009. Be sure to grab some tissues because it’s an emotional read.

Mothering Without A Mother
by Jackie Queen of The Joyful House Queens

A letter to my pregnant sister.

{Jackie} We lost our mother exactly 9 years ago today, July 24, 2009. A date, a moment, an emotion, that will forever be etched into my memory. She was diagnosed with esophageal cancer in December of the year prior while both Jessie and I were in college. My dad, older brother, and the two of us were all living at home that summer, soaking in what we knew would be the last few months as the family we had always known. It was an extremely emotional summer. I have beautiful, special, memories of our time together but I also have regrets throughout those 7 months; wishing I did more, laid with her more, held her hand more, talked with her more. However, sometimes I think that is the pain speaking from time passing and how I long to do those things just one more time. And quite honestly, I can admit I was in denial that it was actually happening because it was my mom, our family’s rock, the person who did it all! She had to get better. She fought, but suffered more, and we lost one of the most beautiful souls at only 49 years old. I felt part of my own soul die through witnessing her excruciating battle.

Almost a decade later and that pain hasn’t gone away. And I know it never will. The day to day is “easier” but the grieving process of a lost loved one is ever going; most particularly triggered by significant life events. The college graduation, without a mother; the big family vacation, without a mother; the first time you bring home THE ONE, without a mother; THE dress shopping, without a mother; the wedding day, without a mother; the “we’re pregnant” without a mother. But for me, it is the mothering without a mother, that has been most difficult.

The pure joy and excitement when you first find out you are going to bring life into this world is indescribable. For my husband and I it was times two since we were expecting twins. They are 3 years old now and are the light of my life! Their adventurous personalities and sweet hearts have made motherhood so rewarding and I am filled with love and joy each and every day. But there is a part of me that feels empty and I know it is because I am a mother without a mother. My sister and blogging partner, Jessie, is now 4 months pregnant with a baby boy, so this letter is to her.

—

My sweet Jessikins,

You have probably already experienced some of the pain and hurt that comes with going through motherhood without mom. The instant you found out you were pregnant I’m sure you felt this want, or need, to tell her. Knowing you couldn’t, your heart ached. I know, I’ve been there. I wish I could hold you and tell you those feelings go away. But I can’t. They don’t.

You’ll be in the delivery room and they’ll hand you your fresh new baby and he will be SO beautiful and that moment will be one you and Dwight will NEVER forget. But you’ll also long for your mother’s hug and her calm whisper telling you how incredible of a woman you are, for what you just did. I know, I’ve been there.

People will visit, hold him, love him, but sometimes you’ll be angry that they get to have those moments with your sweet boy but your own mom can’t physically be here to hold him too. I know, I’ve been there.

You’ll have friends who have babies and they’ll mention how their mom has been so incredible helping around the house while they try to figure out how to feed this new human and shower at the same time. And you’ll be able to relate with the chaos of newborn life, but you’ll also be left with moments of jealousy amidst the exhaustion. I know, I’ve been there.

Your baby will start to learn people’s names and faces and you’ll begin to show them pictures of mommy and call her Gigi because you think she would have liked that name but get mad at yourself because you never really asked her what her future grandkids should call her. I know, I’ve been there.

There will be a day where your child does something EXACTLY the way you did as a kid and you will laugh so hard at the irony thinking to yourself, oh my gosh I wish she was here to witness that but also be comforted knowing she saw it from Heaven, laughing too! I know, I’ve been there.

You’ll have days where you are SPENT and completely depleted by this (or these) human(s) and there is noone more you want to pick up the phone and call but mommy. SHE would know this EXACT emotion. And you’ll want to say, “I get it! I get why you were in a bad mood from time to time! You felt like you could not give one ounce more. But mom, you always did and I know I barely said this when I should have but I can’t thank you enough for all you did for us!”. I know, I’ve been there.

There will be nights you are with your family making memories like you remember doing as a kid and you just turn to your husband with tears welling up in your eyes, barely able to convey how much your mom would have loved this stage of life. I know, I’ve been there.

But more than anything, you’ll long for her answers. Motherhood brings about so many questions and you’ll just want to ask her, all of them. While others may complain about the vast opinions of their parents, you’d give the world for just one of hers. Not saying we wouldn’t roll our eyes at a few of hers, but her insight is one I miss with all I am.

Some days, mothering without a mother is crippling. And the only thing you can do is take a warm shower and cry until there are no tears left.

Or, call your sister… I know, I’ve been there.

God knew exactly what He was doing in giving us one another. I thank Him every day for you and the guidance and support He has instilled in you, long before you even became a mother yourself. You’ve been my sister and have helped fill the wounds of pain from not having a mother in this motherhood journey. And I promise I will be that for you to the best of my ability, every step of the way. We will both experience new emotions, alike emotions, vastly different emotions, as we raise these humans. I will never be mommy, but I pray I can embody her essence, as you have done for me.

I love you and you will truly be the most incredible mother. Without a doubt, I know Mommy is so proud.

Your sister,

Jack Jack

Take care of each other.

Maternity Leave Guest Series: 10 Tips to Help You Get Over a Cold Faster

Filed Under: guest post, health, maternity leave guest series // July 9, 2018

This week, I am sharing a post by Faith from The Wild and Free. She offers great advice about how to get over a cold. No one likes being sick in any season!

Enjoy!

10 Tips to Help You Get Over a Cold Faster by Faith of The Wild and Free

I hate seeing people sick with a cold. Colds are dumb and no fun.

And while I will be the first to admit that it’s no fun to be sick, there are lots of easy, natural things to help prevent catching a cold or flu, or get better faster.

My husband and I hardly ever get a full blown cold because of all the things we do to help keep our immune system strong and resilient.

But, when we do occasionally get sick, we are able to get better WAY faster than our average neighbor using the following techniques.

Please know that we are NOT DOCTORS, nor do we pretend to be on the internet. Use your brain, if you are legit sick and not getting better, go see one of those awesome folks with an M.D. or D.O. or D.C. behind their name. We are not doctor haters. They spent lotsa years in school learning lotsa lotsa stuff.

Also, FYI if you buy stuff using the links in this post, we will get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Scouts honor, these are actual products that we use ourselves and recommend to our pals. My Mama whooped me for lying, remember?

1. Cut out sugar except for moderate amounts of RAW honey

Sugar feed all kinds of bad things like cancer, inflammation, imbalanced gut bacteria. I know that you think that pop/ice cream/cookie/popsicle will help you “feel” better but it really won’t. It hinders your body’s ability to heal itself. The ONLY exception to this “no sugar” rule is raw, unfiltered, 100% pure honey. If you’re over the age of 2, raw honey has some phenomenal benefits to actually help you get better faster!

2. Cut out ALL dairy

Not only is dairy hard to digest and therefore taxing on what is already a stressed digestive system, but it contributes to excess mucus (aka boogers and phlegm).

PHOTO BY JANIS OPPLIGER ON UNSPLASH

3. Use Young Living Essential Oils as often as possible

Essential oils have been a game changer for us. Really. We were healthy before, but these powerful tools in tiny bottles have taken our healthy kid game to a WHOLE. NOTHA. LEVEL. If we are feelin a little crummy we’ll use Thieves oil literally every 15 minutes if we can. We use this oil at least once a day on a regular basis, but when we are feeling less than stellar or have been around sickos we use it more often.

Other favs include: Purification, Oregano, Eucalyptus Globulus, Peppermint, Melrose, Lemon, and Joy. It is MUCH easier for your body to utilize and benefit from the use of essential oils when used frequently in smaller quantities.

I get it, there are a ton of different essential oil companies out there. And most of them are cheaper than Young Living.

However, if you want the actual therapeutic benefits and not just the smelly-goods, I can ONLY recommend Young Living with confidence.

If you don’t already have a pal that will teach you about using oils, hit me up. I LOVE to share how these oils have helped us.

4. Drink water, lots and lots of water

Water helps to flush the junk out of your body. Not enough water equals slower recovery time. Besides, you’re probably dehydrated anyway. In fact, studies show that roughly 75% of Americans are.

5. Drown your sorrows in tea, hot herbal tea

Peppermint tea and green tea are our personal favorites. Organic is best and avoid the boxes of tea with added flavors. Do NOT microwave your tea for optimum benefits. Buy your sweet self a tea kettle. It’ll come in handy, promise.

6. Take more Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Magnesium, and Probiotics (not via yougurt)

These ALL increase your body’s ability to fight off infection. Most people need nutritional supplementation even when their immune system isn’t compromised. We ALL need extra boosts to help get our body get better faster. Beware of many supplements, especially Vitamin C supplements as they are often chalked FULL of sugar and other crap. Again, it is most helpful to break your supplementation up throughout the day and not take it ALL at once.

7. Blow your nose.

Please for the love of all that’s holy, don’t sniffle. Your body is trying to get rid of the excess mucus. Go buy a big ol package of Puffs Plus tissues and go to town.

8. Get some light exercise in

Even a brisk walk helps to stimulate your lymphatic system and get that junk moving OUT of your body so that you can get over that cold faster.

PHOTO BY KARSTEN WÜRTH (@INF1783) ON UNSPLASH

9. REST. Get extra sleep.

Go to bed EARLY. The human body is designed to rest best when it’s dark outside. My wise Grandma told me that your best sleep happens between the hours of 10 pm and 2am. Try your guts out to be asleep by 10. This will help you get over a cold faster more than we would often like to admit.

10. Go to the Chiropractor and get adjusted

I kinda hate to even share this secret because it means that if all my local pals listen then the sickos will be in MY chiropractor’s office when they are sick. But alas, I shall share. Getting an adjustment by a skilled chiropractor gives your immune system a boost. This is actually a really cool article about how chiropractic care had better results than mainstream medical care during the flu of 1918.

What about you?

Here’s the thing, God doesn’t want you sick. He paid a HIGH price for you to have life, and life abundant. Let us be people of faith AND good stewards of our body.

What tried and true natural ways have you found to get over a cold faster?

Maternity Leave Guest Series: 5 Truths to Set You Free of Working Mom Guilt

Filed Under: guest post, maternity leave guest series, motherhood // June 25, 2018

This week, I am sharing a post by Desirae from Sincerely, Mrs. Mommy. She offers great advice to deal with working mom guilt.

Enjoy!

Working Mom Guilt: 5 Truths to Set You Free by Sincerely, Mrs. Mommy founder Desirae Ofori

Disclaimer: This is a shortened version. For the full post, click on the title link.

One of the most common types of Mom guilt is the ‘Working Mom’ guilt. Maybe you can’t afford to be a stay at home mom (SAHM) because one or no income won’t do. What about those of you who can afford not to work, but you really enjoy the career you’ve built.

Even if you’re working from home, you may not be spending that quality time with your child because you’re a one woman show caught up in work details and demands.

She never quite leaves her children at home, even when she doesn

Whatever the case, you’re a working mother and you may feel guilty because the time spent with your child is limited… more than you would like.

So how do we pull ourselves up from drowning in working mom guilt? How do we fight this conflict to bring income into our household but wishing we were spending more time at home?

This week I have reminded myself of these 5 truths to set me free:

1. You love your child and there’s nothing that can change that. Remind them daily.

Being a working mom does not make you less of a mom, or discredit your love for your kids. Let your children know often that you care about them, and you love them.

2. You’re working so that you can provide more for them. That’s an expression of love!

Safe homes, healthy food, clean clothes, extra-curricular activities, or saving up for family related experiences they’ll never forget.

3. Be present in the time you have with your kids. Quality over Quantity.

Slow it down, put down the phone, leave the house chores, eat a meal with them. Push back the bed time even if for just a few minutes to read with them and reflect about their day. Quality also doesn’t equal toys, money or letting them get whatever they want. Your attention is what they need and want most.

4. You’re building their independence and expanding their village.

Hopefully they’re in a place where they get to build on their social skills, by interacting with other children, and learning new things daily. Think of that caregiver as being part of your village. I believe the more positive influences a child can have in their life the better. After all, The African Proverb says, ‘It takes a village to raise a child’.

5. The grass isn’t always greener on the other side.

As frustrating and irritating as it can be, remember there’s another mother out there who get’s where you are. There are also some SAHM’s wishing they could switch roles, even if just a couple of days a week. They could be longing for a break from the kids and some adult interaction. Be thankful for the opportunity to be employed. Count your blessings.

Bonus:

You are a phenomenal mother and don’t you forget it! Love yourself, love your kids, and enjoy the little things. What may seem like a small gesture to you could mean the world to them. Grace yourself!

Working Mom Guilt 5 Truths To Set You Free