Photo by Boris Peterka

- How did you prepare to return to work after maternity leave and what do you wish you had done differently?

- What was surprising to you — easier, harder, different — about working and breastfeeding?

- Did you face challenges with pumping? Was your employer supportive?

- Did your baby reverse cycle (nurse more at night to make up for the separation during the day)?

- Do you have any tips or other thoughts you would like to share on breastfeeding and working?

Thanks for your input!

Post from: Breastfeeding 1-2-3

Easy Expression Hands-Free Pumping Bustier Bra

It’s especially fun when Random.org happens to pick a winner who can really benefit from the prize — and that winner is commenter #20 Jennifer B, who said:

I am pregnant with my second child, and I would sooo love having one of these. I thought about getting one when I was nursing my 2 year old, but I wasn’t working at the time, and we didn’t have the money for one. I had a lot of issues with insufficient supply, and needed to pump, pump, pump all day long, in addition to nursing and supplementing with formula. I would have given anything to win one of these bras back then- to be able to actually do something else while pumping would have been great! Not to mention when I returned to school and trying to pump in the car- not fun at all, trying to hold onto the pump, adjust dials, etc. I am praying that I don’t have the issues with nursing my second child, but if I need to pump a lot again, this will save so much of my sanity, to be able to pump AND tend to a newborn and toddler at the same time! Thanks for the opportunity!

Congratulations Jennifer on winning and on your pregnancy! Please email me by Tuesday, August 18, 2009, with the bra size and style (halter or bustier) you would like and please include your home mailing address. Also, since you mentioned your struggle with low milk supply the first time around, I hope you’ll pick up a copy of the very helpful book The Breastfeeding Mother’s Guide to Making More Milk.

Post from: Breastfeeding 1-2-3

Now is your chance to win an Easy Expression™ Hands-Free Pumping Bra compliments of Easy Expression Products! In honor of Breastfeeding Awareness Month this August, Easy Expression Products is giving one lucky Breastfeeding 1-2-3 reader an Easy Expression Hands-Free Pumping Bra which has a suggested retail value of $34.00!

Easy Expression Hands-Free Bustier Pumping Bra

The Product

The Easy Expression™ Hands-Free Pumping Bra started as a way for mother Gretchen Penny to more efficiently pump while at work because it enabled her to multi-task while she pumped. Now the bra is available in all Pea in the Pod and Destination Maternity stores and through other retailers found on the Easy Expression Products website. You can read a great review from a guest blogger here at Breastfeeding 1-2-3 or check out the rave reviews on Amazon.com.

The contest winner gets to choose the hands-free bra size and style (halter or bustier)!

How to Enter

The contest is open to entrants with mailing addresses in the United States or Canada. You have three chances to win! For your first entry, simply leave a comment on this post using a valid email address before the end of the day Friday, August 14, 2009 Pacific Coast Time. For a second chance to win, mention this contest on your blog with a link back to this post, and — this is the key part to get a second entry number — leave a second comment letting me know about your post! For a third chance to win, mention this contest on Twitter @Breastfeed123 and come back to leave another comment. The winning comment number will be picked at random using Random.org. I will notify the winner on Saturday, August 15 both at Breastfeeding123.com and by email. The winner will have until Tuesday, August 18, 2009, to get back to me with a postal mailing address for shipping within the United States or Canada, or another winner will be selected. Good luck!

Leave a comment below!

Post from: Breastfeeding 1-2-3

Photo by Bradley Gee

DEAR ABBY:

You are absolutely right to tell “PRIVACY PLEASE” not to be ashamed of pumping at work. I hope you take it one step further and let her and your readers know that California law requires an employer to make reasonable efforts to provide a location other than a toilet stall for the employee to express milk in private (California Labor Code Sections 1030-1033). An employer can be fined $100 for every violation of the law!

Please encourage all breastfeeding mothers and all employers to check the 50 State Summary of Breastfeeding Laws compiled by the National Conference of State Legislatures: http://www.ncsl.org/programs/health/breast50.htm. Even if state law does not require employers to provide a place to pump, it’s an excellent business practice to do so! Not only does providing a pumping room boost employee morale and company loyalty, but breastfeeding also reduces healthcare costs for mother and child and results in fewer work absences due to a parent having to care for a sick child.

The United States Breastfeeding Committee reports that employers save $3 for every $1 invested in breastfeeding support! The Committee provides an excellent resource on Workplace Breastfeeding Support which details the components of adequate, expanded, and comprehensive breastfeeding programs for the workplace. I hope mothers print out the resource and take it to their employers as a way to open the discussion about sanitary and private options for a pumping room.

Sincerely,
Angela White, volunteer breastfeeding counselor and breastfeeding blogger at Breastfeeding 1-2-3

Post from: Breastfeeding 1-2-3