Mum's Journey: Introducing Jessica

Could you please tell us about yourself and your role at Mama Movement?

I sure can! I’m the marketing and social media manager here at Mama Movement. I work part-time with the team 3 days a week, and am with my son (14 months old) two days a week. 

How do you juggle work and motherhood?

 'Juggle' is certainly the correct word! Some weeks, it feels much more balanced than others, depending on factors like sickness, sleep, and how much food prep I've done. Learning my baby's routine and signals has been huge in helping our work weeks run a little more smoothly. Developing a good daily routine, including meal times and catch-ups on a regular basis, means he has a bit of a 'schedule' that helps us both.

We are very lucky to have great family and work support, for which we are so grateful, and working with other moms who all understand the juggle certainly helps a lot. Also, having a great local mothers' group in our area has been a Godsend. We still have weekly catch-ups (often more than once a week), and having a network to seek advice from, send questions to, or simply ask 'what on earth are we doing?' together has been incredible. (If you're currently pregnant, tap into this resource; I couldn't recommend it more highly).

Did you plan to continue breastfeeding your baby after returning from maternity leave? If so, how did you prepare for pumping at work?

 Yes, I sure did. I was thrilled to be able to continue breastfeeding my baby after a very rocky start when he was born. He had a shallow latch, making it extremely painful for me to feed him every time. I sought help from a local lactation specialist who was incredibly helpful, and since then, our breastfeeding journey has vastly improved. After returning to work, I brought along my Freestyle™  Hands-free Breast Pump and set up a pumping section at work that I would use when needed. Working with other moms who have all breastfed as well meant they all understood what I needed—something I know I was very lucky to have, as unfortunately, not all workplaces make it so easy for women returning to work.

What challenges did you encounter while pumping at work, and how did you overcome them?

Truly my biggest challenge was remembering to go and pump before I got too full! I would be distracted or focused on completing important tasks, and without my baby there as a reminder that he needed to eat, I would then get too full and have to go and pump right away! Honestly though the other Mums at work helped make the transition very smooth, providing insights and advice from their own experience too. The biggest key was making sure to remember all the bits and pieces needed for pumping at work (bottles, lids, cooler bag for transferring the milk home, etc) It all feels like a LOT at the beginning, but you do get used to it, and it becomes just like packing your work lunch! 

Could you share how the Freestyle™ Hands-Free Breast Pump helps with your breastfeeding and pumping experience?

Having a Freestyle™ Hands-Free Breast Pump is a game-changer. I wasn’t sure if it was worth investing in a hands free pump at the beginning of the breastfeeding journey - but now being 14 months in I can confidently say they are worth it. 

It also allows you to not be ’trapped’ when pumping as your pump doesn’t have to be plugged in or held on. It means you can get on with completing the other 344120971487614 tasks Mums have to do each and every day, and pumping doesn’t get in the way! 

How do you manage the storage and transportation of your breast milk from work to home?

As above I would bring a cooler bag along to work, and store it in the fridge after pumping each day. Luckily, my work commute is not too long (under thirty minutes) so this also made transporting it home less stressful than if it was a very long transfer! 

 

Do you have any helpful pumping tips or advice for mothers who are planning to pump at work?

Don't do what I did and get so focused that you forget to pump! Haha, but in all seriousness, I recommend packing your pumping gear the night before work to ensure you have everything you need, including sterilisation and cleaning. Also, if you're returning to work, have a conversation with management about pumping arrangements to ensure they can provide everything needed for you to pump at work effortlessly.

To learn more about Jessica and her experiences as a mother, follow her on Instagram.

To join the conversation or be featured on this blog yourself, let's connect on Instagram and Facebook. You can also join our closed Facebook group here.

And make sure you download the Medela Family App to keep track of everything your baby needs!

 

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