It's working for Gabriela A
Reedley, California
2 children
"My work had no sanitary rooms for me to pump in, so I pumped and dumped."
What is one piece of advice you wish you could offer your former expectant self?
Be patient – no one is perfect. Babies cry and poop, laugh about it.
FOR MOMS: If you breastfed, was there a place for you to pump that met your needs and was conducive to your success? If you breastfed, how did you decide to continue? FOR DADS: What, if any, adjustments did you (or your workplace) make to your schedule after having a baby? Was it specific to your manager or larger, whole work culture?
It was so hard to find the time to pump at work and while at home. When I was home, I was breastfeeding every two hours like clock work and at work I was only able to pump twice for 15 min. It was difficult and painful, I was an emotional wreck.
How much leave did you take, and how comfortable were you taking it?
My work only allowed 6 weeks.
How easy was it to put a childcare arrangement together and did it work for your family?
It was the hardest thing I ever had to do. I love my son and didn’t want to leave him.