It's working for Lindsey F
Cincinnati, Ohio
3 children
"It can be done. It's not as impossible as it seems. And I really believe being a working mother makes me a better mother."
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?
I knew I wanted to breastfeed and pump until we could transition to whole milk. I wanted to give my baby the best even though I was heading back to work. It was also good bonding time for us in the mornings and evenings once I was back at work.
How much leave did you take, and how comfortable were you taking it?
6 months – it was a great amount of time. I was ready to come back and I felt that my son was ready for a school/daycare environment.
What was your biggest challenge going back to work?
My biggest concern was juggling everything with a new baby.
Who was your biggest source of support in returning to work? What was your biggest pregnancy indulgence?
No one specifically, but I did seek advice on things like pumping and managing work and home life from friends who had gone through it recently.