Milk for Madison

by Athenia (Tina) Rock

I was elated when I found out I was pregnant but my boss at a local public accounting firm wasn't so I decided to find another job. I interviewed with the State of Maryland when I was around 3 months pregnant and started working for them when I was 6 months along. My office was incredibly supportive and even arranged for donated maternity leave.

The first few weeks were rough with breastfeeding and I thought I was going to fall over from exhaustion. Madison and I bonded and I knew I wouldn't give this up for anything even with returning to work. However there was a slight obstacle to pumping that I had to overcome.

Our office didn't have permanent assignments. Our audits ran from a few weeks to up to six months. This means that I would be in a different location at various times! My job as an auditor made me a guest at any office that I'd be working at and I'd be working for a different supervisor on every audit. I began worrying and called to see where my assignment would be. Oh man did I get lucky. My first assignment (I had completed a training audit just prior to leaving for my maternity leave) was in the building where my central office was.

I was assigned to work for a fantastic supervisor who had attempted breastfeeding herself. I went and rented a hospital pump (which I lugged back and forth every day). I was lucky enough to get a private office and the freedom to pump when I needed to. I couldn't believe my luck. I began pumping 3 times a day and got into a routine.

A few problems arose such as a decreased milk supply, leaving work without the milk and having to return to a locked down building (luckily I got it) missing pump pieces and scheduling 3 pump sessions per day. I got into a routine but now it was time to go to another audit.

My daughter Madison was only 4 1/2 months old and there was no way I was giving up.
To my surprise this supervisor's wife had nursed their two children and he was more supportive than ever. So was everyone else on the assignment. They helped me arrange a cubicle where I could pump during work hours and like a fellow nursing mom on breastfeeding.com, I hang a sheet. Everyone knows that if the sheet is up that I'm making milk for Madison.

Over hurdle number two. Then came the seminar days. I have to routinely attend training sessions and seminars where I have to find creative ways to pump for her. A closet, a bathroom, whatever it takes.

My beautiful baby girl is 7 months old now and I'm happy to say that she is exclusively breastfed. The audit I'm on ends next month and my routine will need to change. My new nursing goal is one year but I'm still taking it one day at a time.

To all the women who think that working and breastfeeding is not something that can be done, I'm here to tell you, IT CAN!!!!