Still Breastfeeding and Pumping at 14 Months Postpartum!
Breastmilk is magic. I am so forever grateful to work at a school that still supports me with pumping- 14 months after Jairus’s birth. I know so many women can’t claim that for their work situations, and it’s an injustice to their personal health and their baby’s optimal health.
I went back to work when Jairus was 14 weeks old. Julia made personal sacrifices as my co-teacher that school-year to allow me to pump 3-4 times a day- every day- and my amazing boss Emily continues to support my desire to this day to pump milk (even though I am past the one year limit of legal protection as a breastfeeding mom). She oftentimes forfeits the comfort of her own office to meet me where I pump. This school year, Carmen continues to support me pumping 2-3 times a day... going out of her way to make sure her after-school clubs are temporarily rerouted from our room until I’m done (and she’s handled some awkward situations when people walked in on me pumping, such a bold and kind woman)! Our second grade team is so accommodating that they come into our class while I pump every single week because I do my second pump session right at the start of our weekly meeting. The entire staff also deals with seeing my frozen milk in our shared freezer, and there’s been times I’ve let it pile up into two little mountains. I’ve never heard a single complaint or criticism at my school about me choosing to pump.
I’ve never fully expressed (or reflected like this), until now, about how grateful I am to work at my school for this reason (there are so many)! I am so grateful to still nurse my son. I am so grateful that this year I met my personal goal of donating 1,000+ ounces of breastmilk to babies in need. I know some people don’t understand why I still nurse Jairus and pump, and I don’t know when I’ll stop, but this writing right here blessed my heart so much and triggered all this love and appreciation pouring out of my heart! I nurse for so many reasons, and this really lays out the scientific benefits.
Breastmilk is beautiful, y’all! I may not have a ton of gifts, but the ones I do, I will use and celebrate. I am grateful to be blessed with THIS gift 🤱🏼
In love,
Jess
I went back to work when Jairus was 14 weeks old. Julia made personal sacrifices as my co-teacher that school-year to allow me to pump 3-4 times a day- every day- and my amazing boss Emily continues to support my desire to this day to pump milk (even though I am past the one year limit of legal protection as a breastfeeding mom). She oftentimes forfeits the comfort of her own office to meet me where I pump. This school year, Carmen continues to support me pumping 2-3 times a day... going out of her way to make sure her after-school clubs are temporarily rerouted from our room until I’m done (and she’s handled some awkward situations when people walked in on me pumping, such a bold and kind woman)! Our second grade team is so accommodating that they come into our class while I pump every single week because I do my second pump session right at the start of our weekly meeting. The entire staff also deals with seeing my frozen milk in our shared freezer, and there’s been times I’ve let it pile up into two little mountains. I’ve never heard a single complaint or criticism at my school about me choosing to pump.
I’ve never fully expressed (or reflected like this), until now, about how grateful I am to work at my school for this reason (there are so many)! I am so grateful to still nurse my son. I am so grateful that this year I met my personal goal of donating 1,000+ ounces of breastmilk to babies in need. I know some people don’t understand why I still nurse Jairus and pump, and I don’t know when I’ll stop, but this writing right here blessed my heart so much and triggered all this love and appreciation pouring out of my heart! I nurse for so many reasons, and this really lays out the scientific benefits.
Breastmilk is beautiful, y’all! I may not have a ton of gifts, but the ones I do, I will use and celebrate. I am grateful to be blessed with THIS gift 🤱🏼
In love,
Jess
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