I have to choose between feeding myself and my baby - Page 3

[Momily]

It seems like there's a huge variation in work expectations for teachers and TA's. I know that in all the time I've worked as a special ed teacher I've never had a consistent break, much less three every day. I do know that if I could eek out one or two times a day when someone could be "childfree" I'd give that to my TA, but I'll be honest and say there were times when none of us got that, or where there were 20 minutes when my TA took 15 and came back in time for me to run to the bathroom.

So I do think your work gets a lot of credit for giving you an hour child free every day broken into increments that allow you to pump.

Having said that, I think the rule about not eating with the kids is ridiculous. Eating with the kids is good modeling, it's the social thing to do. I'm baffled as to why someone would object. However, if it's not an option -- can you eat while pumping or nursing. I've never done either (I'm an adoptive parent) but I see people nursing in restaurants pretty frequently so it seems like it could be done. Similarly, I've read here about people pumping and driving, or pumping while taking their medical boards. Compared to that, pumping while you drink a smoothie or wolf down a sandwich seems feasible?

Good luck getting this worked out!

[Mama Poot]

I haven't read all the posts here, but its clear you're in a tough situation. Would a hands free pump be a possibility for you? I knew someone who was a hairdresser and she used this kind of pump with success. This might be an option for you since you have limited time to eat and pump.

[JANmom13]

I wish you so much luck.

I see my husband's schedule teaching and I've always said to him I don't know how mothers who need to pump would be able to be teachers. I know what the labor laws say, but I don't think ANY schools follow those laws.

The schools ALWAYS ignore the needs of the teachers. Obviously they put 110% behind the kids at the school, but don't ever seem to care about the health of the teachers, "get the job done no matter what". And people in general try to justify it by saying "well, you have all that time off during the summer"...and they wonder why people don't stay in education. Some of the things my husband has been through in the past 10ish years of teaching really makes me mad. He's had to teach more classes than his contract allows, do music festivals on his own time (= much less time for HIS children and family), has to skip meals left and right.

Teacher's unions can only do so much. There's just so much politics there. And if you speak up, even if you have the support of the union, the administration can really make your life miserable. He's told me about what other teachers go through. And he's in a good school system...

I hope more of the teachers out there stand up to the system as it is. Teachers really deserve to be treated like any other employee is treated, if not better. Hang in there, and don't ever let anyone pressure you into skipping pumping sessions...every drop of milk is like gold to your baby.

[srlpenny]

It may not be your eating habits, but your stress about pumping that is affecting what you get when you pump.
Have you heard of www.workandpump.com? They have a lot of info on pumping there.
I know a lot of moms also find it helpful to cover the bottles while they pump, so they can't be constantly watching to see how much is in there. Also, I had to exclusively pump in a very stressful situation where I was separated from my dd (10 wks. old at the time) for 5 days. I saw my supply plummet, started taking fenugreek and it went right back up.
Good luck, just keep doing the best you can!

[waiting2bemommy]

thanks guys. I started with the fenugreek capsules (although I forgot to take them last night--oops) and I think I'm seeing some improvement. Tomorrow will be the real test. I'll be pumping in the kidss bathroom in the classroom now....that's not ideal either and truth be told I'm DREADING it....it's absolutely gross in there. But the teacher agreed to let me replace my one longer pumping session out of the class with more frequent shorter ones in the classroom. So we'll see how that works, if only for a week or so.

I'm giong to check out the hemp and try and make a batch of that shake to take to work with me tomorrow. Thanks for the great ideas and teh encouragement!!!

[langyork]

so sorry you are having trouble. you are very underpaid i'm sure!

that is crappy for you. i could not do it.