Note: Sonia's breast pumping story is part of a #ThisisPumping photo series chronicling moms nursing as they transition back to work and daily life.
Age: 34
Occupation: MotherLove Coordinator at the YWCA Asheville. MotherLove provides support and case management to pregnant and parenting students enrolled in high school.
First-Time Mom
Baby’s Name: River (Rio for short)
Biggest challenge with breastfeeding or breast pumping so far?
“The size of the pump (if we are traveling) and now having the time to pump at work.”
Biggest reward with breastfeeding or breast pumping so far?
“The bonding experience with my baby and collecting milk supply so that he can continue drinking my milk.”
Where have you felt most supported breastfeeding or breast pumping?
“I feel personally empowered when I think of my body creating food for my baby.”
Where have you felt most shamed breastfeeding or breast pumping?
“In public. There is such a negative stigma around it and it’s unfortunate. I always feel that I have to cover and it shouldn’t be that way.”
The first two weeks adjusting was painful for Sonia, but her son, Rio, latched right away and she didn’t have any complications. However, before she had him, she used to get anxiety and would cry that she wasn’t going to be able to feed her baby when the time came.
She credits her son with being her real teacher and the real expert during this whole process.
Sonia got her pump through insurance via Aeroflow Breast Pumps. She describes the whole process as really simple and quick.
Initially after receiving the pump she was intimidated by the parts at first. With everything going on for new moms, she was thankful her husband Jared read through the manual and assembled it for her!
Now that she’s back at work and pumping, her milk flow has increased. When she pumps in the morning, she usually gets 5 ounces. By mid-day Sonia says she’s lucky if she gets 2 ounces. After 5pm, once her husband picks her up from work, she will pump in the car for 30 minutes and get another 4 ounces.
During the early evening her milk supply drops. At night, they get full again and she will pump if she has the energy. Since starting daycare, Rio gets up every 2-3 hours.
Now that she’s back at work and pumping, her milk flow has increased.
When she pumps in the morning, she usually gets 5 ounces. By mid-day she’s lucky if she gets 2 ounces. After 5pm, once her husband picks her up from work, she will pump in the car for 30 minutes and get another 4 ounces.
During the early evening her milk supply drops. At night, they get full again and she will pump if she has the energy.
Since starting daycare, Rio gets up every 2-3 hours.
Before she had her baby, she would talk to her friends about breastfeeding and many said they regretted not being more informed before they started.
So, when she was seven months pregnant, Sonia started taking breastfeeding classes through Mission Health. Their IBCLCs teach breastfeeding basics through one-on-one sessions and talk to you about breastfeeding safety, including foods, medicines and physical activities.
Sonia says connecting with a lactation consultant early on was incredibly helpful.
She also found resources and educational videos on YouTube.
Her husband Jared is extremely supportive and helpful. He loves feeding Rio because it gives him more bonding time with his son. When Sonia has to leave the house, Jared is able to get more done around the house than she would, because the baby can’t smell the milk like he can when Sonia is there.
Her mom breastfed her. She describes it as a family effort. Her mom’s sisters also had babies around the same time and breastfed her as well.
Currently, Sonia’s sister has two boys. Breastfeeding was much more challenging for her than it was for Sonia and she struggled with mastitis.
Sonia is in 4th week back at work. She worked part time while pregnant, but reports having more energy now that she’s back working full-time.
“Now that I am back at work full-time, I have to pump a few times per day. Fortunately, I get to breastfeed my baby since he is at daycare where I work - which is awesome.”
Her workplace is a huge advocate for breastfeeding and pumping and they even have a designated area for mothers. Sonia works at the YWCA of Asheville.
Sonia’s boss is an integral, positive force in her day-to-day work life. She always stays on top of her to pump or nurse Rio and always encourages her to step away from her desk and focus on self-care when she has the chance. Although she’s so grateful for the workplace flexibility, Sonia does struggle with guilt about stepping away because she loves her job so much and doesn’t want to seem like she’s taking advantage of this generosity.
She’s also dealing with the comedy and accidents of breastfeeding at work - like leaking during meetings and Rio throwing up on one of her supervisors!
Sonia is in 4th week back at work. She worked part time while pregnant, but reports having more energy now that she’s back working full-time.
Sonia's Story
Age: 34
Occupation: MotherLove Coordinator at the YWCA Asheville. MotherLove provides support and case management to pregnant and parenting students enrolled in high school.
First-Time Mom
Baby’s Name: River (Rio for short)
Biggest challenge with breastfeeding or breast pumping so far?
“The size of the pump (if we are traveling) and now having the time to pump at work.”
Biggest reward with breastfeeding or breast pumping so far?
“The bonding experience with my baby and collecting milk supply so that he can continue drinking my milk.”
Where have you felt most supported breastfeeding or breast pumping?
“I feel personally empowered when I think of my body creating food for my baby.”
Where have you felt most shamed breastfeeding or breast pumping?
“In public. There is such a negative stigma around it and it’s unfortunate. I always feel that I have to cover and it shouldn’t be that way.”
Breastfeeding in the Beginning
The first two weeks adjusting was painful for Sonia, but her son, Rio, latched right away and she didn’t have any complications. However, before she had him, she used to get anxiety and would cry that she wasn’t going to be able to feed her baby when the time came.
She credits her son with being her real teacher and the real expert during this whole process.
Getting Her Pump
Sonia got her pump through insurance via Aeroflow Breast Pumps. She describes the whole process as really simple and quick.
Initially after receiving the pump she was intimidated by the parts at first. With everything going on for new moms, she was thankful her husband Jared read through the manual and assembled it for her!
Sonia's Pumping Schedule
Now that she’s back at work and pumping, her milk flow has increased. When she pumps in the morning, she usually gets 5 ounces. By mid-day Sonia says she’s lucky if she gets 2 ounces. After 5pm, once her husband picks her up from work, she will pump in the car for 30 minutes and get another 4 ounces.
During the early evening her milk supply drops. At night, they get full again and she will pump if she has the energy. Since starting daycare, Rio gets up every 2-3 hours.
Now that she’s back at work and pumping, her milk flow has increased.
When she pumps in the morning, she usually gets 5 ounces. By mid-day she’s lucky if she gets 2 ounces. After 5pm, once her husband picks her up from work, she will pump in the car for 30 minutes and get another 4 ounces.
During the early evening her milk supply drops. At night, they get full again and she will pump if she has the energy.
Since starting daycare, Rio gets up every 2-3 hours.
Breastfeeding and Breast Pumping Support
Before she had her baby, she would talk to her friends about breastfeeding and many said they regretted not being more informed before they started.
So, when she was seven months pregnant, Sonia started taking breastfeeding classes through Mission Health. Their IBCLCs teach breastfeeding basics through one-on-one sessions and talk to you about breastfeeding safety, including foods, medicines and physical activities.
Sonia says connecting with a lactation consultant early on was incredibly helpful.
She also found resources and educational videos on YouTube.
Partner Support
Her husband Jared is extremely supportive and helpful. He loves feeding Rio because it gives him more bonding time with his son. When Sonia has to leave the house, Jared is able to get more done around the house than she would, because the baby can’t smell the milk like he can when Sonia is there.
Family and Breastfeeding
Her mom breastfed her. She describes it as a family effort. Her mom’s sisters also had babies around the same time and breastfed her as well.
Currently, Sonia’s sister has two boys. Breastfeeding was much more challenging for her than it was for Sonia and she struggled with mastitis.
Even when you’re related, breastfeeding can look different from mom to daughter and sister to sister.
Breastfeeding and Pumping at Work
Sonia is in 4th week back at work. She worked part time while pregnant, but reports having more energy now that she’s back working full-time.
“Now that I am back at work full-time, I have to pump a few times per day. Fortunately, I get to breastfeed my baby since he is at daycare where I work - which is awesome.”
Her workplace is a huge advocate for breastfeeding and pumping and they even have a designated area for mothers. Sonia works at the YWCA of Asheville.
Sonia’s boss is an integral, positive force in her day-to-day work life. She always stays on top of her to pump or nurse Rio and always encourages her to step away from her desk and focus on self-care when she has the chance. Although she’s so grateful for the workplace flexibility, Sonia does struggle with guilt about stepping away because she loves her job so much and doesn’t want to seem like she’s taking advantage of this generosity.
She’s also dealing with the comedy and accidents of breastfeeding at work - like leaking during meetings and Rio throwing up on one of her supervisors!
Sonia is in 4th week back at work. She worked part time while pregnant, but reports having more energy now that she’s back working full-time.
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