Hellobee Boards

@MamaMoose: I believe the freemis don't work with the freestyle.

@Pumuckl: We have admin overhead charge codes, but if my manager saw me using them for my pumping times, he'd probably FLIP out, haha. We definitely weren't allowed to use them for that!

@brownie: Exempt actually means that you're exempt from the federal law mandating paid over-time. It doesn't exempt you from any other law (to my knowledge). Although being salaried and being exempt often go hand-in-hand, they don't actually mean the same thing.

@lamariniere: Thank you! I mean, who knows - maybe it won't even be an issue because baby #2 might not even take to breastfeeding or we have a whole set of other issues, but I have really enjoyed breastfeeding Xander and would like to be able to do the same for #2 if I can!

@Adira: Yes and to be exempt from overtime, they can't dock you the other way either. So you don't get overtime, in exchange for not being nickel and dimed for undertime. So non-exempt employees can be salaried but exempt must get paid the same amount as long as work is done in that week. Again different states can have other laws and your employer can put different restrictions that can lead to getting fired. But they have to pay you.

But the law for breastfeeding is only applicable for non-exempt employees or those employees that are under the FLSA. Being exempt means you are exempt to FLSA laws.

@MamaMoose: I wouldn't plan to use them everyday especially not for a session you need the most possible milk out of. It's great but in no way compares to the output of my PISA.

@Pumuckl: Yeah, who knows! Maybe by the time baby #2 comes around, my company will be even more supportive of breastfeeding mothers! I did already raise the issue of the fact that I had to use my personal time to cover pumping and that if the company was serious about being supportive, it would be nice if I was given additional PT to support pumping OR allowed to use overhead to cover my time.

@brownie: I'm not sure if it's state law or something, but my company is very strict about time. Like even though I'm salaried and exempt, I can't work 37 hours and be paid for 40! But I can, of course, work 43 hours and be paid for 40!

@Ginabean3: Thank you!

@MamaMoose: I'm sorry I'm way behind on this thread. I was super duper excited until I tried it and reading my review now makes me think that it wasn't as bad as I have built it up in my brain. That was as I was coming home. Once I put them on and then put the pumping bra on over the top it worked pretty well.
http://boards.hellobee.com/topic/freemie-collection-cups-anyone-have-these#post-1410523

@adira, it's the same at my work. Government contracted work is a whole other ball game. I was pumping 30-40 min each time at home....that would be 90 min i had to make up at work (and we can only take vacation in 4 hour blocks). BUT i could have taken my laptop to the pumping room (a couple floors down).

Honestly, I just don't want to deal with the giant pain in the ass that pumping is at work.

@blackbird: Oh, that's rough about your vacation! That's how my husband's job is too - he has to take vacation in half-day increments. I can take it in 6 minute increments if I want to! So I basically was charging 0.5 hours every day to pumping!! And I hear you on what a pain in the ass it is, but outside of work, I LOVED breastfeeding my son (besides those first 6 weeks), so I do really want to give it another go for baby #2 so we can have that same experience.

I haven't read any of the comments so maybe this has already been said, but I think you need to be mentally and emotionally strong to be able to EBF, especially if you have to return to work early. In the early weeks after having a baby, we moms (at least I was) are so incredibly brittle. I remember worrying often, crying often, and feeling like I could snap at any moment. I am four months PP, and I STILL feel like that sometimes. When you add breastfeeding and pumping into the mix, life just becomes that much harder.

Obviously there are still other notable barriers to exclusively breastfeeding in the US (several of them listed in the article), but the emotional and mental aspects get ignored. Even if you have everything "going for you" (supportive workplace, a fancy pump, affluence, a lactation consultant, etc.) breastfeeding is still fucking hard.

As someone who had to return to work at 5 weeks, I sometimes feel like I am run ragged emotionally. Even though I have a supportive workplace and the ability to pump whenever I need to, I still struggle with supply which equates with never-ending stress. I need to pump 3 times (sometimes more) just to get enough for ONE 4-oz bottle for my little girl. It's exhausting, and I sometimes feel like a failure. Sad. Tired.

I don't know what the solution to this would be. Maybe more support groups for breastfeeding moms. I think sites like hellobee often offer me the emotional and mental support I need when struggling with nursing/pumping issues.

Kind of rambly. Just my thoughts.

This is interesting. None of those 5 things contributed to why I did not EBF but it was not really a choice for me so maybe they aren't talking about me/women like me who want to EBF but struggle.

I was shocked that only about 16% of mothers EBF for 6 months. I literally only know one other mother around my age in real life who did not EBF.

@PurplePumps: as an SAHM I know I don't have a dog in the fight but I guess the idea is that breastfeeding is a natural, biological function that requires release. Like urinating! Not like smoking, which is of course not required. I guess a company could insist that a mother choose to medicate to get rid of her milk and use formula, but that doesn't seem to be right that company to be able to make that decision for someone. Or they could just start charging people lunch time to go poop in the office bathroom or change their pads, lol.

I think for so long BF was assumed to be the minority option that now it seems like a 'choice' that one engages in, but to me it is a biological function like others. I know it doesn't work out for everyone, but I think it is most fair to think of it that way!

@Mrs. Sketchbook: @lawbee11: but the big difference there is time. I needed at least an hour away from my desk each day to pump. I certainly don't spend an hour pooping!

@lawbee11: ok so as a lawyer, you probably know the answer to this question. Say an employee had some sort of illness and had to take meds...or go to the doctor....would that time be protected? Like, could they be fired for that? I was just thinking maybe BF is protected in the same way...is it discrimination?

@Mrs. Sketchbook: nope, it's legal for employers to require their employees to use PTO for doctors appointments. If it's an extended illness it would be short term disability.

@lawbee11: exactly. I'm so grateful I worked for an employer who was supportive. And if my assistant ever has a baby I plan to be equally supportive (as long as she gets her work done as I did when I was pumping). But I can see logically see why it's difficult to expect employers to give employees so much paid time where they aren't working.

Love this article.

1) 100 years of precedent - so true. It's the older generations that are unsupportive of breastfeeding in my experience. My grandmother, aunt, and a slew of older women told me that I wouldn't be able to, it was weird, formula was better, etc.

2) Working - definitely an impediment. Even though I had a flexible schedule, excellent pumping accommodations, supportive employer, it still took a lot of time and energy, and it was absurdly disruptive to my workday (I pumped 2-3x and rarely ever got enough for the next day so I pumped 1-2x more at home).

3) socioeconomic - I had this in my favor. I was fortunate to have access to a lactation consultant, the necessary equipment (expensive pump, freezer bags, replacement parts, lanolin, pumping bra, etc.) and excellent pumping accommodations. I can't imagine trying to pump with an inexpensive single manual pump and no support from my employer.

4) formula bags - we were in the NICU and they sent us home with a dozen cans of Neosure, even though I was breastfeeding. It was absurdly tempting to break into that stash!

5) formula advertising - same as above! And we did a few times, because it was there.

I saw a few pp say they were shocked by the 16% statistic but of the 10 women I know (including myself) who had babies recently, only 2 of us EBF for 6+ months. Everyone I know has tried but 8 of the 10 felt as though the best decision for their family was to formula feed.

It's tough stuff and I think a longer maternity leave and a cultural shift towards normalizing breastfeeding is the best way to boost breastfeeding rates. I'm very glad that ACA covers a pump, that is definitely a step in the right direction!

@Kemma: I totally agree! I mean, yes the world is overpopulated and all, but we do need babies, right? At least a few in the world!

@lawbee11: my god that is awful! Just plain awful.

@Adira: Interesting! I wonder if it is regional/cultural... but it feels like literally everyone I know EBFs which added to my shame over not being able to.

@daniellemybelle: @Adira: yea I only know 1 person too and she switched at 6 months because babies over 6 months NEED formula.