https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 25 Apr 2026 08:53:17 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wsj-article-on-breastfeeding/page/3#post-1573138 Wed, 16 Apr 2014 15:20:34 +0000 Pumuckl 1573138@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Adira: @jetsa: oh, I totally understand that. I only WOH for one day so I pumped only once a day to have enough milk (and plenty for my freezer stash) for the feedings. And I was the odd one out because there were only 2 of us working at all. So people looked at us all weird. And that's when other stupid things happen as in what I mentioned in one of the previous posts. So you can't win :bummed: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wsj-article-on-breastfeeding/page/3#post-1573032 Wed, 16 Apr 2014 14:56:10 +0000 jetsa 1573032@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Pumuckl: I agree with everything @Adira: said. I love the weekends so I that don't have to pump. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wsj-article-on-breastfeeding/page/3#post-1572981 Wed, 16 Apr 2014 14:44:38 +0000 Adira 1572981@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Pumuckl: I definitely think that's true! If I could have mostly breastfed Xander and not had to pump for most of his feedings, it would have made it a LOT easier! We had such an easy time of it on the weekends, except that I ALSO had to pump after every feeding in order to have enough milk to last me the week! I would've loved to MOSTLY breastfeed and pump occasionally as needed, instead of basically the other way around! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wsj-article-on-breastfeeding/page/3#post-1572969 Wed, 16 Apr 2014 14:39:34 +0000 Pumuckl 1572969@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@daniellemybelle: @Adira: @jetsa: I'm in a country where mat leave is 6w prior to EDD &amp; 8w after birth and there are a combined 14m of parental leave at 65% of your average income of the 12m prior to mat leave (mat leave is full pay). In my mommy and me group all moms tried bf. Two went to formula, one for convenience reasons, one because milk never came in. An additional mom had to switch at 6m because she had to take unsafe medication and was really sick. One LO didn't like nursing after 6m, all other 9 bf to at least a year. </p> <p>So I guess extended mat/parental leave may really help achieve bf goals. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wsj-article-on-breastfeeding/page/2#post-1572170 Wed, 16 Apr 2014 10:36:22 +0000 jetsa 1572170@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@daniellemybelle: @Adira: yea I only know 1 person too and she switched at 6 months because babies over 6 months NEED formula. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wsj-article-on-breastfeeding/page/2#post-1572087 Wed, 16 Apr 2014 10:14:07 +0000 Adira 1572087@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@daniellemybelle: Yeah, I'm guessing it's regional/cultural! Plus I don't think any of these other moms were on HB, haha. :D </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wsj-article-on-breastfeeding/page/2#post-1572061 Wed, 16 Apr 2014 10:06:26 +0000 daniellemybelle 1572061@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@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. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wsj-article-on-breastfeeding/page/2#post-1571588 Wed, 16 Apr 2014 07:25:03 +0000 Adira 1571588@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@daniellemybelle: That statistic doesn't surprise me! I ONLY know one other mom who EBF'd for 6+ months! All the other moms I know switched to formula pretty early on. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wsj-article-on-breastfeeding/page/2#post-1571203 Tue, 15 Apr 2014 20:42:07 +0000 Mrs. Sketchbook 1571203@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@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! </p> <p>@lawbee11: my god that is awful! Just plain awful. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wsj-article-on-breastfeeding/page/2#post-1571169 Tue, 15 Apr 2014 20:21:47 +0000 lawbee11 1571169@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Kemma: I think it probably depends on the employer and employee. </p> <p>@Applesandbananas: Yep, agree with everything you said. I was surprised by the stat but I had to remind myself that HB is not representative of the population as a whole! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wsj-article-on-breastfeeding/page/2#post-1571122 Tue, 15 Apr 2014 19:58:27 +0000 Applesandbananas 1571122@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Love this article. </p> <p>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. </p> <p>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).</p> <p>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. </p> <p>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!</p> <p>5) formula advertising - same as above! And we did a few times, because it was there. </p> <p>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. </p> <p>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! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wsj-article-on-breastfeeding/page/2#post-1571104 Tue, 15 Apr 2014 19:50:34 +0000 Kemma 1571104@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lawbee11: do you think an employer loses a lot of productivity during pumping breaks? I can honestly say that in my last position I spent a fair amount time being unproductive and I don't think I was an isolated case!</p> <p>The whole thing sucks though because on one hand society expects and relies on us to have babies, which we are in turn expected to breastfeed (especially from a public health perspective) yet society is not prepared to give women / parents sufficient parental leave or opportunity to pump so they can return to work. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wsj-article-on-breastfeeding/page/2#post-1571073 Tue, 15 Apr 2014 19:37:27 +0000 MamaMoose 1571073@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@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. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wsj-article-on-breastfeeding/page/2#post-1571051 Tue, 15 Apr 2014 19:27:44 +0000 lawbee11 1571051@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Sketchbook: @MamaMoose: I do see it from the employer's perspective and how it's not desirable to give an employee that time to pump without making up the time or using PTO. I guess I'm spoiled by my employer because they're so great when it comes to this. This is where the option for a longer maternity leave would come in handy! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wsj-article-on-breastfeeding/page/2#post-1571037 Tue, 15 Apr 2014 19:22:54 +0000 MamaMoose 1571037@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@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. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wsj-article-on-breastfeeding/page/2#post-1571030 Tue, 15 Apr 2014 19:21:43 +0000 lawbee11 1571030@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Sketchbook: It's not discrimination. My mom is a breast cancer survivor and had to use PTO to get chemo. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wsj-article-on-breastfeeding/page/2#post-1571024 Tue, 15 Apr 2014 19:18:54 +0000 Mrs. Sketchbook 1571024@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@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? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wsj-article-on-breastfeeding/page/2#post-1571023 Tue, 15 Apr 2014 19:18:32 +0000 lawbee11 1571023@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MamaMoose: I would be willing to bet there are people (especially men!) that spend that long pooping at work throughout the day! :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wsj-article-on-breastfeeding/page/2#post-1571019 Tue, 15 Apr 2014 19:16:38 +0000 MamaMoose 1571019@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@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! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wsj-article-on-breastfeeding/page/2#post-1571012 Tue, 15 Apr 2014 19:13:52 +0000 lawbee11 1571012@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Sketchbook: It's so funny that you say that because after I made the smoking analogy I thought about it more and I was like no, it'd be like if I had to use vacation days to go to the bathroom! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wsj-article-on-breastfeeding/page/2#post-1571005 Tue, 15 Apr 2014 19:07:40 +0000 Mrs. Sketchbook 1571005@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@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. </p> <p>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! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wsj-article-on-breastfeeding/page/2#post-1570918 Tue, 15 Apr 2014 18:27:46 +0000 lawbee11 1570918@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@daniellemybelle: I was so shocked by that statistic! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wsj-article-on-breastfeeding/page/2#post-1570880 Tue, 15 Apr 2014 18:01:15 +0000 daniellemybelle 1570880@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>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.</p> <p>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. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wsj-article-on-breastfeeding/page/2#post-1570731 Tue, 15 Apr 2014 16:45:06 +0000 lawbee11 1570731@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Rainbow Sprinkles: I definitely struggled more with the mental/emotional aspects of breastfeeding than the physical aspects, which I wasn't anticipating. It's tough. You're an awesome mama! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wsj-article-on-breastfeeding/page/2#post-1570534 Tue, 15 Apr 2014 15:32:51 +0000 Rainbow Sprinkles 1570534@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>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.</p> <p>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.</p> <p>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.</p> <p>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.</p> <p>Kind of rambly. Just my thoughts. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wsj-article-on-breastfeeding/page/2#post-1570375 Tue, 15 Apr 2014 14:38:47 +0000 ShootingStar 1570375@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Adira: Ah, I've forgotten what it's like to not have wifi in the office. Everyone brings their laptops everywhere here, it's a huge part of the corporate culture. People sometimes work in random places around the office, like the kitchen or a huddle space, just for the hell of it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wsj-article-on-breastfeeding/page/2#post-1570367 Tue, 15 Apr 2014 14:36:34 +0000 Adira 1570367@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@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. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wsj-article-on-breastfeeding/page/2#post-1570360 Tue, 15 Apr 2014 14:34:58 +0000 Adira 1570360@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ShootingStar: I cannot work while pumping. We don't have wireless in our building (and my laptop isn't even equipped with wireless) and the Mother's Rooms don't have an ethernet port, so I cannot connect to the LAN. There's very little (if any) work that I would be able to do off-line. And I'm sorry that you're struggling - I totally hear you. I only was able to do it as long as I could because my work was so supportive and I had to make it my top priority! I'm glad to be done!</p> <p>@brownie: So I just asked my mentor, who thinks I'm crazy by the way, and he said we are truly salaried, but they really frown on people working under 40 hours, since we have to charge all our time to specific projects, so it's very clear when you haven't been working the 40 hours you're supposed to. Presumably if I needed to only work 37 hours for a prolonged period of time, they would force me to go to part-time so that they only had to pay me the 37 hours. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wsj-article-on-breastfeeding/page/2#post-1570349 Tue, 15 Apr 2014 14:30:52 +0000 blackbird 1570349@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@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). </p> <p>Honestly, I just don't want to deal with the giant pain in the ass that pumping is at work. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wsj-article-on-breastfeeding/page/2#post-1570347 Tue, 15 Apr 2014 14:30:27 +0000 brownie 1570347@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Adira: you should look into that. Because either you aren't exempt for real or your employer is likely doing something wrong. </p>