It's Not a Purse, It's a Pump

Any working mom who chooses to breastfeed for any extended period of time knows the feeling. You're walking down the hallway in the office, carrying a subtle-but-not-so-fashionable bag filled with bottle parts, cups, tubing and everything you need to express and store milk for your baby without letting on. A coworker sees you, smiles and says, "see you tomorrow!"

We may look like the most lackadaisical employees, running in and out or around the building with a bag flung over our shoulder like we're trying to make a quick exit. But it's not a purse, it's a pump.

When we get questioned by our coworkers and answer too frankly, it's the ultimate conversation shutdown. "What's in the bag?" "A pump." Red faces and wide eyes stutter for their next syllable and we laugh because to us the topic isn't uncomfortable at all.

We've made breastfeeding a priority and we're lucky enough to be able to feed our babies this way. I'm lucky enough to work in a place that provides support and a nice quiet room complete with Ann Geddes photos. Other moms I know have to make due with an empty conference room, an office, or even a bathroom stall, stringing an extension cord for the task. Some even have to pump in their car during a commute. Like I said, we made it a priority.

When we look at our watch in a meeting it's not (always) because we're bored and looking to leave. We live in 3-hour increments. Our babies are elsewhere but they're always on our minds. We know when they eat and sleep. We try to keep track of how much. We try to pump enough.

When we can't, we go through great lengths to make more. We eat fenugreek and smell like maple syrup, or we bake cookies with oats and brewers yeast or drink dark beer and follow all the wives' tales.

We're professional when it comes to pouring because every drop of the hard-earned milk counts and when you're away from your baby you can never have too much. We know whoever said the colloquialism "don't cry over spilled milk" was not a breastfeeding mother.

We balance our day with these breaks and manage time accordingly. We work smarter and faster because we know in our society this task is not a welcome excuse. We know it's not pretty. It's not fun. But that glass won't shatter itself and mommy can't be in two places at once.

Here's to seven months of breastfeeding and four months of pumping, and to all of the other moms out there hustling too. Here's to the cookies we bake... here's to the mess we hope not to make... here's to those "purses" we take.

At 7 months, Baby Bro likes playing with his kuya, tasting new fruit, racing toy cars, pulling up to stand, scooting everywhere he wants to go, and being held by mommy.

He dislikes ear infections, teething, and going to sleep.