Pump It!

What’s the greatest invention for working mothers who nurse?

It’s gotta be the pump. the breast pump, that is. without it, many lactating mums like myself would have to give up breastfeeding totally once we go back to work.

I’m counting down the days to 10 November 2005 – that’s the official date i’m stepping back to the office and maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan, am i dreading it. just when i’m getting the swing of things and coping pretty well with my kids too. *sigh*

This week, i’m helping the hub for 3 focus group sessions. unfortunately the client insisted that the moderation be conducted in mandarin, of which my proficiency is almost zero so i’m the assistant moderator instead. the 3 nights at hub’s office meant being separated from wen for about 6-7 hours so i had to express the milk to last her for the hours i’m away. a good practice run since she wouldn’t have the luxury to feed directly “on demand” from me when i return to office. needless to say, wen hasn’t taken to drinking from the bottle very well. according to MIL, she fusses non-stop and consumes really little. guess the rubber teat just isn’t like the real thing.


It looks like the “pump-and-store-it-in-my-trusty-coleman-box” routine’s back. Was online with RH and he recalled the incident when he and LH had to keep a lookout while i hid under the table at the staff room to express my milk. (that was in 2002, when i was breastfeeding xian.) “shy la” he quipped. i suppose it WAS kinda weird for him back then cos his gorgeous daughter wasn’t born yet. now that he’s a dad himself, he probably won’t feel so awkward, not that i’m getting any of them to be on guard again while i, ahem, “express myself”. i’ll see if i can book a meeting room during lunchtime. beats using the smelly, unhygienic toilet cubicles.

All the kids (read: xian, nieces and nephew) often run into my room when i start-up my electric pump. they get super amused to see the milk dripping down the funnel to the bottle. why, they’ve probably never seen breasts before either (with the exception of xian), which piques their curiosity even further. so once again, this “unorthodox” and “unconventional” aunt has corrupted their impressionable, innocent young minds. imagine: 10 years down the road, as teenagers, they might confess that witnessing the act of me “exposing” my breast and pumping milk has scarred them for life! you might say i’m merely making a mountain out of a molehill, but hey, you’ll never know.

Anyway, to keep abreast of the latest happenings, keep this link. heh heh.

My mood music for today: the black eyed peas’ pump it from their monkey business album.