Women at work and their tips, challenges, advice, complaints, and experiences

Before we begin, if the picture to the right offends you in any way, I suggest you not read any further; it's going to get worse.

I support legislation that makes it clear and utterly obvious to any who might complain about breastfeeding mothers that there is nothing obscene or pornographic about a mother who breastfeeds her child.  I agree that there are some women who throw it out there WAY too much - for instance, the multi-tasker I saw coming out of Costco with her shirt pulled all the way up to her right shoulder, with baby latched on, talking on her cell phone, which was stuck between her left ear and left shoulder.  That one was not only over-exposure; it was just rude to the baby and the person on the phone. 

What I don't support is a woman who wants special treatment and claims not being able to pump or breastfeed for an hour straight can cause her medical problems.  Come on.  You've already gotten special breaks due to disability acts.  You've been offered plenty of options for the breastfeeding situation as well.  Don't tell me that you want more.  And frankly, stop giving other Workerettes a bad name. 

What will be accomplished with this case?  Plenty of working mums pump at work in much less time than you've been granted, let alone what you're asking for.  Plenty of moms DO put their career on hold for a few months, or a few years, in order to raise their children or simply to breastfeed.  They aren't getting special treatment.  They aren't offered a private area to do it in; they are sitting on a toilet seat hoping nobody comes in who has food poisoning or too many margaritas the night before.  They aren't getting 45 minutes - they are getting 15 minute unpaid breaks. 

I'm with La Shawn Barber on this one, folks.  There's a very big difference between equal treatment and special treatment.  The world does not revolve around you, sweetie - suck it up and take the test in the two days you've been allotted (vs everyone else's one day) and pump in 45 minutes or go home and breastfeed (and bond with your baby before these days pass by without you realizing it) and test out next year.

This Workerette's rant is over.  Go read the article and La Shawn's take on it.  She says it much calmer than I.  Then again, I've been up doing 3 a.m. feedings myself - I can get a bit vehement when I get cranky and sleep-deprived.  Ah yes, and there's my little darling awake again himself!