Editor's note: This is the third in a three-part series. Click here for part one and here for part two.Trish Taylor breast-feeds her baby, Dwayne Taylor III. They call him D3, for short.
Taylor’s living room table is filled with devices and supplements that help her breastfeed successfully.
“I pumped with this last night," Taylor said, pointing to an electronic breast pump. "I take these daily, I drink my tea daily. I pump after every feeding, I weigh him at least once a day to see how he’s growing. These are things that I have to use regularly.”
When Newmont's return to work breast-feeding often goes by the wayside because working women who are lactating have to pump their paws. That requires frequent breaks, the right equipment and some privacy. In the final episode of our three-part series of breast-feeding, KPBS Kenny Goldberg tells us for California employers are doing to make things easier. If you think breast-feeding is simple and trouble-free, think again. Trish Taylor breast-feeds her baby, to Wayne Taylor the third. They call him D3 for short. Taylor's living room is chock-full of devices and supplements that help her breast-feed successfully. I pump this last night I take these daily and I drink my tea daily and our pump after every feeding. I weigh him to see how his growing. These are things that I use regularly. Taylor also uses disposable nursing pads and creams This stuff is inconvenient and it gets in the way but at the end of the day, my son and I are building a strong bond and I wouldn't trade it for the world. The CDC says that Taylor was on the right track. The agency recommends that all babies be exclusively breast-fed for the first six months. On average however, California women are coming close to that goal. In fact, survey show the rate of exclusive breast-feeding takes a big dive would babysit the three-month mark. That's about the time when many women have to return to work. Christine Vaughn came back to her job at Cal State send Marcos when her daughter Kinsey with 3.5 months old. Kinsey is now eight months old and she still feeding her. Font says public or milk on the job requires a lot of work. The night before, she has a cleaner pick up her equipment. She has to remember to bring it to the office the next day And then pumping begins well before I get to work. Was the last -- the last time I've had my daughter in the morning is when I'm going to pump when I'm here. She pumps every two to three hours. Sometimes she has to juggle her scheduled to make it happen. When it's time to pump, she grabs her special back in goes upstairs to a private room. California law requires employers to provide lactating women a reasonable amount of break time to pump in a private space to do it in. It is tough enough for women to pump their breast milk in an office, but what about when they're traveling? Talk about a hassle. Alternately, California law requires all major airlines that have lactation rooms. This is for nursing mothers who would be traveling. Inside we have soft lighting as well as the court is very gentle and calming and soothing. Everything that a nursing mother would need when they are traveling Rebecca Bloomfield says there are three lactation rooms at San Diego natural's international airport. With 20 minute -- 20 million passengers coming to each year the rooms are an important amenity. If it sounds like Carol put -- California is a paradise for working moms, keep this in mind. Employers can refuse to provide pumping breaks and a private space if they think it would disrupt their operations. Dr. Nancy White is cofounder of the San Diego County breast-feeding coalition. She says that by and large it's a smaller employers that opt out. For example, it's hard to replace somebody for 20 or 30 minutes if you're on an assembly line. Unfortunately, the women and babies who can most benefit from human milk are the ones that don't tend to get it because it's too hard to work it into the system. And then there were people who are uncomfortable with women breast-feeding in public. A recent nationwide survey from the CDC found that 13% of respondents were against the practice. Some people don't believe it's natural. They think it's nasty. IPAQ Congressman tell me I don't p.m. public so why should you breast-feed in public. I don't think the two are equivalent but I can't get that across to some people. That doesn't these Christine Vaughn. She's planning to breast-feed her daughter for at least a year that The hope would be that as a mom and as an employee you can reach the goal you set for yourself. I think if moms are unable to do that, it's hard. It's hard because you feel like you're feeling as a mother and that's a hard place to be. Kenny Goldberg, KPBS news.
Taylor also uses disposable nursing pads and creams.
“Of course this stuff isn’t convenient, of course it’s annoying," Taylor said. "Sometimes you want to pull your hair out. But at the end of the day, my son and I are building a really strong bond, and I wouldn’t trade it for the world.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Taylor is on the right track. The agency recommends that all babies be exclusively breastfed for the first six months.
On average, however, California women aren’t coming close to that goal.
In fact, surveys show the rate of exclusive breast-feeding takes a big dive when babies hit the three-month mark. That’s about the time when many women have to return to work.
Christine Vaughan returned to her job as a public information officer at California State University, San Marcos when her daughter, Kenzie, was 3 1/2 months old.
Kenzie is now 8 months old, and Vaughan is still breastfeeding her.
Vaughan said pumping her milk on the job requires a lot of work.
The night before, she has to clean and pack up her equipment. And she has to remember to bring it to the office the next day.
“And then pumping really begins well before I actually even get to work," Vaughan said. "What’s the last time I fed my daughter in the morning is usually a big indicator of when I’m going to pump when I’m here.”
Vaughan ends up pumping about every two to three hours. Sometimes, she has to juggle her schedule to make it happen.
When it’s time to pump, she grabs her special bag and goes upstairs to a private room.
California law requires employers to provide lactating women a reasonable amount of break time to pump and a private space to do it in.
Nonetheless, it's tough for moms to continue to breastfeed while juggling responsibilities at work.
Things can get even tougher when nursing women travel. Fortunately, California law requires all major airports to have lactation rooms.
San Diego International Airport has three lactation rooms that are tastefully decorated, have comfortable chairs and soft lighting.
"With 20 million passengers coming through every year, the rooms are an important amenity," said Rebecca Bloomfield, the airport's senior public relations specialist.
If it sounds like California is a paradise for working moms who nurse, keep this in mind: employers can refuse to provide pumping breaks and a private space, if they determine it would seriously disrupt their operations.
Dr. Nancy Wight is a neonatologist, and co-founder of the San Diego County Breastfeeding Coalition. She said typically it’s the smaller employers that opt out.
“For example, it’s very hard to replace somebody for a 20-minute or a 30-minute break to pump, if you’re on an assembly line," Wight said. "And so, unfortunately, the very women and babies who can most benefit from human milk, are the ones that don’t tend to get it, because it’s too hard to work it into the system.”
And then, there are people who are uncomfortable with women breastfeeding in public.
A recent nationwide survey from the CDC found 13 percent of respondents were against the practice.
“Some people don’t believe it’s natural. They believe it’s nasty," Wight said. "I’ve had congressmen tell me, ‘Well, I don’t pee in public, so why should you breastfeed in public?’ I don’t think the two are equivalent, but I can’t get that across to some people.”
That doesn’t faze Christine Vaughan. She’s planning to breastfeed her daughter, Kenzie, for at least a year.
“The hope would be as a mom, as an employee, that you’re able to reach the goal that you set for yourself," Vaughan said. "I think when moms are unable to do that, it’s very hard. It’s hard because in some way, you almost feel like you’re failing as a mother. And that’s a hard place to be.”
