The Follow-Up: Making Pumping Work at Work

The PedsDocTalk Podcast: Child Health, Development & Parenting—From a Pediatrician Mom

Dr. Mona Amin

Kids & Family, Parenting, Medicine, Health & Fitness

4.9 • 1.5K Ratings

🗓️ 16 June 2025

⏱️ 16 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Returning to work while breastfeeding? You’re not alone—and you don’t have to figure it out on your own either. In this episode, we break down the essentials of pumping and transitioning back to work with your feeding goals intact. Whether you're just starting to think about pumping or already mapping out a return-to-work plan, this episode covers what you need to know to make it work at work—with less stress and more support. We discuss: 🍼 Your legal rights to pump at work (hint: it’s not an “accommodation”) 🧾 What to talk to your employer and HR about before returning 👜 A practical packing + pumping checklist for the workday 🕒 How much time to block off (spoiler: 30-minute breaks are ideal!) 🧊 Storage, cleaning, and coolers—figuring out logistics for any job site 💡 When and how to start pumping before you return to work 💞 Tips for building a freezer stash without spiraling into oversupply 🧠 Encouragement for the emotional side—because this transition is a lot Most importantly? We bust the myth that it’s “all or nothing.” If you need to supplement with formula, that’s okay—and you can absolutely still nurse at home and pump what you can. Flexibility is not failure. Whether you're planning ahead or feeling overwhelmed, this episode will leave you feeling seen, supported, and equipped for the next step in your breastfeeding journey. 🎧 Tune in and share with another working parent who needs this pep talk! Listen to the original, full episode. Our podcasts are also now on YouTube. If you prefer a video podcast with closed captioning, check us out there and ⁠subscribe to PedsDocTalk⁠. Get trusted pediatric advice, relatable parenting insights, and evidence-based tips delivered straight to your inbox—join thousands of parents who rely on the PDT newsletter to stay informed, supported, and confident. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠! And don’t forget to follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠@pedsdoctalkpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram—our new space just for parents looking for real talk and real support. We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on the ⁠PedsDocTalk Podcast Sponsorships⁠ page of the website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hey there, it's me, Dr. Mona, your pediatrician and mom friend, and this is the follow-up,
0:04.7	where we revisit an old episode in less time than it takes to clean all the nooks and crannies of your favorite pump.
0:13.1	You know the struggle.
0:14.3	Today, we're revisiting an episode about pumping and going back to work with Melissa from at pump underscore mama underscore pump. To break down everything you need to know about pumping, going back to work with Melissa from at Pump underscore Mama underscore Pump.
0:21.6	To break down everything you need to know about pumping, going back to work,
0:25.2	like how to advocate for your rights, plan your pumping breaks,
0:28.3	and keep your sanity and supply in check.
0:31.5	I personally relate to this because I was a pumping mom for Vera,
0:35.3	and going back to work can mean supply reduction,
0:38.8	but we discuss how to approach it with less stress and more advocacy for yourself.
0:43.7	If this episode hits home, share it with a fellow pumping parent,
0:46.9	download it so you can listen while multitasking or cleaning pump parts,
0:50.4	and subscribe to the show, because that's how we keep the milk and the podcast flowing.
0:55.4	Let's dive in.
1:00.8	So we are going to talk about now incorporating pumping when going back to work, which like we talked about, this is when many women decide to start incorporating pumping.
1:11.0	So I really wanted to talk about that.
1:13.4	In terms of when you're starting to think about pumping and incorporating it into a workplace,
1:19.3	what are some things that we have to think about?
1:21.2	Maybe a checklist, if you will, of what you may need, what to talk to your employer about, things like that.
1:27.8	Sure.
1:32.8	The first thing to know if you're returning to work is that in the U.S., it's your legal right to pump at work.
1:36.1	It's not an accommodation.
	...

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