Please wait...

A Perspective On Pumping

By Jennifer Y. Chu, MD

By the time you read this, my third and final baby will be one year old and I will no longer be carrying a breast pump to work. As surgeons, we often look back after cases and ask ourselves what went well and what could have gone better. After over 360 hours of pumping, I would like to do the same with this experience in hope of making it easier for others.

Here is what went well:

  • I had very supportive staff. Even though my pumping added a few minutes to the days of my clinic staff and to the turnover between cases, my staff helped me keep my babies fed. I believe they did this in part because I worked to time my pumping in a way that showed I respected their time as well. For example, I tried to pump between cases where there was usually longer turnover. I also communicated my plans so that they didn’t waste time looking for me when I was pumping.
  • I repurposed venues around me to pump more efficiently. If you bring your pump, supplies, an ice pack, and a cover, you can turn exam rooms, locker room benches, dictation cubicles, and patient holding areas into a pumping space.
  • Pumping in the car is a game changer. Pumping on my way to work saved me time when getting out of the house and enabled me to decrease the number of pumping sessions I needed during the day. It also meant I could multi-task when I had to commute between locations.
  • Finally, I must acknowledge my luck in this. I was able to fulfill my babies’ daily needs by pumping on my way to work, pumping 1-2 times during the day, and pumping on my way home. Since I only needed to figure out the logistics of 1-2 sessions a day, it was much easier for me to continue.

Here are a few things that could have gone better or that I might have done differently:

  • You will forget supplies. Keep a back-up set of pump parts in your office or your car. If you forget storage bottles, specimen cups are a good alternative. If you don’t have access to those, a water bottle will do. If your hospital has a labor and delivery department, they may have extra supplies as well.
  • Someone will walk in on you. I rarely used door signs or locks, so this probably happened to me more than most. Many of those times, my colleagues or staff did not even realize what I was doing as we talked.
  • It is worth knowing what accommodations are available even if you do not use them. For example, even if you maximize your alternative pumping venues, find out where the hospital lactation areas are. Some of those areas have computers and you can enter orders while pumping. Also, I recently learned that you can get extra break time for pumping during board examinations, something that would have made my Part 1 experience more pleasant.

Finally, here is some general advice:

  • Figure out what the most important features are for you when you choose your pump. For me, the two most important features ended up being battery power and efficiency. Not having to worry about proximity to an outlet gave me more flexibility in pumping location, and a more efficient pump can save 2-3 minutes per session. The pump that worked best for me was the Spectra S2. The major downside is that this is one of the bigger pumps and I had to carry it in a duffel bag that would have adequately held everything I needed for a weekend trip in my pre-child days.
  • Be flexible with your pumping goals. Figuring out the logistics of pumping for 10-12 months when you first return to work after giving birth can be daunting. It was much easier for me to set shorter goals (3, 6, 9, and 12 months) and reevaluate at each interval. At six months, I started pump weaning with baby number one and cut down to one session per work day with babies 2-3.
  • When it comes to baby feeding, do what works for you and your family. The studies showing “breast is best” are not Level I evidence, and no one should be telling a surgeon on a productivity based model that formula is the more expensive choice. As I mentioned above, I made changes to my pumping at 6 months with all three babies and I do not regret valuing my time learning during fellowship (for baby 1) or with my other children (for babies 2 and 3) over extra ounces. Also, ignore the judgement of your baby feeding choices. At various times, I received criticism about taking too many breaks and not pumping enough.

In the end, I am sure pumping will be only one of many balancing acts that I face as a surgeon and a parent. I know I will be asking my colleagues for advice as other challenges arise, and I hope that reading this helps someone with their baby feeding decisions. If you have any questions beyond these 10 points, please feel free to reach out to me.

Comments (5)
CHRITSOPHER FENDER
May 11, 2018 3:32 am

This isn’t hand surgery.

Reply

Elizabeth Prsic
May 11, 2018 4:24 am

Yes it is, when you have female hand surgeons, fellows, residents and rotating students.

Reply

Zaneb Yaseen
May 15, 2018 1:33 am

Agree with Elizabeth. Thank you, Jen, for the topic! You are amazing to have been able to feed your kiddos for a year! This topic is applicable/important/relevant to the expanding number of female ortho and hand surgeons even if it is not relevant to you, ‘Chritsopher’

Reply

Susan Barrett Finnegan
May 15, 2018 2:36 am

I agree, it’s not hand surgery. It also applies to arthroplasty and to mothers of twins. I wish I had read it 10 years ago

Reply

Sara Graves
May 15, 2018 12:56 pm

Thank you! Forwarded to me by one of my male partners. Lucky to be in such a practice. Respecting the process means you’ll have grateful female colleagues equally supportive of your professional and personal goals.

Reply

Leave comments

Your email is safe with us.