I absolutely just realized I left y'all hanging regarding Corporate Lactation. So sorry! I am doing better. To remind you all I was telling you how the corporate world saw my pregnancy as a hinderance and showed out in my last few weeks of pregnancy. If you need to catch up, it's linked here. Let's take a step back to move forward.
As a reminder, Corporate Lactation is intentional lactation support to resources working within corporations and small businesses. It is designed to support resources both in and out of the office when it comes to juggling their breastfeeding goals and professional priorities. I created this because it was something I needed and didn't have as an employee.
A cared for and supported employee, is a resourceful employee. Corporate Lactation shows that you care for your employees during a very vulnerable time of family expansion; as families attempt to go back to pre-baby routines. Going back to work and having your parental leave end can be a brutal transition. You have to be away from your baby and the hopefully safe space at home. You have to go back to work and pick up your responsibilities where you left them. If you are breastfeeding parent, you have a whole additional layer of concern...pumping! Pumping is a task that you will have to take on if you are away from your child at work. You have to get information on how often to pump, how to store milk, where to pump, how to maintain your supply, and how to manage all the supplies you need. Tackling this transition is a feat in itself.
On top of that, you have to see if your workplace is even equipped to support you on your journey. A lot of times organizations have no idea how to even broach the subject but it doesn't have to be complicated. Corporate Lactation provides intentional support in a multitude of ways to help families ease into and be great back at work. Not just simply back at work.
Speaking of work, that last sentence just reminded me that while you are managing all new things pumping, you actually still... have to WORK!! You have to wrench your brain away from all things baby so you can continue to do the amazing work that I know you do. The time to learn how to balance it all sneaks up on your quickly and doesn't give you much of an adjustment period. It is a quick learning curve that should be met with preparation, thoughtfulness, and support.
Lactation support can be a variety of things from physical, educational, and procedural. Procedural support that can look a lot like a Lactation Support Plan that gives resources guidance, sets expectations, and details processes that are helpful in the transition. Educational support like having lactation education readily available before, during, and after parental leave. Physical support can look like carving out a safe and clean space for parents to express milk. Having these examples of support in place allows parents to focus on the when but not the what, where, and how of providing food for their child. It is one less thing on their mental plate to digest and clears up space for other matters (like that work report) to be tended to.
But with all that said, why should you care? Well, because, duh! The way a company takes care of its birthing resources, is usually an indication of how they take care of all their resources. Even if lactation support it doesn't apply to you, you should pay attention. It may impact you in a different way in the future.
Talk Soon,
Sabrina
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