Work. Pump. Repeat.

Publisher's Summary

This is a practical, relatable, and humorous guide to surviving the difficult, awkward, and rewarding job of being a breastfeeding, working mother.

Meet the frenemy of every working, breastfeeding mother: the breast pump. Many women are beyond "breast is best" and on to figuring out how to make milk while returning to demanding jobs. Work. Pump. Repeat. is the first book to give women what they need to know beyond the noise of the "Mommy Wars" and judgment on breastfeeding choices. Jessica Shortall shares the nitty-gritty basics of surviving the working world as a breastfeeding mom, offering a road map for negotiating the pumping schedule with colleagues, navigating business travel, and problem-solving when forced to pump in less-than-desirable locales.

Drawing on the war stories, hacks, and humor of working moms and on her own stories from her demanding job and travel in developing countries, she gives women moral support for dealing with the stress and guilt that come with juggling working and breastfeeding. As she tells the listener in her witty, inspiring manifesto, "Your worth as a mother is not measured in ounces."

Download the accompanying reference guide.

©2017 Jessica Shortall (P)2017 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

You give me hope!

I'm a female avionics mechanic who's about to have my IUD removed so my husband and I can start working on our third child. I pumped, finished college and had a part time job when we had our first child. I pumped, finished my master's degree and had a full time job after I had our second child. But, now since I am back to working in aviation, I'm VERY nervous about how I will be able to pump when I return to work.
Your book gives me more hope! it was just nice to be reminded that I'm not alone!
Thank you!

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

gives hope

its a good read that takes stress out of going back to work and pumping.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Practical advice and reality check

I loved this book! Very helpful and detailed advise. Also a great reality check and empowering. I would recommend it to any other working breastfeeding moms.

You won’t regret this

Great book with tons of information! Makes you laugh at the truth it speaks. Highly recommend. Especially if you have no clue about pumping and the struggles that come with pumping at work.

great read

this was very I'm formative and was super helpful for someone like me who is having their first baby and has no clue about any of this!

Great book to read before returning to work.

Listened to this book while I was pumping. Great book to read before returning to work. Gave me lots of points on how to pump in awkward situations, what parts I needed to invest in and always have on had, and to realize that I am doing the best I can! However long we decide to pump at work, we are amazing women and it is doable!

great book

Loved this book! Just went back to work and have been stressing about supply. After reading this book, I have relaxed so much and gained a lot of confident and determination.

Wanted to love it

I really wanted to love this book. I thought it was just okay. It may have been more useful before I started nursing and pumping, but since I was already a month in, I felt like most chapters were repetitive, common sense, how-tos about pumping in different environments, or how to prep your boss, HR and co-workers. Even as a first time mom, this kind of stuff is somewhat obvious and most was covered by friends or by blogs I skimmed the first couple weeks of pumping. I did appreciate the chapters on work trips and weaning, but I think in general, there's a bit of over-explaining (like how to find allies, communicate your need to pump, or how to find a place to pump) as if all women are super nervous, or feel like they're walking on eggshells at work. It does emphasize that we're all different, and offer honest support for all types of pumping, formula feeding or breastfeeding moms and is fairly encouraging (mostly in the first section), but I don't think I needed the entire book.

Loved it

Realistic, informative, encouraging... all with the perfect sense of humor. By far one of my favorite baby prep books.

Useful

A lot of useful information but I felt the scenarios described were significantly more negative than what I’ve experienced while pumping at work. Maybe I’m just the anomaly but I’d hate for it to scare anyone from trying.