To Rebecca Betker, motherhood is an absolute blessing. But not everything was all peaches and sunshine for this new working mom.
Breastfeeding is an activity that many mothers struggle with. Only, Rebecca's problem wasn't her child's cooperation or issues lactating; Rebecca had a problem with her workplace's rules regarding pumping.
At work, Rebecca could only pump once a day.
She holds up a measured pouch of breast milk from the day prior. The plastic bag contains three pumpings, an ounce each time and a half hour for each ounce. That's three out of 12 necessary ounces for her baby daughter, Danielle. Her lack of breast milk production was just the tip of the iceberg.
In addition to not providing her with enough breaks, her workplace did not choose decent time frames for her to pump within.
As a phlebotomist, Rebecca draws blood from patients for blood work. She has a hands-on position. Whenever she consistently produced milk, she was be unable to pump and often ended up with quite a mess on her hands — or rather, her clothes.
"By 5 o'clock, I am leaking," Rebecca says, slightly embarrassed by the thought of her situation.
"There's nothing better than drawing a patient and all of a sudden, your shirt's wet."
After teaming up with the United Food & Commercial Workers Union and Breastfeeding Coalition of Washington (in addition to contacting her local news station), lots of questions were directed to her workplace.
In response to the investigation, Rebecca was offered free formula and pumping equipment by her employer. Unfortunately, they missed the mark with that one.
The good news? After further fighting for herself and working mothers everywhere, Rebecca's workplace finally offered to cover her shifts while she pumps!
This goes to show that when you fight for what's right, anything is possible.
Please SHARE this with a mother who would do anything for her kids, just like Rebecca did!
