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I have breastfed both of my children — one for 14 months and the other for more than two years, all while working full-time, traveling regularly for overnight business trips and juggling all the things that mothers do. It took a lot of commitment, conviction and a healthy dose of obsession! It wasn’t easy, and it is my proudest accomplishment.

I was fortunate to have an opportunity to help other mothers and guardians who were committed to providing their children breast milk. It was very fulfilling and rewarding to know that my hard-earned expressed milk would be put to good use and would help other babies. It actually was difficult for me to find a milk bank that was willing to take my milk because at that time, many didn’t take out-of-state donations. I also discovered that many milk banks had more supply than they needed because the practice of using donor breast milk was not as prevalent as it is today. Luckily, I made one more call to the Austin (TX) Milk Bank. The timing must have been good because they said they could use the supply. I had to fill out some paperwork, and get my blood drawn and tested before I was accepted as a donor. Then I shipped all the milk overnight in dry ice down to Texas.

Milk banks are a wonderful resource for guardians and women who are not able to provide their own breast milk, or who do not have sufficient supply. Babies in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) are the ones who really need breast milk because it’s not only nutrition for them, but it’s also medicine for them. The vast majority of donor milk is used for these NICU babies.

My first exposure to Medela was as a user of its products when I was nursing my son. I was so happy with Medela’s breast pumps and accessories, and consider it one of the reasons I was able to breastfeed him for as long as I did. I also really admired Medela’s commitment to improving health, its support for moms and babies, and its investment in clinical research on lactation and breast milk. So when there was an opportunity for me to join the Medela family as a vice president, I felt that it was a perfect fit for my passion for helping moms to breastfeed and my extensive marketing background. Medela offered me the position, I relocated my family from the Northeast to the Midwest, and the rest is history. I have found such personal and professional fulfillment in working for Medela.

Breastfeeding provides unmatched benefits for mom and baby alike, and is a wonderful bonding experience for both. It is the most natural and nutritious way for moms to feed and protect their babies. Research shows that breastfed babies have fewer episodes of sickness and a reduced risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Breast milk also contains non-replicable properties that benefit an infant’s IQ and help protect against the development of infectious and chronic diseases. The positive effects of breastfeeding appear to extend past the time a baby has been weaned. There are also some great benefits for moms, for instance it has been shown to reduce the risk of some cancers in women.

Although most women want to breastfeed their babies, there are systemic and personal challenges that they face. These challenges result in a drop-off in breastfeeding during the first few days at the hospital, the baby’s first week and month at home, and when moms go back to work. Also, during the first couple of weeks, women may experience some breastfeeding challenges like sore nipples, the insecure feeling that they aren’t producing enough milk, etc. And if they aren’t getting the encouragement and support from their family, friends, healthcare providers, and employers, it is easy for mothers to give up on breastfeeding and use formula.

It is important to have positive encouragement and support from family, friends and healthcare providers, as well as access to good and accurate information. Of course, having reliable and dependable products that meet mothers’ needs are essential. Breastfeeding is an important step in giving babies a healthy start in life, and we all need to be a part of a community of support for women.

Lactation consultants are an excellent source of information and support for breastfeeding moms. They are clinically trained to provide breastfeeding advice and are invaluable especially when moms are experiencing breastfeeding complications. The Internet has a wealth of information, but it’s important to go to credible and reliable websites. Outside of womenshealth.gov and medela.com, websites and online discussion boards such as La Leche League, MomMavens.com, Kellymom.com, parenthood.com, circleofmoms.com, babycenter.com, and iVillage.com have great information and boards and are often good resources because they connect moms so that they may offer one another support and advice. Local WIC programs are also great support systems for low-income moms and provide them with food, nutrition counseling, and access to health services to help moms and their children stay healthy.

Breastfeeding is a wonderful experience but it can sometimes leave dads feeling left out and moms feeling little independence during the first months of their baby’s life. Dads can help in burping the baby or changing the baby’s diaper, which is sometimes timed around feeding time. Also, for moms who choose to express breast milk, having a breast pump provides nursing mothers the opportunity to pump their breast milk and let their husbands share in the experience of feeding their baby and furthering emotional bonds. And at times, a breast pump can also give a mom a much-needed break, while giving the whole family (even older siblings, relatives, etc.) the opportunity to be involved in feeding time, while baby still gets the best nutrition…everyone wins!

Corporations with 50 employees or more are now required to provide most nursing mothers breaks to express breast milk under the new Patient Protection and Affordability Act signed by President Obama. It’s important to know what your rights are and if this law applies to you. Also, check with your company to see if they have any designated pumping rooms. Moms shouldn’t have to choose between breastfeeding and going back to work, and now with the new legislation, many nursing women won’t have to. Speak with your manager and inform them that you will need to take a 15-20 minute pumping break every 3-4 hours and assure them that it will not impact your performance. Schedule the pumping sessions into your workday. I recommend investing in a high quality and reliable breast pump because it will be more efficient and comfortable. Often, I hear of moms who choose a cheaper option only to find themselves buying the more expensive one later. It’s also really useful to have extra bottles and pumping kits so you don’t have to clean the same set repeatedly. The Office on Women’s Health, Medela, and the National Business Group on Health all have resources to help you prepare for going back to work and also can help your employer create a supportive environment for breastfeeding.

Though it might seem daunting to juggle going back to work, pumping, motherhood, etc., it can be done!!! I personally struggled the first few weeks with breastfeeding, and I wasn’t even thinking about how long I was going to keep it up, except that I was going to try. I was also determined not to be too hard on myself. It was all so new to me. The turning point for me was when I was talking with a mother in the doctor’s office and she shared with me that she breastfed her first child for over a year, all while holding down a full-time job, going on business trips, etc. I thought “wow,” I never would have even thought this was possible — I personally wasn’t aware of anyone else who had done that. It was as if a light bulb went off in my head and once I realized it could be done, I set my mind to making it work. But it does take commitment and a belief that it can be done.

Also, be your own advocate. There are many people, policies, other commitments, etc., that can cause little and big obstacles, which make it easy to give up. Look for people who support your efforts, be your own advocate, and don’t let anyone take the wind out of your sail.