The Invisible Labour of Pumping

Pumping can be empowering, healing, validating, and more, but it's also a lot of work! Some of that work goes unseen but it doesn't mean it's not valuable.

Pumping parents go to great lengths to feed their child breastmilk because the benefits are indisputable. Babies who are fed breastmilk have fewer infections and hospitalizations than infants who are not fed breastmilk. Lactating parents have a lower lifetime risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes, as well as a reduced risk of certain types of cancer.

World Breast Pumping Day is a day to celebrate the dedication and tenacity of pumping parents. They persevere through power outages, engorgement, complex schedules, overflowing freezers, plugged ducts, and complicated feelings because they know it's worth it.

Our hope is that as we share our stories and continue to normalize pumping, the invisible labour of pumping will become more visible. Pumping parents will feel seen and valued, their grit will be celebrated, and their hard work will be recognized.