There was no Mother's Room, so I bought a shower curtain: What pumping at work really taught me

If you have ever hidden behind a closed office door with a pump, tipped a hard-won two ounces down the drain by accident, or sat there quietly wondering whether you are making enough milk, I want you to know something right away. You are in very good company, and there is nothing wrong with you.

I am Vida, one of the co-founders of WeNatal, and I have two daughters and two completely different breastfeeding journeys behind me. One of them involved pumping at work through a demanding corporate career, a building with no mother's room, and yes, a shower curtain I bought and hung over my office window. The other happened at home during COVID, when everything that had been hard the first time got easier, and the hard part simply moved somewhere new.

This is a personal story more than a how-to, but my hope is that somewhere in it you find your own experience, a little practical help, and a lot of permission to stop being so hard on yourself.

If there is one thing I would put on a sticky note for every new mom, it's this: your milk supply is not a report card, and enough is the only number that matters. Everything below is really just a longer, more honest version of that.

The heart of it:

• Pumping at work is logistically hard, and it was even harder before mother's rooms and cordless pumps existed. If that is your season right now, a little planning goes a long way.
• Milk supply is deeply individual. Two mothers can sit side by side, do everything the same, and produce very different amounts, and both can be exactly enough for their own babies.
• Comparison is one of the fastest ways to steal the joy out of feeding your baby. I know, because I spent a long time doing it.
• Rest, nourishment, hydration, and frequent milk removal are the real foundations, and taking care of yourself is part of taking care of your baby, not a competing priority.
• Support changes everything, whether that is a lactation consultant, a partner on night duty, a friend who gets it, or nutritional support built for this exact season.

My first baby, and the lactation consultant who changed everything

When I had Dalia, my first, I was doing what every new mom does, which is making it up as I went along while running on almost no sleep. It was stressful and a little scary, and in the early days it genuinely hurt.

What saved me was my best friend Ronit, who took one look at what I was going through and told me to get a lactation consultant. She came to my home, walked me through all the things I was doing wrong, showed me the surprisingly easy fixes, and helped me find a rhythm. That one decision changed the entire experience.

For the six months of my maternity leave, I was able to feed Dalia and pump and slowly build a small reserve. I was never a big pumper, and I never made a lot of milk, but I had enough for her. I made a point of not getting in my head about the number of ounces. I just did my best to tuck a little extra into the freezer, because I knew I ultimately had to get back to my job.

If I could go back, the lactation consultant is the thing I would do sooner, and the thing I recommend to every friend before they even give birth. Whether it's an IBCLC or your own provider, having someone in your corner early is not a luxury. It's the thing that makes the rest possible.

Then I went back to the office, and everything got harder

I went back to work full time when Dalia was around six months old. This was about eight years ago, so there was no hybrid schedule and no working from home. We were in the office every single day.

Overnight, I went from feeding and pumping in the comfort of my own home to lugging a massive plug-in pump across the city, along with all the parts, all the cleaning supplies, and all the bags to store the milk in. Somehow I had to fit pumping into a corporate day that was wall to wall with meetings.

So I built a whole travel suitcase that came to work with me every morning and home with me every night. The building I worked in was old, and there was no mother's room anywhere in it. I had an office with a big glass window, no private place to go, and I absolutely refused to pump in a bathroom. So I bought a shower curtain, hung it over the window, put a sign on my door, and pumped anyway. I pumped on conference calls. I pumped in any small gap I could find in the day.

I still remember one afternoon when I finished pumping on a call and then tipped my two ounces of liquid gold all over my desk. I could have cried, because I knew exactly how much work had gone into those two ounces. Anyone who has pumped knows that feeling in their whole body.

What actually helped me pump at work

Pumping at work is a real skill, and nobody hands you a manual. Here is what made it survivable for me, and what I would pass along to anyone returning to work while breastfeeding:

• Build a dedicated pump bag and keep it stocked. Having one packed kit with your parts, storage bags, and cleaning supplies means you are never scrambling in the morning. Mine essentially lived a double life as a suitcase.  Another mom hack if you are able is to buy 2 sets of everything so you dont have to lug it all back and forth like I did.
• Claim your space before you need it. Ask about a mother's room, and if there is not one, get creative and protective about your privacy the way I did. You are entitled to a spot that is not a bathroom.
• Put pumping on your calendar like a meeting. Blocking the time is what kept it from getting swallowed by back-to-back calls. Protecting those blocks is not indulgent, it's how supply is maintained through frequent, regular milk removal.
• Hydrate every single time you pump. I kept water wherever I pumped and drank a glass with each session. Lactation raises your fluid needs, and this was the easiest habit to actually stick to.
• Try not to stare at the bottle. Watching the ounces climb in real time is a recipe for anxiety, and stress can interfere with letdown. I did better when I distracted myself and let my body do its thing.
• A small freezer stash buys peace of mind. Even a little extra tucked away made the whole thing feel less precarious on the hard days.

The bag lady

Around the office, I became known as the bag lady, because I was always walking in and out with three or four bags hanging off me.

It did not stop when I traveled, either. There were no cordless pumps back then, so everything was plug-in, and I was forever hunting for an outlet and somewhere to sit. I pumped in airport bathrooms on work trips and in mall fitting rooms when we were out on market travel. It was far from glamorous, and it was far from ideal, but I was committed to it, and honestly, it only made me feel stronger.

I am so grateful that offices now have mother's rooms, refrigerators, and comfortable chairs, because that was not the world I was pumping in. If your workplace has those things, use them without guilt. And if it does not, please know that making it work with a shower curtain and a stubborn streak counts too.

My second baby, at home, and why it still wasn't simple

I had my second daughter during COVID. I took my maternity leave, and when it ended I was fortunate enough to keep working from home.

Everything that had been hard the first time got easier. No suitcase. No shower curtain. No hunting for an outlet between meetings. The pumps had changed too, and cordless meant I could pump while driving, while cooking, or while doing just about anything around the house. The best part was that Ronit and I had our babies two months apart, so we were often together while we were feeding and pumping.

I assumed that with all of that working in my favor, the second time would be simple. It was not. The hard part had just moved. The logistics eased, and something more tender took their place.

Pumping next to my best friend, and the comparison trap

Here is the part I do not think we talk about enough. Every time I pumped next to Ronit, I was quietly stunned. Her bottles would be overflowing, and I would sit there for what felt like hours and get close to two ounces. Seeing that difference right in front of me, over and over, was genuinely overwhelming.

Ronit was an overproducer who donated bags and bags of milk. I was the opposite. Same friendship, same season, same little rituals, completely different bodies and completely different outputs. If you want the other side of this exact story, in her own words, it's worth a read.

What I eventually understood is that mine was enough for my kids, and that was the only measure that ever mattered. Not the bottle next to me. I had to learn to stop putting myself down about it and actually let myself enjoy feeding my baby. That shift, from comparing to accepting, did more for me than any extra ounce ever could have.

Why do some women make more milk than others?

Milk supply varies from person to person for a whole range of reasons, and much of it's simply individual. Anatomy, hormones, how often and how effectively milk is removed, sleep, stress, overall nourishment, and countless factors we do not fully see all play a role. Frequent, effective milk removal is the strongest lever most of us have, and undereating or serious under-resting can quietly work against supply.

The important part, and the part I wish someone had said to me while I sat there comparing, is that a lower supply is not a verdict on you as a mother. If your supply is shifting or you are worried it's not enough, that is a conversation for your provider or a lactation consultant, who can look at the full picture with you.

The morning in Ojai, and what rest finally taught me

Ronit and I once took a trip to Ojai, our first time away from our babies. I got a full, uninterrupted night of sleep, and I woke up feeling like a different person. When I pumped the next morning, I was overflowing in a way I almost never was.

I am not going to tell you that one good night of sleep is a magic supply switch, because bodies are more complicated than that and everyone is different. But that morning taught me something I had been ignoring for years, which is how much rest and caring for myself actually mattered to my whole experience of breastfeeding. Sleep, nourishment, hydration, and lowering the pressure even a little are not extras. They are part of the foundation.

That is the season when I first understood, in my body and not just in my head, that taking care of myself was part of taking care of my baby. A calm, well-fed, reasonably rested mother is doing real work, even when it looks like rest. 

The support I wish I'd had, and where Milk + Mood fits

When I think back on both of my journeys, the thing I most wish I had was more support aimed at me, the mother, and not only at the baby. Support for my milk, yes, but also for my mood, my energy, and the sheer physical depletion of it all.

That is a big part of why we created Milk + Mood. It's a postpartum supplement designed to be taken alongside WeNatal for Her, not instead of it. It layers in botanicals that have been studied for lactation, like moringa, shatavari, and milk thistle, along with saffron and the active form of vitamin B6, which have been studied for mood and emotional wellbeing, plus nutrients like choline that are delivered through breast milk. It may support milk supply and mood as one helpful piece of a much bigger postpartum picture.

I want to be honest with you, because that is the whole point of a story like this. Milk + Mood did not exist when I was pumping behind a shower curtain, so I cannot tell you it fixed my supply. What I can tell you is that it's the kind of thoughtful, mother-focused support I wished I had in both of my journeys, and it's built to work with your prenatal rather than replace it. No supplement replaces the fundamentals of milk production or professional care, and some situations call for a conversation with your provider first.

When to reach out for support

Breastfeeding is highly individual, and personalized guidance can make a real difference. It's worth reaching out to your provider or a lactation consultant if you notice any of the following:

• Ongoing concern about your milk supply or your baby's growth and weight gain
• Pain with feeding or pumping that is not improving
• Fatigue that feels beyond the usual newborn exhaustion
• Questions about whether a specific supplement or herb is right for you, especially if you take medication

And please hear this part clearly. If you are experiencing significant sadness, anxiety, intrusive thoughts, or any thoughts of harming yourself or your baby, reach out to your provider right away. That kind of support is medical care, and nourishment is meant to sit alongside it, never in place of it. Asking for help is one of the strongest, most loving things you can do in this season.

Frequently asked questions on breastfeeding

How do you pump at work?

Build one stocked pump bag, secure a private space that is not a bathroom, and block pumping time on your calendar so it does not get lost between meetings. Hydrate at every session, try not to fixate on the ounces, and keep a small freezer stash for peace of mind. If your workplace offers a mother's room and a refrigerator, use them without guilt.

Is it normal to produce less milk than another mom?

Yes. Milk supply is deeply individual, and two mothers can do everything the same and still produce very different amounts. A lower output can still be exactly enough for your baby. If you are worried about supply or your baby's growth, a provider or lactation consultant can help you look at the whole picture.

Does sleep or stress affect breastfeeding?

Rest, nourishment, and hydration are part of the foundation of a comfortable breastfeeding season, and stress can interfere with letdown even though it does not stop milk production. Caring for yourself genuinely supports your experience, so it's worth protecting sleep and lowering pressure wherever you can.

Should I keep taking a prenatal while breastfeeding?

Many providers recommend continuing a comprehensive prenatal vitamin during lactation, because some nutrients in breast milk reflect your own intake and stores, and supplementation helps replenish what pregnancy and birth naturally draw down. Talk with your provider about what is right for you.

What is Milk + Mood, and can I take it with my prenatal?

Milk + Mood is a fenugreek-free postpartum supplement designed to be taken alongside WeNatal for Her, not instead of it. It adds botanicals studied for lactation and ingredients studied for mood, and it may support milk supply and mood as one part of a broader postpartum plan. Check with your provider before starting any new supplement, especially if you take medication.

How do I stop comparing my breastfeeding journey to someone else's?

Start by remembering that supply is individual and that enough is the only number that matters. It helped me to stop watching the bottle, to focus on my own baby, and to lean on support instead of judgment. If comparison is weighing on you, talking to a friend who has been there, or a lactation consultant, can lighten it.

A note from WeNatal on your breastfeeding journey

Breastfeeding can be beautiful, exhausting, emotional, and complicated, sometimes all in the same afternoon. My two journeys, one behind a shower curtain and one at home with a cordless pump, are proof that even the same mother can have completely different experiences from one baby to the next.

At WeNatal, we believe feeding your baby should never become a measure of your worth as a mother. Whether your path includes nursing, pumping, a freezer stash, donated milk, formula, or every one of those at different times, there is no single right way to do this. The right way is the one that keeps you and your baby nourished, supported, and cared for.

We built WeNatal, and now Milk + Mood, because mothers deserve to be supported too, not only for milk supply, but for the whole person carrying the weight of this season. If you take one thing from my story, let it be this: your supply is not a report card, comparison is not your friend, and enough is the only number that matters.

You are not behind, and you are not failing. You are learning your baby, listening to your body, and finding your way together, and that is more than enough. If you’re looking for additional support, be sure to download our postpartum guide for additional layers of support. 

With love, 

Vida