Some four years ago, breastfeeding campaigns in the Philippines was very little to scarce. I was breastfeeding Ayex then. Our old office has no nursing room and none of the rooms can be converted because of their design. I opted to express my milk in the shower room. I stationed an office chair there for my use and every time I find out that the janitorial services removed it, I get mad. Missing chair is not the only event that drives me nuts. I had several cases of disappearing ice too. Ice packs at that time was very limited not to mention expensive. The worse part is, I only find out that someone used my ice a few hours before I transport my expressed breast milk. I need the ice to keep them cold until I get home. Otherwise, Ayex needs to consume them already or they go waste. While I dealt with these scenarios, I never gave Ayex formula milk for two years.
Four years later, I read on the internet that a mom should never use a comfort room for lactation. Ayex is fine now so I guess pumping milk in the shower area did not do any harm on my milk. I really hope there was no bad effect.
Thankfully, I do not have to experience that again. Breastfeeding awareness has spread the past years that a law was even passed in support to lactating moms. Now, every establishment is mandated to have a nursing room and I am happy that our new office has one.
Our nursing room has two La-Z boy chairs, a refrigerator, a counter, an extension cord, a garbage bin and a door with lock. Our company also supplies us with alcohol and paper towel. This room is currently being used by more or less ten nursing moms.
Breastfeeding is indeed the most natural way to feed a baby and I am grateful that our company is with us on this.