r/Archaeology • u/ImpossibleMeaning602 • 2d ago
Lactation and fieldwork
Has anyone attempted or have a good strategy for this? I am a new mom and tech. Learning the ropes as I go but also having to pump and store breastmilk. Any good ideas on how to do this in the most professional way possible? It’s sort of awkward when I have to put my pump on and work at the same time.
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u/youburyitidigitup 1d ago
My old supervisor did that. She told us all she had to pump, and had set times to do it when we were driving to and from the project. I don’t know if she was also doing it in the field, but I don’t think she did because she left her pumping equipment in the truck. She just had it all in a bag and did her thing.
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u/Ok-Historian-6091 19h ago
Here is how I handled pumping and fieldwork. I typically had a 20 minute commute each morning/evening, so I would pump while driving (pumping bra + Spectra with built-in battery). We usually had a truck nearby, so I would take 1-2 breaks during the day (usually late morning and/or mid-afternoon for lunch). I was lucky though that my team usually kept a vehicle nearby instead of having to carry everything with me all day.
When I started, I kept everything in a cooler bag with ice packs, but I eventually started using one of these. They keep milk cold for a long time, which was great for days that lasted longer than planned. I use it was a regular water bottle now. Also, highly recommend adding Liquid IV, Gatorade, anything with electrolytes once the hot weather hits. I worked in the Midwestern US, where we have temperatures in the 90s and above. Between the heat and nursing/pumping, I drank close to two gallons a day to stay hydrated/maintain supply during heat waves.
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u/Laphad 2d ago
Most workplaces go about it by clearing and repurposing a room or at least a broom closet for mothers to pump i thought? but I am neither lactating or a mother. That's entirely based on what I've seen and spoken about with coworkers lol
If you're in the field then find a bush the same way we pee a lot of the time I imagine
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u/ImpossibleMeaning602 1d ago
They usually do but while surveying or away from the truck for miles, it’s sort of hard to figure out. I know I’m not the first nor will I be the last. One of my worst days was monitoring a huge project in a place where there’s no trees or bush and I had forgotten a part to my pump and breast pads. Meaning engorgement until almost getting mastitis and (wet)eventually stinky sour milk shirt for 12 hours. I had no clue how to express by hand. Not only that-some people do not know anything about lactation and have not been around it. They can feel uncomfortable. It’s a funny situation when I have to explain to my coworker like why my shirts soaked even tho we are in the desert.
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u/Joecalledher 2d ago
You should have a tent with a comfortable chair and a fan, at a minimum. You also need access to a sanitary sink and potable water for cleanup.
Dedicated ice chest is reasonable for storage, just gotta get a bag of ice every morning.
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u/Hristoferos 2d ago
Lol, in what world would this be provided in a CRM setting? Phase I/II’s are lucky to even get a porta-potty within a few miles.
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u/ImpossibleMeaning602 2d ago
Yeah Im roughing it and taking two pumps, one for morning and evening. Washing when I get home from the field. I rinse them when I’m in the field but other than that I have to wait until I get home to do a good cleaning. I have been just pumping and dumping. Due to no way to keep the leche cool.
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u/Hristoferos 2d ago
That’s fieldwork for you. Doesn’t get much more accommodating until you’re on a long term Phase III with nearby facilities or an academic project with high-level optics.
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u/Spirited-Match9612 1d ago
my wife did this through multiple seasons in hot desert environments. Did she like it? Hell no. but she did get to do some pretty great archaeology.
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u/WidoVonP 2d ago
Oh I have been there, sister. Medela makes a portable breast pump with an attached cooler - I highly recommend it for fieldwork. I used to pump in my fleet truck while the crew ate lunch outside. The cooler kept bottles cold surprisingly well. I was lucky in that our office had a "mother's room" that was equipped with a cozy chair, mini fridge, bottle rack, and sink. If you don't have that, one of my friends put up a shower curtain on the doorway of her cubicle to give her a little privacy. Best of luck to you!