Boobs in the Boardroom

Boobs in the boardroom…has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it.

If you’ve seen my instagram – you know I’m a HUGE fan of the Elvie pump. It’s easy, it’s convenient, but here’s the real truth – it lets me PARTICIPATE. It lets me normalize breastfeeding without hiding in a server room (real story – a friend of mine, CRO of a growing company, literally had to pump in the server room) or staying home instead of hiking, skiing or getting out of the house.

Here’s a personal story.

I had my first in person board meeting while on my maternity leave. Our board is all men. Our leadership team isn’t, but our board is, and we’ve never met in person. It was a 4 hour meeting, I was 10 weeks postpartum, I was feeding every 2.5 – 3 hours. Clearly – pumping during this board meeting was needed. 

I was agonizing over when to step out, when to take the time without missing my section or the important conversation. Minutes kept ticking by – I finally had to leave, boobs getting painful and dangerously close to leaking all over my shirt…that would be nice. 

I step out, I put the Elvie pumps on – “the robo-boobs” – but I’m hesitant to go back in, so I sit in an office and continue to pump. When I return, 20 minutes later, I’ve missed a key conversation. I try to step back in, but it’s late and I’ve missed the boat. It sucks. This is my first impression with the team. I’m on maternity leave. I feel defeated and like being a mom put me in the back seat. 

Rational me knows that 20 minutes isn’t a big deal, one conversation doesn’t matter. But the concept and the feeling at the time sucked. One of my coworkers, expecting herself, commented on it. We both agreed. It sucked.

At that moment I made a decision. The Elvie pump means I don’t need to hide, go into a room, pump in the corner. I can use them IN the meeting. Bring the boobs and the breastfeeding to the table, literally. 

Fast forward to our next leadership meetings – I followed through. It takes 2 minutes to run to the bathroom, put in the pumps, and then come back to the table, and simply pump at that table, including the milk transfer, wiping down pump parts and putting the bags away.

What does this do:

• Keeps me in the conversation – no need to step out, navigate schedules, find a random room with no windows to sit in mindlessly for 20 minutes and need to switch gears when you rejoin the conversation.
• Brings pumping, breastfeeding and motherhood to the table in a way that shows it can be integrated into the work day, into life, into activities. It doesn’t need to get in the way.
• Empowers other women, especially those that may not feel so bold or are not in leadership positions, to know that it’s okay! You don’t need to hide. 

What does this have to do with coaching? Fitness? Nutrition?

It’s all about embracing, building and encouraging more badass in more women. 

It’s why I coach. It’s why I started this business. 

I get asked all the time “how do you bounce back” or “how do you do it all”. 

First – all you’re seeing is the parts I’m doing, not what’s dropping or not getting done. You’re seeing what I PRIORITIZE.

To some, that may feel like more than what you may be doing – but it’s not – it’s just different. However, if you’re not prioritizing what you want – that’s where there is an opportunity to change. 

When you’re new in motherhood – it’s easy to get overwhelmed, give up your hobbies, your passions – and that’s fine, if you want – but ONLY if you TRULY WANT THAT. 

If you feel like you have to give up those things, I want to change that!

That’s my Why. And that’s where coaching comes in. 

The confidence, the ability to feel strong, do something for you, continue to pursue your hobbies. That translates into more areas than just fitness and nutrition, but personally, professionally and mentally. 

So let’s bring it on – more boobs in the boardroom…and the breastmilk bags, and pump parts, and all the things.