"The distance for me of where my baby was, in comparison to where I was... I sort of resented having to express and not be with him."
Victoria reflects on her experience of balancing work and motherhood, particularly during the COVID-19 lockdowns. With her first child, she initially worked in frontline private healthcare and shares how the pandemic influenced her work-life balance and parenting journey, ultimately leading to her decision to transition into self-employment. She also discusses the emotional and logistical challenges of expressing milk at work, highlighting how disconnected she felt from her baby while pumping and discusses the importance of social connection, recognising that many breastfeeding mothers lack in-person support.
"I decided that I would have a little bit of a break... but actually what I've done is I've started my own business."
00:00 Introduction to the Holding Time Podcast
00:41 Meet Victoria and Her Family
00:57 Balancing Work and Motherhood
02:21 Challenges of Breastfeeding at Work
03:47 Expressing Milk and Emotional Struggles
15:51 Navigating COVID-19 as a Breastfeeding Mother
18:58 Support Systems and Community
26:03 Conclusion and Gratitude
