WELLNESS
The Extra Carry-on: Juggling the Weight of Lactation Demands During Professional Travel SAEM PULSE | MARCH-APRIL 2024
By Ashley C. Rider MD MEHP; Shubhi G. Goli, MD; and Mia L. Karamatsu, MD, on behalf of the SAEM Academy of Women in Academic Emergency Medicine and the SAEM Wellness Committee
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It was my first conference since the birth of my baby. Not only was I dreading leaving the baby, I was stressed about managing lactation demands while traveling. Juggling pouring breast milk into storage bags amidst turbulence was tricky but resulted in only a little bit of spilled milk to cry over. Exhausted, I arrived at my hotel room at 1 a.m. ready to transfer the milk to the fridge, only to discover that the fridge was the same temperature as the room. This incident was just the first of many lactation hiccups that would unfold during the trip.
The arrival of a baby is a life-changing experience, and for parents in academic emergency medicine (AEM), it can also be career changing. The demands of childcare often interfere with professional pursuits, particularly in the first year of an infant’s life. Female faculty with children tend to have fewer publications, slower career advancement, and lower career satisfaction. While participation in professional conferences is crucial for career development and promotion, for lactating individuals, it requires an entirely new set of planning and logistics beyond the usual packing and presentation preparation. With careful
forethought, advice from others in our specialty, and recommendations from other female professionals, managing lactation while traveling can become less daunting. Efforts to improve these experiences are a step in the right direction for gender equity in AEM career development.
Set Yourself and Your Family up for Success
• Be honest about your readiness to leave your baby. There will be other conferences. It is okay to say no. Alternatively, if you have the support, consider bringing your baby.