"Each time a woman stands up for herself, without knowing it possibly, without claiming it, she stands up for all women." - Maya Angelou
When I was a fourth-year medical student, I was about to start residency interviews. I also had a two-month-old baby.
“Don’t tell them you have a child,” some of my colleagues said.
“And definitely DON’T ask for a place to pump.”
I didn’t listen. I asked every program (in advance) for access to a lactation room. For some programs, it was the first time they had received this request. But still, every program found a way to accommodate me.
So why did I take this "risk"?
Breastfeeding my child was important to me, and I wanted to match into a residency program that respected this choice.
But even more, I wanted to help pave this path for other women, to make it a little easier for those coming after me. To stand up for myself and, in a small way, stand up for other women.