CircleBumpCheckedFilledMedicalBookmarkBookmarkTickBookmarkAddCheckBoxCheckBoxFilled

Christina Karaba's Breastfeeding Story

The rad real mama lets us in on the secret life of pumping in an office full of dudes.
save article
profile picture of undefined
By
Updated March 2, 2017
Hero Image

The Stats:

Name: Christina Karaba
Age: 36
Occupation: Freelance Creative Director, TBS
Children: Two; Gwendolyn Daisy (2 years) and Ryder Jake (4 months)

TB: What was your initial experience with breastfeeding?

CK: Not as hard as I thought it was going to be. I feel like everyone made it to be like it was going to be this big hard thing, and it wasn’t in my case. I actually hated being pregnant and from what I understood breastfeeding it was only going to suck for 14 days, and then it would be okay. Two weeks of being uncomfortable was nothing compared to the nine months of puking every day. And it was what was for my baby so I thought, Okay here’s nine months and an extra two weeks of uncomfortableness.

TB: Why did you decide to breastfeed?

CK: I breastfed my babies because I felt it was a better thing to do for them. So I just figured, Alright I’m going to just try to breastfeed. I heard so many horror stories that it might not work, some babies don’t latch, there’s nipple confusion. I’m a working mom so I knew the baby was going to have to take a bottle eventually, so I was terrified when I went back to work there was going to be a problem with bottles, but I just went for it. I gave both of them a bottle from the beginning. I gave them both a boob from the beginning. I gave them both a pacifier from the beginning, and it was never a problem. I never had any nipple confusion, and I never had any kind of latch issue. Everything was fine. The babies were fine, and I was fine, and I think it was easier in the long run.

TB: You’re a working mom. Have you found it difficult to breastfeed your babies?

CK: The kids definitely fall into a rhythm, and I pump for my four-month-old when I’m at work. He knows that I leave in the morning and he spends the day with our nanny, and then when I come home as soon as he sees me, he starts turning his head around looking for it. I think it’s a special time that I have with them that nobody else can have with them. Because I’m a working mom I think there’s a lot of anxiety about whether or not I’m being a good, nurturing mom, and it makes me feel connected to them even though I work.

TB: We hear you have a funny code word for pumping at work. Let’s have it.

CK:  Yeah, the code is “I’m going to run on the treadmill.” I have a picture of a girl on a treadmill that I hang on my office door and I lock it. It means “I’m pumping — leave me alone.” I work with all men and they can’t hear the word pumping because it sends them spinning on their head. So I say, “Okay guys, I’m going to go run on the treadmill.” And without fail every single time one of them comes knocking. I try to explain to them that like when you’re pumping you need to be relaxed and calm, so I say, “Let me put it to you this way: When I’m pumping I need everything to be chill, or I dry up. It’s kind of like if you’re in the middle of doing something fun with your girl and someone interrupts by knocking on the door, you kind of lose it, right? So think of that way. Every time you knock I lose my hard on.”

save article
ADVERTISEMENT

Next on Your Reading List

hanukkah gifts hero
The Best Hanukkah Gift Ideas for Babies, Toddlers and Caregivers
By Cassie Kreitner
gratitude tablecloth for thanksgiving
The Viral Gratitude Tablecloth Tradition You Can Try This Thanksgiving
By Wyndi Kappes
friends giving pregnant woman gifts
45 Best Mom-To-Be Gifts That Celebrate Her
By Emma O'Regan-Reidy
ADVERTISEMENT
mom talking to son
The Parenting Hack Going Viral: Mastering the 'When/Then' Reframe
By Wyndi Kappes
andy cohen and kids
Bravo’s Andy Cohen Shares His Best Piece of Parenting Advice
By Wyndi Kappes
mom and dad holding newborn baby at home
Viral Post Shares How to Raise Your First Baby Like It’s Your Third
By Wyndi Kappes
mombies dancing to raise money this halloween
Meet the “Mombies” Raising Money for Cancer Research
By Wyndi Kappes
ADVERTISEMENT
kids trick or treating for halloween
These Are the Top 15 States for Trick-or-Treating in 2023
By Wyndi Kappes
Christmas Gifts for Grandparents Hero
36 Festive and Fun Christmas Gifts for Grandparents
By Danielle Halibey
Christmas Gifts for Parents Hero
45 Christmas Gifts for Parents on the Nice List
By Martina Garvey
ADVERTISEMENT
New Dad Gifts-hero
The Best Gifts for New Dads to Suit Any Budget
By Emma O'Regan-Reidy
Breast Cancer Awareness Hero
14 Gifts That Give Back for Breast Cancer Awareness
By Martina Garvey
tb-matching-family-pajamas-HERO
36 Matching Family Pajamas for the Holidays and Beyond
By The Bump Editors
ADVERTISEMENT
Big Sister Gift Hero
23 Big Sister Gifts to Celebrate Her New Status
By Cassie Kreitner
dad and daughter drawing at home
How Dads Can Help Boost Their Child’s Early Educational Success
By Wyndi Kappes
US actor Josh Duhamel (L) and his wife US model Audra Mari pose during a photocall for the Golden Nymph Awards ceremony of the 62nd Monte-Carlo Television Festival in the principalty of Monaco on June 20, 2023
Josh Duhamel’s Son Axl Has Adorable Reaction to New Big Brother Role
By Wyndi Kappes
ms rachel stands up to body shamer
Ms. Rachel Stands Up to Body Shamers in New Video
By Wyndi Kappes
ADVERTISEMENT
happy family walking in city
These Top 15 Family-Friendly Cities Offer Amazing Outdoor Spaces
By Wyndi Kappes
family-halloween-costumes-HERO
Spooktacular Family Halloween Costumes
By Martina Garvey
daddy daughter target date
Adorable Daddy/Daughter Date at Target Melts Hearts in Viral TikTok
By Wyndi Kappes
ADVERTISEMENT
Article removed.
Article removed.
Name added. View Your List