Pumping While Pooling

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NBC's Chief White House Correspondent Hallie Jackson was assigned to be the pool reporter as President Trump was being released from Walter Reed after his run-in with the ‘rona.

In between covering the story for NBC and filing her pool report, Jackson, a new mom, as found a few minutes to use her breast pump to get some milk for her baby.

She posted about pumping while riding in a van with the White House press corps.

It just shows you once again how moms’ are amazing.

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me, my Spectra, and the White House press corps...  This happened on the way back from Walter Reed Sunday, during the president's hospitalization, in a van carrying the small group of reporters who travel with the president. It was my turn that day. I hadn’t pumped since 7 that morning, and by the time we set up the live shot at the hospital, held a news conference with the president's doctors, and then - the dagger - hit traffic on the Beltway, it was 12:30 and now or never. So after I fired off a pool note letting everyone know we were headed back to the White House, I pulled out my trusty pumping bag. @jacquelynmartin asked to take a photo. (She thought @frankthorpv would appreciate it.)  It's just a picture, but to me it's a snapshot in time: on day 3 of nonstop coverage, on about 6 hours of sleep total, during one of the most intense weeks in my professional life. Not a day went by this week where I didn't miss at least one pumping session. All the things you're supposed to do to keep up your milk supply went out the window: regular removal, hydration, plenty of rest (lololololol)  But you know what? It's okay. Yep, I sure did struggle with guilt and anxiety about the absolute avalanche at work consuming my life. But a little self-compassion goes a long way: I'm doing my best. Most moms are. And it's going to be okay.  I've been lucky to be able to lean on a lot of people this week for help, like the women journalists in the press corps who have been through the new-mom crush-of-news wringer before. And I'm lucky to have Frank, who ended the week as exhausted as me. Home full-time with Ro right now, he cooked breakfast in the morning, did tummy time in the afternoon, and baked cookies for dinner after I finally collapsed through the door at night. He picked up my slack, and my mess. And he cheered me on every minute of our round-the-clock coverage. Superman. Anyway. That's the story behind the photo. After a break today, and @meetthepress tomorrow, we're down to the 3-week sprint to Election Day. It may've been #mamasfirstpoolpump - but I doubt it'll be the last. 📸: @jacquelynmartin 🙏

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