White House correspondent Hallie Jackson shares photo of herself pumping milk on way to work

NBC News’ chief White House correspondent Hallie Jackson is being praised for sharing a photo of herself pumping on her way to work and opening up about the realities of being a working mother.

This week, Jackson, who gave birth to her first child in March, uploaded a photo to Instagram where she can be seen using a breast pump while sitting in a van next to her colleagues on the way to the White House.

“Me, my Spectra, and the White House press corps…” Jackson wrote. “This happened on the way back from Walter Reed Sunday, during the president's hospitalisation, 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 seven 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.”

The politics reporter then discussed why the photo represents a “snapshot in time” rather than just a picture, and why the impact the week’s news coverage had on her pumping schedule is okay.

“It's just a picture, but to me it's a snapshot in time: on day three of nonstop coverage, on about six hours of sleep total, during one of the most intense weeks in my professional life,” Jackson wrote. “Not a day went by this week where I didn't miss at least one pumping session.”

Jackson also acknowledged that “all the things you’re supposed to do to keep up your milk supply went out the window,” with her not having time for regular removal of milk, rest or hydration.

However, despite not following a routine, the White House correspondent took the opportunity to explain why she is being easy on herself - and remind other mothers why “a little self-compassion goes a long way.”

“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,” she wrote.

The journalist concluded the post expressing her gratitude for the people she can lean on, including “the women journalists in the press corps who have been through the new-mom crush-of-news wringer before” and her husband, NBC News producer Frank Thorp, who “cheered me on every minute of our round-the-clock coverage.”

The transparent post prompted an outpouring of support from Jackson’s followers, with many praising the new mother in the comments.

“You’re doing awesome! Thanks so much for being willing to put this out there, it really helps to hear others have the same struggles!” one person wrote.

Another said: “Love love love this. You are a mama warrior.”

This is not the first time Jackson has opened up about the challenges of being a working mother. In August, the reporter shared a photo of herself holding her daughter from a studio run-through the day before her return to TV.

In the post, Jackson said she was both happy to return to work but “already missing our days filled with song singing and dance parties and bubble blowing” with her daughter.

Read more

Model uses breast pump on the catwalk at London Fashion Week