Breastfeeding in the Workplace

Ask any mother working outside the home: Juggling family and job responsibilities is a daily balancing act. Mothers with brand-new babies face even greater challenges. The longer you are able to stay home, the better. However, if you are getting ready to return to work after the birth of a baby, you might be concerned about how to continue to breastfeed. But don't worry. With some advance planning, it is possible to combine work and breastfeeding successfully.

It is typical for any new mother returning to work to feel fatigued and to experience a sense of loss over leaving her new baby in someone else's care. If you have been breastfeeding your baby, you may feel even more sadness at the prospect of having to cease a natural process that has protected your infant's health and created such a powerful, nurturing bond between you and your baby.

The good news is that you don't have to stop breastfeeding your baby. Medical professionals agree that both you and your baby will gain many health benefits from breastfeeding. You'll need some patience to see you through a period of adjustment. But the choice is yours. Return to work and continue to breastfeed. Yes, you can!

Create Employee Awareness

Fortunately, more and more employers institute company-sponsored support for breastfeeding mothers. For example, some programs include prenatal education and post-natal counseling provided by an on-site lactation professional, as well as time, space and equipment for women to pump their breast milk at work. Other companies may not have a full-fledged program, but will allow women to take the time they need during the day to pump their breast milk.

Talk with your employer before your baby is born. You may want to extend your maternity leave, work part-time for a period, job share, or work at home part of each day or week. If your company does not have a lactation program, now may be the time to investigate starting one. In lieu of a formal program, however, try to make your own arrangements.

Explain to your employer the health benefits of breastfeeding for your baby. When baby is sick, mother often must be absent from work. The prospect of less absenteeism among breastfeeding mothers is a bonus for cost-conscious employers.

Select a Caregiver

Choosing the person who will care for your baby while you are at work is an important decision. You will want to select someone who supports your commitment to breastfeeding. And don't wait until the last minute to start investigating your choices. You will need to find a primary person, as well as several back-ups -- just in case.

Give your caregiver explicit written instructions on how to store breast milk. Explain that, if possible, your baby should not be fed within a couple of hours of your return. That way, he will be ready to breastfeed as soon as you arrive at the caregiver's after work. If baby is hungry before you arrive, the caregiver should tide baby over with some water or a snack-sized portion of stored breast milk.

Breastfeeding Helpful Hints

Take full advantage of your maternity leave to establish a good supply of milk before going back to work.

Once your milk is well-established and your baby is nursing well (at about 4 to 6 weeks), introduce a bottle. This step prepares your baby for bottle feeding during the day while you are at work. Keep in mind that babies usually associate breastfeeding with mom. Consequently, in the beginning, some babies are more receptive to a bottle if it is offered to them from someone other than you.

Purchase or rent a high-quality automatic-cycling electric breastpump. Use a double-pumping kit with your electric breastpump. By emptying both breasts simultaneously, most mothers can complete a pumping session in just 10 to 15 minutes, which easily fits into a break period or lunch time.

Breast milk availability works on a supply and demand basis. Maintaining a good milk supply depends on the regular stimulation provided by baby or by pumping. Double pumping helps increase your prolactin levels, which helps maintain milk supply. This benefit is important to working mothers who might have difficulty maintaining their milk supply because baby isn't always available for breast stimulation.

To familiarize yourself with the process and help build up milk supply, start using your electric breastpumpabout one to two weeks before you return to work. Try to simulate what your pumping schedule will be at work.

To ease your transition back to work, try to return midweek so that you have only a few days before the weekend. Plan to breastfeed at least once before you leave in the morning. If you can, go home or to your daycare facility at lunchtime to breastfeed, or have your baby brought to you. If breastfeeding during the lunch hour is not possible, plan to pump two or three times during the day at work. (Remember, if you are using a double-pumping kit, that's just about 45 minutes of your work day.)

Breastfeed as soon as you can after you return home or reach the daycare facility, during the evening, before bed, and on weekends as often as possible. Depending on your baby's age and the amount of time you spend away from him, you might be able to reduce the number of pumping sessions at work to one or two times a day.

If your company does not make a special room available for mothers who are breastpumping, find a spot that is as private and comfortable as possible. Bring along a picture of your baby, something to drink and perhaps a small snack. If you have difficulty letting down, take a few deep breaths, listen to some soothing music or imagine your baby nursing.

You can store the milk you pump each day so that it is available for your baby the following day while you are at work. If a refrigerator is not available, use a cooler case.

Human milk can be kept in the refrigerator for 48 to 72 hours. If you must keep it longer, label the bottles with the date and store them in a home freezer. Breast milk will keep in the freezer for six months. Thaw frozen milk in warm water; do not microwave or boil it.