Beyond Birth Lactation Services
Breastfeeding Breadwinners:
How to Give Your Baby the Best While Working
Everyone knows that breastfeeding is by far the best option for your newborn. But many new mothers feel torn when they have to return to work after their babies are born. While they intend to breastfeed their babies, they often find hurdles to doing so once they've returned to work. According to a survey by Abbott Laboratories, working outside the home does not affect the initiation rate for breastfeeding, but it does affect the duration of breastfeeding. While about two-thirds of both working and stay-at-home mothers breastfeed their babies at birth, at six months only 22.8 percent of full-time working moms are still breastfeeding, while 35.4 percent of stay-at-home moms continue to nurse. Mothers who work outside the home yet still want the best for their babies can take a number of steps to maximize their breastfeeding efforts. Here they are:
Before your baby is born:
- Interview childcare providers. Ask about their support of your commitment to provide breastmilk for your baby. Are they willing to let you breastfeed on site before and after work?
- Talk to your employer about your goal of breastfeeding your baby and what that will mean at the workplace. You’ll need a private, clean and comfortable area where you can express your milk or nurse your baby. Most moms will need a 15 to 20 minute pumping break every three hours or so. Ideally this spot will be located near a sink so you can wash up after.
- Enjoy your time with your baby and don’t worry too much about freezing a huge amount of milk ahead of time. Most days you will be pumping milk today for what your baby needs tomorrow.
- Choose an efficient way to express your milk. A double electric breast pump is recommended for those working more than 20 hours a week. Practice using the pump ahead of time. Some moms suggest pumping on one side while the baby is feeding on the other side to easily build up a small stockpile.
- Once breastfeeding is well established, introduce your baby to a bottle of expressed breast milk. They usually adjust to getting a bottle when you go back to work if they get a few bottles a week.
- Arrange for a gradual return to the job. Moms find the transition smoother if they can go back part time initially. At the very least, make your first day at work a Wednesday so you don’t have five straight days of work to adjust to at the outset.
- To minimize the amount of pumping needed, it helps to nurse your baby the very last thing when you are dropping off at the care provider and nurse them the very first thing when you return.
- If possible the care provider can soothe the baby in other ways in the last hour before you return.
- Bring a picture of your baby or a piece of his or her clothing when you go to pump. Take a few deep breaths to help you relax. Warm wash cloths, massage and gravity have all been known to promote milk let down.
- Breast massage during double pumping has been proven to dramatically increase the amount of milk you can pump.
- Don’t forget about your own nutritional needs. Breastfeeding requires calories and a lot of water. Stock your car, your desk, your pockets with nutritious snacks such as power bars, trail mix, cheese sticks, etc.
- If milk supply is an issue, get help. Small adjustments in technique or equipment may be all that’s needed to solve milk supply problems.
- Talk to your employer about your goal of breastfeeding your baby and what that will mean at the workplace.
- Seek out support from other mothers. Contact the other nursing moms at your office. Take a long lunch periodically to go to a mothers’ support group, if available in your area.
Copyright 2005 Please do not reproduce without author’s permission.
Written by Michelle Bressler, MPH, IBCLC, RLC
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