Go Back to Work and Continue to Breastfeed? Yes, You Can!
Going back to work after having a baby can be challenging! If you are planning to breastfeed, you may also be worried about how you will find time to pump at work so that your baby can have your milk for the next day of childcare. But don’t worry. With some advance planning, it is possible to combine work and breastfeeding successfully.
How will you combine breastfeeding and working?
1. Get Support From Co-workers and Your Boss
It is important to let your co-workers know that you plan on pumping breast milk when you return to work after your baby is born. This will help your coworkers to understand why you are taking frequent breaks during the work day. Before each pumping session let someone know where you will be going so no one will come looking for you while you are pumping. The best way to prevent someone walking in on you while you are pumping is to make it clear where you are and what you are doing. If you are still nervous about having someone walk in on you while you are pumping you can put a discreet note on the door letting your coworkers know that you are taking a break inside. Besides, you can explain to them that breastfeeding benefits everybody. Breastfeeding makes baby healthier & it lowers healthcare costs for everyone which you doesn’t have to apply leave. It benefits your boss and it’s good for co-workers because someone doesn’t have to cover for you.
2. Keep Up Milk Production
Start “stockpiling” milk by expressing and storing it about two weeks before going back to work. According to the Human Milk Bank of America, milk will stay good in the refrigerator for up to eight days, in a refrigerator freezer compartment up to six months and in a separate, deep freezer for up to one year.
3. Choosing a Hospital Grade Electric Pump
The first thing you have to do if you want to successfully provide your newborn with pumped breast milk while you are at work is to rent or buy a hospital grade electric breast pump. Hand pumps will not allow you to express the amount of milk you need to keep up your milk supply and will quickly tire your hands. Hospital grade pumps are expensive but when you consider the high cost of infant formula it is far cheaper in the long run. A hospital grade pump will help you to keep up your milk supply while you are working and will help to quickly empty your breast, making overall pumping sessions shorter.
4. Figure Out Where and When to Pump
When and where you pump depends largely on your work setup. If you have a private office, you can simply close the door to pump. This is the easiest scenario for fitting in three or four sessions in a day. In Malaysia, there is hardly to have a lactation room in the office. When you plan on pumping, make sure that it is a private area, preferably with a locking door, and is conveniently located for frequent pumping sessions. It is important that you feel comfortable with the location that you have chosen. Don’t nurse in a bathroom – you wouldn’t want to eat your lunch there and it’s not a sanitary place to make baby food.
5. Storing The Milk
Bottles or containers are needed to store the breast milk in at work. After you’ve finished pumping, put the milk in the tightly closed containers and store in the refrigerator. You can also put the milk in the freezer or in a cooler if a refrigerator/freezer isn’t available at your workplace. Breast milk will not spoil immediately. There are all sorts of white cells in the human breast milk that keep the bacteria from growing. If you will be transporting it within a couple hours, it is all right to keep it in a cool place until it is time to take it home or to your baby. Some women put their milk in the freezer at work so it is partially frozen by the end of the day–then there is no need to chill it additionally on the ride home and it can go into the refrigerator when they get to the house. Or some mothers prefer to use a cooler or an insulated bag to transport the milk from work to home.
If the idea of pumping at work doesn’t appeal to you, many experts recommend creative solutions for keeping your baby breastfed longer, such as having your baby brought to work on your lunch break, or combining formula and breastfeeding.
Are you a breastfeeding working mom? What’s your experience? Let’s share it here!
