How to Coordinate Breastfeeding When Going Back to Work

Breast feeding is great for babies. It helps them build strong immune systems, and can help them avoid allergies, as well as a host of other benefits. So, while you know it is a great thing, it can be a hard decision to make when you know you will be returning to work in 6 short weeks. So, how can you coordinate breastfeeding when going back to work? The following are some tips:

1. Buy a good pump. It is going to cost you a pretty penny, but if you want to nurse your baby, and plan to go back to work, a $40 Johnson and Johnson electric breast pump is not going to cut it. Invest in a good breast pump that will help you maximize the amount of milk expressed, while minimizing discomfort, and not interrupting the milk flow. It will make pumping faster, easier, and more productive. Do some research, and talk to the lactation specialist at the hospital you deliver at. They may have some you can rent to figure out what brand works best for you after your breasts are no longer engorged or extremely tender, as they often are right after childbirth.

2. Buy some breast milk freezer bags and a portable cooler. If you have access to a private fridge at work, a portable cooler is not going to be necessary, but if not, chances are your coworkers are not going to want to see your breast milk in the same fridge as their lunches. So, instead, keep it cool in a small ice chest with refreezable ice packs that you change out daily. This way your hard work with pumping is not going to go to waste on spoiled milk. It is a good idea to pay attention to how much your baby is eating at one sitting, and try to freeze milk in those quantities. Most freezer bags for breast milk come with little hash marks to indicate the ounces.

3. Talk to your boss about your desire to pump or breastfeed at work. They should allow you time to take a break for 15 minutes every 3-4 hours so that you can pump. You will want to discuss with them the fact that you will need to do this probably twice each day, and that you would prefer a private place to do so. At the worst, you could probably pump in the women’s restroom, but you may not want to, especially if the office is large, and the restroom not cleaned daily. So, ask for a private office space, or room to be designated for your pumping or breastfeeding.

4. If you want to try to breastfeed straight from the source rather than pump milk to feed your baby, you will have to coordinate with your sitter or spouse to bring the baby to your work at the appropriate times. You will have to be careful to keep your baby on a nursing schedule so that this will work, as most bosses will not be happy about you sporadically taking breaks.

It is possible to go back to work and still breast feed your baby, it just takes some forethought and planning.