Returning To Work

Once you return to work, you can continue to breast

feed. If you live close to work or have an on site

daycare, you may be able to breast feed during

your breaks. If that isn't possible, you have 2

choices:

1. Keep your milk supply by using a high

quality automatic electric breast pump to express

milk during the day. Save your milk that you

collect for your baby sitter.

2. If you don't want to or can't pump at

work, you can gradually replace daytime feedings

with formula while your at home but still continue

to nurse at night and in the morning. The milk

your body produces may not be enough to keep your

baby satisfied, even if you only need enough for

2 feedings.

Advantages of pumping at work

Pumping at work will help stimulate your production

of milk, so you'll have plenty available when it

comes time to feed. You can also collect the

milk you pump, so your baby will have the health

and nutritional benefits of breast milk even

when you aren't there. To make things better,

pumping can be an ideal way to feel a connection

to your baby during the work day.

Although it can seem like a hassle, many mothers

find that the benefits of breast pumping far

outweight the inconvenience.

To manage pumping at work, you'll need to have

the following:

1. Breast pump, preferably a fully

automatic electric pump with a double collection

kit so you can pump both breasts simultaneously.

2. Bottles or bags for collecting and

storing the milk.

3. Access to a refrigerator or cooler

to keep the milk cold until you return home.

4. Breast pads to help protect your

clothes if you start to leak.

Make sure that you get used to pumping before

you return to work, so you'll know what to expect

and how it feels. You'll be much more confident

with pumping at work if you already know that

you can produce enough milk.

At work, you'll want to have somewhere that's

away from everyone else when you pump, such as

an empty office or empty room. This way, you'll

be away from everyone else and you can have the

quiet tranquility you need to pump. In most

offices, this shouldn't be a problem.

For the time frame, you'll want to pump every

2 - 3 hours if possible. If you can't, every

4 hours or so will have to suffice. After you

have finished pumping, store the milk in the

bags or bottles, clean yourself up, then go

back to work. When you return home, you can

feed the milk to your growing baby.