Breastfeeding and the Working Mother

Returning to Work by Amy Spangler
Excerpted from Amy Spangler's Breastfeeding: A Parent's Guide

During your pregnancy and maternity leave, you laid out your plan. You and your baby have learned to breastfeed.  Now it is time to put these plans into action.

2 weeks before your scheduled return to work:

  Discuss your plans with your supervisor.  Assure her/him that you
will be able to maintain your milk supply along with your daily and
weekly work schedule.
  See how much time you will need each work day to wake, dress,
and feed yourself and your baby, and travel to child care and
work.
  Let your baby-sitter and baby spend time together so they can get
to know each other.
  Begin to establish a milk expression schedule, if you will be
expressing milk at work.
  If you will not be able to express milk at work, drop1 feeding
during the day and introduce a substitute so that your milk supply
has a chance to adjust.  Allow 3-5 days before dropping another
breastfeeding, if needed.
  Introduce a substitute to your baby at the time you would
otherwise breastfeed.
  Start making extra meals for you and your partner and storing
them in the freezer.

1 week before your scheduled return to work:

  Continue your expression and breastfeeding schedule so that it will
be close to what you will be doing when you return to work.
  Leave your baby with the baby-sitter for a few hours 2-3 times
this week so they can get to know one another better.
  Hold a dress rehearsal of your new morning routine 1-2 days this
week and make changes as needed.
  Try to get plenty of sleep so that you are ready for your return to
work.

When you return to work:

  Take it a day at a time.  If work has piled up while you were away,
relax and do your best to catch up.
  Breastfeed your baby right before you leave him with the sitter.
This will limit the amount of milk you will need to express while you
are apart.
  Express or breastfeed according to your established routine.  You
will probably need to make small adjustments depending on your
work schedule.  Try to pump or breastfeed a little early rather than
a little late.  Many times the hours rush by, and you may find
yourself having gone longer than planned.  Unfortunately, if you do
not express or breastfeed, you will be uncomfortably full, your milk
supply may decrease, and you will have a greater chance for
leaking or a breast infection.
  Breastfeed your baby right after you return from work  If your
breasts are very full or you have a long commute home, may want
to breastfeed before you leave the child care center.  Ask your
child care provider not to feed the baby for 1-2 hours before your
planned return, so that he will be ready to eat when you get there.
  Breastfeed more often in the evenings and on weekends when you
and your baby are together.  This will help to maintain your milk
supply.
  Talk to your supervisor about how things are going.  Be positive
and thankful, but also be realistic if there are difficulties.
  Take care of yourself - commit to getting enough sleep and eating
a healthy diet.
  Give your baby at least one substitute feeding each day during any
days off work (weekends, vacations, holidays).

Regardless of how well you prepare for your return to work, there will still be a period of adjustment.  Excitement, nervousness, guilt, sadness, and joy are a few of the emotions you may experience. These feelings are normal.  With time you will adjust priorities and establish routines, and your confidence in your decision will grow. Support and encouragement from people around you is important, so don't hesitate to ask for help.

Any amount of breastfeeding is wonderful.  More important how long you breastfeed or how often is that it be enjoyable for mother, father, and baby.