Returning to Work While Breastfeeding: Essential Tips for a Smooth Transition
Returning to work after maternity leave can be an emotional and logistical challenge, especially when you're committed to breastfeeding. Planning ahead and establishing a routine can make all the difference in maintaining your milk supply and ensuring a smooth transition for both you and your baby. Here are a few tips to help you prepare.
The Week Before Returning to Work:
The week leading up to your return to the office, try to boost your milk supply. If you notice your supply decreasing, increase the frequency of your pumping. If you can, return to work in the middle of the week to allow you to adjust to your new pumping schedule.
The best way to prepare is to practice—after all, practice makes perfect! Practice what will be your new routine. Even when you leave the house to run errands, try your best to pack a bag, take baby out, and give a bottle somewhere to help you both get comfortable with the process.
Pack & Prepare:
While preparing your return, consider choosing glass bottles. Not only do glass bottles freeze and thaw well, but they are so easy to clean! When it comes to the amount of bottles, purchase at least six additional 4-ounce bottles. If possible, keep a few 2-ounce bottles on hand. This way, if your baby finishes a 4-ounce bottle and still seems hungry, you'll have a smaller portion ready without wasting milk.
The day before you return to work, cold thaw all the bottles your baby will need for daycare. This just means placing the frozen bottles in the fridge the day before, then warming up each one before a feeding.
Have you thought about purchasing a second set of pump parts and bottles to keep at the office? This might be a good idea as this could save you from the hassle of forgetting something important at home. Keep in mind that between each pumping session it's important to rinse and air dry the parts in a paper towel or cloth.
Pumping at Work:
Ideally, you want to pump at work when your baby is getting a bottle. It's important to try and stick to pumping to fully empty (should be about 15 minutes) every three hours. If you have a meeting, consider pumping earlier.
The trick to keeping your milk supply at this tricky time is... lactation cookies—just kidding! The evidence based answer to keep up your milk supply is as simple as keeping the number of milk removals up to your regular average number...Milk removals could be either pumping or nursing. Every mom has an ideal removal number that keeps her supply up. What is yours? Write that number down and make sure to keep that routine up when returning to work. It's worth it!
Maximizing Your Supply & Bonding Time:
When you come home from your day at work, remember to place your freshly expressed bottles in the fridge to prepare for the next day. While you're at it, don't forget to put your cooler or ice pack in the freezer as well!
When it's finally time to wind down, try your best to rest and relax with lots of skin to skin nursing. When you have free time, spend plenty of time baby-wearing and nursing, as frequent breastfeeding helps keep your supply strong.
Returning to work while breastfeeding can be challenging, but with planning and the right strategies in place, it can be a rewarding experience. Stay flexible, listen to your body, and don't be too hard on yourself as you navigate this transition. You've got this!