You should always plan early if you want to continue breastfeeding after you return to work. Speak to your employer and see how they can support you. Before you speak to them though, make sure you have a plan. Who will cover you whilst you are pumping, and how long will you be away from your desk on each occasion? You should look to get the following from your boss:
You need to have access to a private room with good lighting, electricity and of course a chair! If your employer does not have a spare office you can use, then see if one of your coworkers would be willing to allow you the use of theirs. Do not accept the toilets as an option if this is all your employer offers you.
You will need break periods in order to pump. When you first start pumping, you will probably need three breaks per day to pump. As your baby gets older, this should reduced to one or two. You need to discuss how much time you need with your employer. It will probably take around 20 minutes, although sometimes it will be quicker. You should also check to see if these breaks will be paid or unpaid and decide how you will make up the lost time if necessary.
You want a supportive employer. It is only natural that your employer should support your decision to give your baby the best possible start. Ideally you should get any agreement in writing so both you and your employer are clear on what you have agreed.
Investing in a good breast pump is very important, especially when you consider how often you will be using it in the first few months. If you are pressed for time, a double electric pump will speed up the process as it allows you to pump from both breasts simultaneously. This is an expensive option, however.
It is also a good idea to have breast pads handy, both for when the baby arrives, and for when you return to work. This will help save you from the potential embarrassment of leaks. Of course, you will also need to ensure you have enough containers in order to store your surplus milk.
You do not need to wait until you return to work in order to begin expressing milk. You should start pumping as soon as you have purchased a pump. That way you will get used to the process and be familiar with what you can produce and how quickly it is consumed by baby. Any excess can be saved in the freezer which can be helpful when your baby has a growth spurt or if you decide to go out alone one evening. It can be very tempting to pump full-time before you return to work, but you should start off slowly. Remember, you are trying to trick your body into thinking it needs to make more milk and you want to get as much milk as possible from your efforts.
If you are determined and plan ahead, you can ensure your baby continues to enjoy the benefits of breastfeeding even after you have returned to work. There are plenty of support groups both online and offline that you can turn to if you feel you need help. Just do not give up on giving your baby the best start possible.
Martin Reed is the developer and owner of Female Forum - an online community for women. He also blogs about how to develop successful online communities.
