Many mothers juggle being a mom and working outside the home. Women who return to work and continue to breastfeed their baby say it is well worth the effort and they would do it again with the next baby.
Mothers, babies, families and employers all benefit from breastfeeding.
Texas law gives a mother the right to breastfeed wherever she is allowed to be. It also encourages businesses to support a working mother to continue to breastfeed for as long as she wants.
Tips before returning to work
- Choose a day-care center that supports breastfeeding moms.
- Get your baby used to a bottle. Give the first bottle to your baby between 2 to 6 weeks of age.
- Have another person feed your baby the bottles.
- Take as long a maternity leave as you can. The early weeks are important for bonding with your baby and building your milk supply.
- Start storing expressed milk at least two weeks before going back to work. Store milk in small amounts, two to four ounces per bottle. Label bottles with date collected and baby’s name.
- Take a day to practice and see what returning to work will be like. Example: Get baby and yourself ready for the day, nurse, drop baby off at day care, go to work, pump during the day, pick baby up from day care, nurse, spend your evening as usual.
- If possible go back to work slowly — part-time, ¾ time, and then gradually going to full time.
Tips when back on the job
- Make your first day back a Thursday. Working two days at first is easier than working an entire week.
- Nurse your baby before going to work.
- Pump or hand-express your milk as often as you would nurse your baby during the day.
- Express milk before your breasts start to feel full.
- Nurse your baby when you return home, before bed, on weekends, and as often as you can whenever you are with your baby. Your baby may want to nurse a lot in the evening — it's normal.
Concerned with a low milk supply?
- Nurse more often. Nursing your baby is the best way to help you make more milk.
- Pump more often at work.
- Double pump — pump both breasts at the same time.
- Massage breasts, relax, and think of your baby while expressing your milk.
- Reduce stress — after work take a warm bath, listen to soothing music, and be physically active.
- Make life simpler — get help with chores at home and limit errands and extra responsibilities.
- Get more rest on weekends and during the night. Take your baby to bed with you and nurse often.
- If you’'re trying to lose weight, lose no more than 1 pound a week.
Tips on handling human milk
- Wash your hands before expressing milk.
- Collect milk in clean bottles or bags strong enough to hold milk.
- Store:
- at work — in your own cooler with ice or cold packs or in a company refrigerator.
- at home:
- in refrigerator up to 5 days (temperature less than 40°F).
- in freezer up to 3 months (temperature less than 32°F).
- in a deep freezer for 6 months or longer (temperature less than 0°F).
- If you think your breastmilk has spoiled, smell it. If it smells sour, throw it out.
- Store milk in the back of the refrigerator or freezer.
- Thaw milk by running warm water over the bottle or bag. Never boil or microwave it.
- Gently rotate the bottle to mix milk before feeding it to your baby. Breastmilk will naturally separate into layers when stored.
The decision to continue breastfeeding while working is yours. Be patient, flexible, and proud of all your efforts. Take one day at a time. And remember: any amount of breastmilk you give your baby is better than none. So do what you can, and you and your baby will be healthier.
Contact the Mother-Friendly Worksite Program at the Department of State Health Services if your employer needs information on how to support breastfeeding mothers in the work place.
If you have further questions about managing work, school, and breastfeeding contact:
WIC Breastfeeding Counselor: ________________________
La Leche League Leader: _____________________________
Lactation Consultant: _______________________________
Mother-Friendly Worksite Program:
Texas Department of Health
Breastfeeding Promotion Staff
512-406-0744