Not every mom nurses. But many who do aim to breastfeed up to -- or beyond -- the one year recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics. For moms who want to keep breastfeeding and working, that means figuring out how to keep nursing without quitting your job and getting frustrated and quit nursing your baby. These four steps will help you continue feeding your baby breast milk even after you return to the work place.
1. Learn How to Pump:
The first time my husband saw me hooked up to a breast pump, he mooed and I laughed, yes I thought it was funny! But I was doing something wonderful for my children. Yes, it can feel uncomfortable and awkward, but pumping is the optimal way to give yourself the freedom to leave your child in someone else's care, and provide the nutrients and antibodies your baby needs.
A double-electric breast pump is your best bet for pumping efficiently without busting your budget. Two popular ones are the Medela Pump In Style and the Ameda Purely Yours Breast Pump. If money is no object, a hospital grade pump will drain your breasts in just a few minutes. I used the Lancinoh double breast pump and it was half the price of the Medela and works GREAT! The single hand pump ones and the single electric pumps are literally a waste of money. I tried them both with my first child and wish I would have never wasted my money on them. I was only able to pump and nurse for 6 months because the during the day while pumping one breast the other would let down and waste literally 2 ounces of milk into my nursing pad. :(
2. Stockpile Breast Milk:
Start pumping as soon as possible after you recover from giving birth. Many moms find 4 or 6 weeks postpartum is when they're ready to stretch the tether between mom and the nursling. Do give the 4-6 weeks to bond with your baby and create a good latch and nursing routine. After the 4-6 weeks it is a good time to introduce a bottle to a nursing baby. It's late enough that breastfeeding should be well-established, but soon enough for baby to be receptive and not get nipple confusion.
You may use the pumped breast milk immediately to have a night out with your husband or lunch with the girls. But try to pump enough extra that you can start freezing two or three ounces at a time for future use. Be sure to label frozen milk with the date it was pumped and the volume.
I found storage bags cheaper and more space saving than bottles. If you lay the bags flat for freezing, you can easily stack and store them. Gerber, Lansinoh and Playtex make very similar breast milk storage bags.
Try to stockpile 50 to 100 ounces of frozen milk before your maternity leave ends -- the more, the better. I fed my children about 15 ounces of frozen milk each workweek, and managed to add a few ounces to my stash each weekend. Frozen breastmilk can be used 3 to 6 months after it's frozen.
3. Sneak In Pumping Sessions:
It can be hard to fit a pumping session between rounds of nursing a hungry newborn. If your baby predictably sleeps for five or six hours at night, you can pump a couple of hours after bedtime. If he takes a long afternoon nap, pump as soon as he falls asleep.
Or, try pumping just before the baby wakes up. You may find that nursing after pumping leaves the baby a bit unsatisfied. Don't worry, in a few days your body will adjust and start making more milk for the early-morning pump as well as your baby's first feeding.
I've read books that advise pumping on one breast while baby is nursing on the other, but I was never that coordinated. If you're a mom of twins, though, you probably are expert at this kind of juggling. I pumped prior to feedings, because my milk would let down with the suckling of a newborn, making my body produce more milk.
Pumping while at work can prove challenging. Try to pump on your breaks/ lunch, even if your break is only 10 minutes it is better than not pumping and regreting the fullness of your breasts 3 hours later which can be painful for first time moms and can cause what is called Mastitus.
Prior to going back to work, ask your supervisor if there is a room that you can use for privacy to pump. If its the bathroom, NO BUENO! Go to your car and turn on some nice classical music and sit back and milk those boobies while reading a good magazine or a book (I recommend sitting in the backseat of your car behind one of the seats and I hope you have tinted windows for privacy, if not use a nursing cover or blanket). If you are in your office, close the door and put a nice little note on your door stating that you will be available at your earliest convenience. Be sure to lock your door or place a chair in front so noone can walk in on you. Nursing covers are very handy for pumping too.
PS: I was the mom, driving down the freeway with the pump attached, pumping milk in the 20 minute drive from work to daycare. That way I had that extra bottle on hand in an emergency if tummy hunger pains came on with my babes in the back seat. I never went anywhere without my pump. It was my coach purse attached to my hip!
I hope these tips help!
Happy Nursing!
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