Breastfeeding Pumping Tips For Going Back To Work After Maternity Leave

Returning to work after having a baby feels overwhelming for a lot of reasons. Leaving your baby after being nearly inseparable during maternity leave can be one of the largest hurdles. Plus, providing your little one with breast milk when you’re out of reach is harder logistically to coordinate for any new mom. 

It can be helpful to remember that almost half of new mothers are in the workforce and providing breast milk for their babies — so you can too! (OASH, 2019).

Read below for some practical tips from your local Boise lactation consultant.

Building The Stash… When, How, and How Much?

Most recommendations suggest beginning pumping to build your stash around six weeks, but this number is completely arbitrary. You can start earlier or later, depending on your supply and your baby’s needs. 

Technically, you’ll only need a few days' worth of milk when you go back to work, as you can pump what your baby needs for the next day—and fresh milk is always preferred over freezer milk, because the baby receives more antibodies. However, some moms are concerned their supply will dwindle… and it absolutely can.

If you don’t have the right flange size, an efficient pump, or if you’re unable to find time to pump every 3 hours, it can hurt your supply. The stress of work can also decrease oxytocin, which is our letdown hormone, and some moms report supply issues after returning to the workplace.

When starting to save for the back-to-work transition, consider pumping after your baby has had the chance to feed. This will help boost the fat content of the milk you pump. 

Hindmilk is the milk produced by your body at the latter end of a feeding, and it generally contains more calories from fat, which is great for a growing babe —here’s a  great link with preparation techniques for high-fat milk.

Another option is to try pumping while your baby is feeding. The baby’s suckling will stimulate your body to enhance milk production, potentially boosting the output of the other breast (Virtua Health, 2016.) If you don’t have a breast pump, please know that many health insurance plans cover the cost of one. If you have any If you have any questions about the best pump or about supply issues, please reach out to me!

Finally, when storing your pumped milk, remember the following storage guidelines:

Fridge: 4-8 days (4 days being optimal)
Freezer: Up to 6 months
Deep Freezer: Up to 1 year

When You're On The Job and Pumping For Your Baby…

An important part of preparing to return to work is establishing expectations early on with your employer. Communicate with your employer when you will be excusing yourself to pump, and know that you have a right to do so.

Section 4207 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act states the employers must provide “a reasonable break time and suitable place, other than a bathroom, for an employee to express breast milk for her nursing child.” No woman should be subjected to pumping in a bathroom, and this act ensures you’re provided a clean and private space for pumping. If a space is not provided, advocate for your rights to your provider explaining what you’re entitled to.

This bill does not apply to companies employing fewer than 50 employees, where “such requirements would impose an undue burder,” however there is still an opportunity to discuss your needs with your employer, and advocate for yourself and your child. It may be helpful to explain how your opportunity to pump will benefit your employer in the form of greater job satisfaction, better job retention, improved work/office culture, and a potential selling point to future hires. You may even state that your baby is statistically less likely to be sick while breastfeeding, resulting in less missed work on your part. Help your employer see these benefits, and seek a mutual understanding prior to your return to help ease the transition.

Do the Prep Work!

Your daily packing list for work is going to be a little longer once you return to work after maternity leave, but it doesn’t need to be complicated.

• Pump

  This should be first on the list, and you may want to take into consideration how various types of pumps can have a varying impact on your day to day work life. Some breastfeeding mothers rave about the Willow breast pump and their ability to go about work undisturbed. I even knew a doctor who would wear it while seeing patients, she loved how discrete it was. Don’t despair if a wearable pump isn’t in the cards, any pump will work with proper scheduling and prioritization.

• Storage

  You’re going to need some way to store the milk you pump throughout the day. The easiest solution is a mini fridge (or even a desktop fridge) at your desk or private area, but this isn’t an option for everyone. Talk with management and your coworkers to find a solution for breastmilk storage. A designated spot in the office fridge or freezer could be the key—or even a cooler with ice packs. For mini or desktop fridge solutions, be sure that the appliance can maintain a consistent 40℉ temperature, and that you have a reliable power source.

• Cleaning

  To pump multiple times throughout the day, you’ll either need to pack multiple sets of pump parts with you, or you’ll need to have the ability to wash what you have. Any part of the breast pump that touches your breast or the milk needs to be cleaned with soap and warm water after every use. Plan your cleaning time in coordination with your pumping time, and you’ll be set.

Stepping back into the workforce as a breastfeeding mom will be an adjustment, but it should be a consideration, not a concern. With the right preparation and foresight, know that you are more than capable of providing that nourishment for your little one. 

If you do have any unease about this transition, please reach out—that’s what I’m here for. I want to help with any apprehensions for this new phase in your breastfeeding journey.

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Resources

OASH. (n.d.) Supporting nursing moms at work. Supporting Nursing Moms at Work | Office on Women's Health. (n.d.). Retrieved January 26, 2022, from https://www.womenshealth.gov/supporting-nursing-moms-work

Virtua Health. (n.d.). How to start pumping. How to Start Pumping While Breastfeeding. Retrieved January 26, 2022, from https://www.virtua.org/articles/how-to-start-pumping-while-breastfeeding