Professional mothers, at some point, realize they have to deal with the difficult decision of returning to work and placing their infants in the care of others. Some find this step even more challenging considering they desire to breastfeed their babies for a longer period of time than their maternity leave offers them. Given the fact that some experts advise that babies should be breastfed or given only breast milk for about the first six months of life and others argue babies should continue to be breast fed until they are at least 1 year old, professional moms are indeed burdened to devise alternative solutions to this perplexing dilemma.
To further compound the situation, the average maternity leave offers mothers in the United States only six weeks, on average, paid leave. This abbreviated duration of time breast-feeding an infant can lead to a lack of established milk supply before the professional mom returns to work in turn making the pumping experience very difficult. A strong milk supply will allow the working mom to realize the full benefits of pumping while absent from their babies. This is best achieved through frequent day and night feedings and the avoidance or limitation of supplemental bott les.
Another quandary the professional mom may encounter is the phenomenon known as "nipple confusion". If a baby is fed from a bottle too early, that is before a strong bond is established with the mother’s breast, the result can be "nipple confusion." Many lactation consultants advise avoiding bott les and pacifiers until the baby is 4 to 6 weeks old, has learned how to breastfeed well, has established a comfortable feeding schedule and until both mother and baby have developed a mutually satisfying connection during feeding time.
One of the first steps in deciding to return to work and continue giving your baby breast milk should include developing a breast-feeding plan. This plan, ideally developed before mom returns to work, should consider at least the following critical components:
- The breastfeeding mother should take as much maternity leave as possible. This will allow a strong milk supply to be established before returning to work.
- Before returning to work, the breastfeeding mom should become familiar with how the breast pump she has chosen works, how it feels to pump and how much milk she is able to express. Most women try pumping just after the baby eats or between feedings. Knowing what to expect and how to efficiently use a pump will make returning much easier and less stressful.
- Ideally, locating a caregiver near work will allow the working mother to provide 1 feeding for her baby during the workday (usually during her lunch hour). For the remainder of their time apart, the caregiver can use a bottle of the mothers pumped breast milk to supplement the other feedings.
- Discussing a breastfeeding plan with an employer. Broaching this topic of conversation might be difficult. Consulting a doctor or contacting a local breastfeeding support groups for some suggestions on how to structure this conversation may be beneficial. Begin with some of the following recommended focus areas:
- Inform your employer how frequently you will need to pump to make yourself feel comfortable and to maintain an adequate milk supply for your baby.
- Discuss when, during the workday, you might schedule the pumping.
- Inquire as to where the nursing station will be located. Insist that this area be clean, comfortable, equipped with electricity and private.
- Any changes in work schedule should be discussed, particularly if your plans include bringing your baby into the office for one feeding and pumping the remainder of the time
- Conducting a "practice run" a week or two before returning to work may be beneficial. All the routine steps that will be undertaken when returning to work should be followed including leaving the baby with the caregiver and going to the workplace to pump when pumping will normally occur. This will aid in identifying any problems, before returning to work, with the pump, the pumping location, time constraints, or other problems that may be unique to each individual woman’s work situation.
When pumping at work the professional mom will need to have the following supplies:
- A quality breast pump that allows milk to be efficiently expressed in a timely fashion (an electrical adapter or extra batteries will be needed depending on the style of pump chosen)
- A small cooler, if a refrigerator is not available, for storing the milk. (Note: If cooling is not available, breast milk can be stored at room temperature for 4 to 8 hours. Follow the storage guidelines advised by the breast pump manufacturer which can be found on the brochure included with all quality pumps)
- Milk storage containers corresponding to the number of ounces expressed at work
- Comfortable, non-constricting clothing that makes it easy to access the breasts. An extra shirt is advisable as leaking is sometimes a problem while a comfortable pumping schedule is being established
- A private location to conduct the pumping. If this is not available, a blanket or other cloth providing a comfortable privacy level may be needed
- Extra food and snacks, as well as an increased water supply is advisable for the breastfeeding mom
- To stimulate the let-down reflex it is advisable to have a picture of the baby or an article of the baby’s clothing available to help focus the lactating mother on their absent baby
It is important to note that not all professional mothers choose to continue breastfeeding their babies once they return to the office. Many feel this is an added stress they would rather not deal with and others simply hold positions that make it impossible to manage pumping. Those who frequently travel internationally or others whose positions at job sites that do not include the sanitary conditions needed to undertake pumping are often forced to choose to cease breastfeeding when they return to work. Not pumping (or expressing the milk in another way) during the workday will eventually signal your body to cease making milk during this time. For the first few days the unexpressed milk may leak and nursing pads in the bra may be needed. Applying pressure to the breasts may stop the leaking or expressing just enough milk to attain a comfort level that allows the working mom to return to her tasks may be an option. Every woman’s situation is unique and every woman’s body is without equal, so no matter what avenue the working mom chooses, the decision should always be a personal one.
The health benefits of providing breast milk through pumping, to mother and baby, cannot be denied. Many professionals have concluded that formula feeding is associated with more frequent doctor's office visits, hospitalization, prescriptions, and parental absenteeism from work to care for a sick infant. Further, the cost of a breast pump and related supplies and the added burden of pumping at work cannot compare with the cost of formula. The average prices for formula range from $48 - $190 per month and specialized formulas, which may be required for some babies, may prove to be cost prohibitive to the mother whose return to work is motivated by a need to supplement the family income. The minimal inconvenience of pumping breast milk at work would quickly be dismissed if the working mom kept in mind the reality that her milk is nourishing and sustaining her baby while they are apart and that pumping throughout the day insures that when they are together, she will have maintained an adequate milk supply to meet her baby’s feeding needs.
