Returning To Work
Let’s be honest, this can be a sensitive subject and going back to work can bring up all kinds of emotions.
And don’t get me started on the length of maternity leave we’re given in the States…ANYWAY!
I wanted to share some tips to help ease the transition and address some challenges you can avoid right from the get-go.
Before you’re even back at work, there should be a conversation with your employer about your plans for pumping. Your employer is required to provide a private space for you to be able to pump as often as you need. Whether that’s in your place of work or another location CLOSE to your work. Before having my son, I literally used to work in an old factory building so finding a private (and safe!) place would have been difficult if I went back to work. But it would have been their responsibility to help me if I did.
NY-Civil Rights Law 206-c. Right of nursing mothers to express breast milk. An employer
shall provide reasonable unpaid break time or permit an employee to use
paid break time or meal time each day to allow an employee to express
breast milk for her nursing child for up to three years following child
birth. The employer shall make reasonable efforts to provide a room or
other location, in close proximity to the work area, where an employee
can express milk in privacy. No employer shall discriminate in any way
against an employee who chooses to express breast milk in the work
place. NY-Civil Rights Law 206-c: Rights of the Nursing MotherIntroducing the Bottle Early and Often: This is a challenge lactation support hear A LOT, and usually the parent hasn’t introduced the bottle at all before going back to work. This is something you can avoid right in the beginning and I encourage you to do even if you aren’t planning on going back to work so that you are able to get out if and when you need too. Introduce the bottle around week 3-week 4 of life using a wide based nipple along with the paced bottle feeding technique. You want a bottle nipple that will GRADUALLY become wider from the nipple to the base. You want to avoid bottle nipples that go narrow to wide very abruptly. I’m telling you, these key factors will make a huge difference. Using the gradual wide based bottle nipple will help encourage your baby to continue opening up WIDE when being fed and the paced bottle feeding helps to keep the baby in control of the feed (like with nursing). Baby doesn’t receive too much milk, too fast and takes as much as they want. I would start with hand pumping/expressing after your first nursing session in the morning. Your pump output may seem like very little but please don’t let this worry you. Overtime your body will respond to the “pump order” you are asking it to provide. In the beginning, your body provides just enough for your baby according to the baby’s nursing sessions/how often you’re emptying your breasts. Also, keep in mind around week 3 and week 4 your baby’s belly is still very small. So on average, you baby may be taking around 2-4 oz each feed. During the time when your baby is practicing from a bottle you will need to express to keep supply up. The milk you pump from this session can be used towards your back to work freezer stash, the next day for bottle practice time or when you need 4 hours of uninterrupted sleep. You have a few options. I would keep up the bottle practice every 1-2 days with your little. Below are the CDC’s guidelines for Human Milk Storage: CDC Proper Storage and Preparation of Breast Milk
When to Build Your Freezer Stash: So this will be dependent on when you’re going back to work but parents like to start 2 weeks before going back. You DO NOT need a deep freezer full of your milk. I recommend just enough for the time you’re at work and a little extra. When To Pump After You Nurse: in the morning, in the middle of the night around 2-3 am (when your prolactin is very high), or in the evening after you put baby to bed. Really it’s whenever works best for you but these are typical times parents like to pump. I would recommend 15-20 minutes for your total pump time and store your milk in smaller amounts (2-4 oz) to avoid waste. IBCLC Kelly Bonyata has a lot of great resources as well as this formula to give you a rough estimate of how much your little will need when you’re gone: KellyMom: Milk Calculator and more info on reverse cycle nursing when your little nurses more when you come home: KellyMom: Reverse Cycle Nursing
Practice Days With Baby’s Daycare. If possible, try a few practice days with the daycare. Even if they’re just half days (for example: 9 am - 12 pm). Also, have a conversation with them about paced bottle feeding. They may or may not be familiar with this technique. Some questions to ask when you pick up your little and ask how the day went:
How many bottles were given? (If your little is still nursing every 2-3 hours and they gave 2 bottles in a 3 hour time frame then you’ll need to discuss paced bottle feeding more and other ways to soothe with a binky, rocking, etc…)
Was there enough milk left? (If not, then you may need to reach out to an IBCLC for extra support on increasing your supply)
Did baby take any milk? (The daycare provider may need to adjust where the baby receives a bottle, which may need to be in a quieter, dimmer room)
Pumping at Work: I always advise parents to bring headphones if possible to help relax. This is a stressful time so give yourself lots of grace. Remind yourself that it’s ok to feel all the feels during this time and know that everyone’s body responds differently to a pump. The pump is NOT an accurate measurement of how much your body actually makes. This is a time to do as much as you can to de-stress. Some parents will watch videos of their babes, bring theirs baby blanket to hang over their shoulders or to cover over your pump bottles. Try not to stare at them while you pump as this may elevate your stress levels if you don’t see anything right away. It may also help to have warm compresses to use before and while you pump. Hands on Pumping is a really great technique to try as well! IBCLC and Dr. Jane Morton has a free video on how to get the most out of your pump: First Droplets: Hands on Pumping Plan to pump as many times as your little would be nursing if at home (for example under 6 months: every 2-3 hours/6 months+: every 3-4 hours). Be sure you have a small cooler with ice packs for when you go home.
Getting the Right Pump: Now these will be general recommendations as there are SO many electric pumps out there! I remember when I gave birth there was really only one brand that everyone turned too. Now, I can’t even keep up! Parents still favor just a few out there though. Do your research, read the reviews and check out YouTube. You’ll find many lactation professionals doing reviews here and parents who have actually used them. Keep in mind that pumps do have a pump life and don’t last forever. For example the Spectra S1, S2 and S3 all have a 1500 hour life span. If you’re friend is letting you borrow their pump, you’ll want to find out how old the actual pump is and how long they’ve used it for. Parts that need to be replaced every 30 hours or so are the valves/membranes to help get the most suction and life out of the motor. The next thing you’ll want to check are the flange sizes. This will make a big difference in your output, so if you’re able to get your nipples measured (it’s just the diameter of the nipple that’s measured) by an IBCLC you can then order the correct size flanges. Maymom on Amazon is a great place to check out for a range of flange sizes! The sizes you receive with a pump are usually 24-28 mm and believe it or not, these are often times too big for the parent. Get familiar with your pump before going back to work and understand the buttons and settings. Most insurance companies will provide a brand new pump for free! EdgePark Breast Pumps is a medical supplier who will do the leg work of contacting your insurance and getting the pump to you.
Please check out an example work/pump schedule below. Feel free to tweak it and make it your own.
What A Typical Day May Look Like:
6:00 am: wake up and nurse
7:30 am: leave for work
8:00 am: drop off at day care
8:15 am: nurse before you leave (*optional)
8:45 am: arrive at work (*if you didn’t nurse at daycare then you’re first pump break will be here)
10:15 am: first pump break
12:30 pm: lunch/2nd pump break
3:00 pm: 3rd pump break
5:00 pm: leave work
5:30 pm: pick up baby and nurse at day care
9:00 pm: clean pump parts and get ready for the next day
I hope this guide helps as a starting point and if something doesn’t feel right, reach out to your local IBCLC for professional support. It takes a village to raise a child, reach out to your people and remember that you’ve got this…
This comes directly from NYS Breastfeeding Coalition if your rights are violated when returning back to work:
The New York Civil Liberties Union can be contacted if you feel your rights are violated. Contact them at: 212-607-3339.
-Cat Xx