Infants and Babies with Food Allergies
Working and Breastfeeding
Many mothers continue to breastfeed after returning to
work.
Some mothers are able to work from home part or all of the time. Others
are able to work part time. Some jobs have on-site daycare so that
mothers can nurse the baby during the day. Other mothers will need to
express breastmilk to leave with the child-care provider.
If you will be pumping, one thing that working mothers highly recommend is
investing in a good quality double breast pump like the Medela Pump in Style,
Lactina, Purely Yours, etc.
You can purchase or rent a pump, but if you plan to use it more than six
months, it’s usually more cost-effective just to buy.
If you will only be pumping once a day or less frequently, you might prefer a
hand pump. The Avent Isis is an excellent hand pump. Many nursing
mothers love the Avent system of pump and bottles.
Some women find it helpful to pump first thing in morning, because that is when
they have the most milk. They may pump while the baby nurses on the other
breast to take advantage of the let-down.
Working and pumping can be challenging but most moms report that once they get
in a routine, it's no problem. Some mothers even look forward to their
pumping breaks as a moment to relax and think about their baby.
Employers can be informed of the benefits of accomodating a breastfeeding
mother. Breastfed babies get sick less often, even in group daycare
settings due to the antibodies in breastmilk. Therefore, breastfeeding
mothers miss less work.
Many breastfeeding mothers choose to nurse immediately before they leave and
immediately after they get home, as well as on demand at other times. Many
breastfeeding and working mothers also enjoy sleeping with their babies.
Practicing the "family bed" is a nice way to be close with your baby
and make up for some missed nursing time. You can read lots more about
this in Dr. Sears' Nighttime Parenting and in Mothering magazine.
Breastmilk can be stored a variety of ways. Check this link for the most up-to-date milk storage guidelines from La Leche League. http://www.lalecheleague.org/FAQ/FAQmilkstorage.html
Tons of great information
from LLL on various topics related to breastfeeding and working
LLL's
most FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) on Breastfeeding and working
Breastfeeding and returning to
work - PROMOM - great site!
One mother's story about working
and nursing - excellent!
The Working Cow - another
mom's experience - award winning site!
Parent
Soup message board - Nursing While Working
ParentsPlace
message board - Working and Pumping
BOOKS
Nursing Mother, Working Mother by Gale Pryor
The Nursing Mother's Companion by Kathleen Huggins, RN.,MS.
Breastfeeding and the Working Mother by Diane Mason and Diane Ingersoll