Returning to work

Returning to work while you're still breastfeeding is possible but will take a bit of planning and flexibility from both you and your employer. A breastfeeding plan can help anticipate problems and help you devise a practical pumping schedule. What you’ll need to consider:

• Whether your little one can visit your work place for breastfeeding.


• Where and how frequently feeding and/or expressing can be done.

Your breastfeeding plan should be flexible, and work schedules, breaks, breastfeeding and expressing locations and facilities should all be discussed with your employer.

Expressing milk

There are many types of breast pumps available, including electric and manual pumps that are easy to use, cost effective and portable. Twin electronic breast pumps stimulate both breasts at once, which could save time by improving your milk production.

practice

A couple of weeks before you go back to work it’s a good idea to practice your planned pumping schedule at home. This will help you develop the quickest and most successful technique.

Producing more milk

Don’t forget that the more milk you express, the emptier your breast and the more milk you’ll produce. You can therefore create a milk supply by emptying your breasts more frequently. You may only produce a few teaspoons of extra milk in the first few days but don’t worry, this supply will increase.

Storing breast milk

• You can express breast milk either by hand or by using a breast pump.
• At first there will only be a little extra milk for you to store.
• As you keep expressing milk the amount of spare milk will increase.
• Stored milk may separate into layers. This is normal and doesn't mean it has spoiled.
• Breast milk changes over time to match your baby’s needs.

Daily portions of breast milk can be stored in clean plastic or glass bottles and is best stored in portions that will be used in one day. Once the breast milk has been thawed, it should be used within the 24 hours.