Top Tips for Breastfeeding Parents Returning to Work

on 1 August 2024 / by Harry Mills

This week is World Breastfeeding Week and the theme for this year is ‘Closing the gap: Breastfeeding support for all!’ The campaign will celebrate breastfeeding parents in all their diversity, throughout their breastfeeding journeys, while showcasing how families, societies, communities and health workers can have the back of every breastfeeding parent.

Breastfeeding exclusively (giving your baby no other food or drink) is recommended for around the first 6 months. After this time, breastfeeding is recommended alongside solid food. Therefore, it’s likely that you’ll be breastfeeding when you return to work, training or education. But don’t worry, we have you covered with our top tips for breastfeeding parents who are returning to work.

Communicate with your employer

It is important to let your employer know about any of your needs before you return to work. Keep talking with your employer about your breastfeeding schedule and what is or isn’t working for you. Employers must offer their breastfeeding employees reasonable break times in a suitable area to pump for up to one year after a baby’s birth.

Prep and pack your pumping bag every night

Must haves for your pumping bag include a clean pump, a cooler bag to store your expressed milk at work and transport it home, cleaning brushes, sanitised bottles, wipes, pumping attachments, a nursing bra and nursing supplements. Many parents will also pack a hand pump as a backup. Also, make sure you pack a separate baby bag for your childminder or nursery, with bottles of milk ready in the fridge.

Plan your pumping sessions

Most will have a larger milk supply early on in the day, so experts say to pump in the morning. Nurse the baby right before you go to work if possible so you can arrive relaxed, and nurse as soon as you return home to maximise feedings at the breast and minimise pumping. Some parents will plan their pumping sessions at the same time they would normally feed their baby.

Get your baby used to a bottle

Help your baby adjust to the bottle, but wait at least a month before introducing it. For breastfeeding working parents, the consensus is to start bottle-feeding at least 2 weeks before your return to work date. This allows the baby adequate time to get used to the new feeding method. Also, try using a nanobébé breastmilk bottle, which provides a smooth transition between breast and bottle. It may be helpful to have someone else give the baby the bottle at first, as if you do it your child may wonder why they are not getting your breast.

Store milk safely

Because your milk is full of antibodies that fight germs and bacteria, it can be safely stored and given to the baby later. Ideally, milk should be stored in the refrigerator but you can use a cooler with icepacks. Milk can be safely stored either through refrigeration (72 hours is best; five to eight days is acceptable under very clean conditions) or by freezing (six months is best and 12 months is acceptable, depending on the freezer).

Take care of yourself

Making milk takes energy, so you must look after yourself by getting as much sleep as possible and eating and drinking enough. Many parents will keep snacks in their pumping bags! Furthermore, the first few months back at work after maternity leave can be exhausting, so cut yourself some slack and don’t feel guilty for asking for help and support.

Remember, your breastfeeding relationship should be guilt-free; it is about being connected to your baby and making sure they are nourished. However, there may be a few reasons why you don’t want to breastfeed or are unable to, which is completely okay and up to you. If you are a mum who has made the decision not to breastfeed, please remember you are still a good mum!