Every year in the first week of August, the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) organizes World Breastfeeding Week, which seeks to bring awareness to the importance of how women and families can make breastfeeding and work function together. The theme of World Breastfeeding Week 2015 is “Breastfeeding and Work: Let’s Make it Work!”
To help mark the occasion, Lovelace Health System has tips to help working mothers plan their return to work or school after the birth of their child with breastfeeding in mind.
While pregnant:
Find a breastfeeding-friendly childcare provider, and start discussing your breastfeeding plans with your employer. Some employers are more flexible than others, but a three-day work week or having a mid-week day off to start can help you ease back into your work schedule. You should also attend a breastfeeding support group and start researching breast pumps.
In the first several weeks after birth:
Breastfeed frequently (you’ll find your own rhythm, but make sure to consult with your doctors as well). Make sure breastfeeding is fully established before you introduce pacifiers or bottles to your baby, and before you start pumping unless your doctor says otherwise.
At least two weeks before you return to work or school:
Establish a nursing and pumping routine. Select a comfortable and effective breast pump, and establish a nursing and pumping routine. You should practice giving expressed breastmilk in a bottle to your baby once a day, possibly having someone else offer the bottle to the baby, as many babies will take a bottle better from someone other than their mother. Start storing expressed breastmilk in the freezer to keep as a reserve. Find a bag for pumping supplies and a cooler bag with freezer packs to keep milk cold. Also, make sure you finalize plans with your baby’s caregiver
One week before:
If you can, start leaving your baby with the caregiver for a few hours each day. Use this as an opportunity to time your route between the caregiver, work, and home. Remember you’re going to need to allow plenty of time for nursing, settling the baby and saying good-bye. Start getting up an hour earlier than you normally would, to practice getting you and the baby ready for the day.
The night before:
Pack your diaper bag, pump, beverages and snacks for work and make sure you go to bed early.
The morning of:
Get ready and eat breakfast first, then wake, nurse and dress your baby. Pack defrosted milk (1-2oz more than you expect the baby to drink), and make sure it is clearly labeled with today’s date, name and the date the milk was expressed. Include time to breastfeed your baby when dropping off and picking up from the child care provider.
When picking up baby:
Bring home un-used breastmilk. You can re-label and use it the next day as well.
Remember, New Mexico law (NMSA 1978, Section 28-20-2) protects a mother’s right to use her breaks to pump and store milk for her baby in a clean and private space that is not a bathroom. For more tips, visit www.breastfeedingnewmexico.org or www.worldbreastfeedingweek.org. Or call the Lovelace Lactation Consultants at 505.727.6797.