You’re not alone if you’re feeling anxious about returning to work after maternity leave. And if you’re breastfeeding, that can make it even more stressful.
You may be worried about your milk supply, how you’ll get all that milk home, or if you’ll have enough time to pump at work. But with a little planning, you can continue breastfeeding when you go back to the office.
Here are some tips to help make your transition go smoothly:
- Pump at work: Depending on how much time is between your feedings with baby, you may need to pump once or twice a day at work. This is especially important if your baby is exclusively breastfeeding. You will want to get a pump that works for you and your schedule.
- Use a cooler: Make sure that you have a couple of coolers for transporting your milk from home to the office or school. You should have one cooler for the morning and one for the afternoon or evening.
- Wash parts: If you need to wash your pump parts while at work, store them in an airtight bag until they can be washed. This will help prevent bacteria and other germs from getting into the bottle and affecting your milk supply.
- Freeze milk: If you plan on storing your milk in the freezer, make sure that it’s properly labeled so that others know what it is. Also, do not thaw out the bottles with hot water because this can destroy nutrients in the milk. Instead, use cold water or allow them to thaw overnight in the fridge or cooler. Milk should be kept frozen no
- Talk with your boss. Your boss may have ideas on how to work around your new schedule. Some moms use a private room or their own office while they pump.
