Breastfeeding and Working… Tips to Make it Work
Years ago, when a woman got pregnant, if she worked, it was a given that after the baby was born she would stay home to be a full-time caregiver. In today’s society, that usually is not the case. Oftentimes, financial strain prevents this from being an option. The household simply can’t make ends meet without two incomes. Some moms choose to return to work simply because they enjoy their careers, or have worked hard to be successful, and are willing to juggle the baby and their career. Not all working mothers, but many, will make the decision not to breastfeed their newborn because they think it won’t fit in with their hectic schedule when they return to work. Working mothers can definitely be successful with breastfeeding, and the benefits to both mom and baby are well worth any steps you may have to take to make it work. Many companies try to be family oriented, and are understanding to working mothers. Some will even offer special breastfeeding rooms, so that moms can either have their babies brought to them throughout their day, or can be in private to pump to help keep up their milk supply while they are away. In a lot of cases, more often the company is not family friendly, and the working mother won’t get a break in the day to pump, and ends up having to either use her lunch break, or do some creative scheduling so that she can find make time during the day to pump for baby. Some mothers are able to work half a shift, then come and home and pump, and then go back in for the other half of their shift. This works out well if your job will allow it and if you live close to work. Although many mothers find breast pumps unnatural and awkward to use, for working moms a good breast pump is a necessity. It is important to get the best pump you can afford, and if you are going to have time issues, you will probably want to opt for a double electric pump to make it go faster for you. While on maternity leave, it will be important for the mom to try to establish a pumping schedule, some choose to pump during the day, and breast feed at night. When pumping at work, you should take some breast milk storage bags, and a portable cooler to put the expressed milk into. These bags come out of the box sterile and ready to be used. Always remember to write the date on the outside of the bag, so that the oldest milk is always used first. If placed into a cooler right away, breast milk is good for around eight hours as long as it stays chilled. It will also be important to instruct your child’s caregiver in how to thaw and store expressed breast milk to ensure your baby’s safety. When frozen and thawed, the milk tends to separate, and an unknowing caregiver may assume it is bad and throw it away, giving your baby formula instead. Teach your caregiver to swirl the milk in the bottle, which will mix it back together, and it will be fine for baby. It is probably a good idea to try to choose a caregiver that supports breast feeding, so that you know they are on your side in doing what is best for your infant. Having a caregiver throw milk away, after working so hard to pump and keep it in supply for baby, can be devastating to a new working mother. At work, you will need to make sure to carry disposable breast pads, and maybe even an extra shirt with you, just in case. Once you get a routine down, leakage won’t be much of a problem, but it can be embarrassing to deal with. Breast feeding once you return to work may seem like a lot of hassle to go through, but it is well worth it in the end. Your baby will have more resistance to infections, which is an added bonus, especially if he is in a daycare setting while you work. Breast milk is much easier for your baby to digest, often helping to eliminate gas and tummy aches as well. Some research says that it also makes babies more intelligent, and helps them develop faster than formula fed babies. Research also shows benefits to mom, weight loss, and that it even may prevent some types of cancer from developing later in life.
About the Author
Susan Anderson enjoys writing articles for families and consumers which are informative and adds value to their lives. With a simple and down to earth writing style, these articles are suited for all audiences. http://www.babyshowerfreebies.com
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