How do working moms breastfeed?

Question

I'm pregnant with my first and fully intend on breastfeeding. I'm just conerned that when I have to go back to work if the baby will have enough food to last until I get home. Can breast pumps ensure you have enough milk to get through the day? I would rather stay home the first year at least but I don't think that is going to happen. So, how does this work?

Answer 1

I breastfeed and work FT. What I do was I would pump (its tough at first and can be painful, get lanolin breast cream) the day before and just in case there wasn't enough my sitter would supplement with formula. Drink lots of liquids (water) it seems to help increase your milk. On your days off just let the baby breastfeed all day, I feel like a milk machine sometimes but the bonding is worth it. Breast of luck! :)

Answer 2

You can pump your milk, which the baby will eat when you are not around. However, this isn't always possible. Some moms can't pump enough and some babies will not take milk except from mom.

You can also do what is called "Reverse Cycling". Some babies (allegedly) sleep 8 or more hours at night (obviously when they are past a certain age). Reverse cycling means they go for that 8+ hour period during the day, rather than the night, and make up for the feedings at night.

So it all depends on how old the baby is when you go back to work, your ability to pump at work and the baby's desire to take the milk while you are gone.

The best source of information on pumping, and breastfeeding in general:
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/index.html

http://www.llli.org is good too

Answer 3

I was a working mom that breastfeed and yes it can be hard at first but breast pumps do work. Some people say that you have to buy the hospital brands but I got one at walmart for $100.oo and was just fine with it. Your baby will be fine with the bottle during the day but I would buy the nipples that are made for breastfeed babys (they look kinda like a real nipple). You will have to pump at work about twice a day. Around the time you would feed you child at home, just shut your office door or hide in an empty room. I would say that one thing you should do before you go back to work is start pumping and store the milk in the freezer that way you will have some in stock. I didn't think about that and it really would have helped the first week I went back. Hope that helps(I wish someone would have told me all that before I had my son)

Answer 4

Invest in a good breastpump. Something from MEDELA, like the PUMP IN STYLE. Manual breast pumps just dont seem to work as well for a lot of lactating mothers.
What you can do is create a pumping schedule. Make it a goal to begin pumping and freezing the milk from birth onwards, and pump each day. If you have a nice bit in freezer storage, you should be fine for a day while at work.
Once you get into a breastfeeding/pumping routine, you should have no difficulty keeping up with it unless for some reason your supply goes down.

Once you return to work, it will be important to keep pumping throughout the day. Your amount of milk produced will depend on its demand. The less your nurse or pump, the less your body will produce.

Answer 5

Take as long of a maternity leave as you can to get breastfeeding established. AT LEAST 6 weeks, hopefully a little longer.

A good electric pump such as a Medela Pump In Style is what you'll need if you are working full time. You'll want to build up a freezer stash in the last few weeks you have off before you return to work. Then pump at work whenever you can. With a very young baby and a mom working full time, at least 3 times per day while at work with a double pump.

You CAN do it. I returned to work when my first was 15 weeks. I worked between 16 and 35 hours per week, depending on what was going on at work each week. My son never tasted formula and nursed well beyond the first year.

I was lucky enough to stay at home after #2 and #3 were born.

Also.....be sure to figure out if returning to work is a financial benefit to the family or not. Sometimes the added cost of childcare, work clothes, convenience meals, gas, etc. leaves you actually bringing little or nothing home.

Answer 6

You will need to invest in a good breast pump, preferably one that can pump both breasts at once. Make sure that you drink plenty of water. It will help with your supply. I have several friends who have pumped for their children ( I am the daycare provider) and always have enough milk. One way to get plenty of milk is by pumping one breast every time you feed your baby on the other. That way you have your baby to stimulate a let down. At work make sure that you have a comfortable, private place to pump. By law your employer is required to provide this to you. La Leche League is a wonderful resource for breastfeeding questions as well as supprt. Good luck. I'm sure you will make it work. Your baby is lucky that you are an informed, dedicated mom looking to provide the best for your baby. Although, if you do decide that it won't work for you for whatever reason, don't get down on yourself. A healthy, happy mom is very important too! Remember that some breastmilk is better than none.

Answer 7

You use a pump and freeze the breast milk alls you have to do is take a break and go pump and then make sure you either have a cooler or someone come and pick up the breast milk so it doesn't go bad.

Answer 8

I am a working mother of a 7 week baby. I use my lunch time to go and feed my son and to spend some time with him. I bring my pump to work and pump on my breaks. This seems to work well with me and I love the fact that I can still breastfeed my son.

Answer 9

I began pumping milk immediately after my milk came in after my oldest daughter was born. I was so engorged that I got a good start on my frozen milk supply and was able to continue pumping 1-2 times a day after I started back to work. I was able to pump effectively until she was almost 7 mos. old when I switched to formula at daycare but continued to nurse at home in the AM, PM and weekends. It wasn't exactly easy but definitely worth the effort.

Answer 10

You'll end up having to pump and store the milk. A higher end pump will help you keep your milk the best. You'll probably end up spending $150-$200 on a good one.