1. Use a high quality breast pump 

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Your insurance is required to provide a breast pump for you. Depending on the first few weeks of you breastfeeding journey, you may have been able to rent a hospital grade pump to establish your milk supply. These hospital pumps are the gold standard, if have the opportunity to continue renting the hospital grade pump- do this as long as possible before switching to a consumer grade pump.

 

Ensure you have the right flanges for your breast pump, an IBCLC can measure your breast to ensure you have the right size. Most pumps only come with one standard size flange (24mm) and this too often does not fit the mother’s breast. Too small or large flanges can cause pain and swelling during pumping and decrease the likelihood that you will continue to express milk for your baby. (Note check out links below from The Returnity Project on their recommended breast pumps + supplies). 

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2. Start a pumping stash

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It’s not recommended to start pumping before your child is 6 weeks old as you are still establishing your milk supply and the breast tissue is more sensitive. To start creating a stash for your return to work, begin by pumping after each nursing session for 10-15 minutes- don’t worry about not having enough milk for the next feed, pumping signals to your body the need to increase milk production which will help protect your supply as it takes an inevitable dip the first few days of work.

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3. Get a lay of the land

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Remember how much of an asset you are to your company. Start the discussion with your supervisor before you return to know:

 

-What spaces are available for you to express milk

-How much time you need to express breastmilk (aim for every 2-3 hours)

-How to indicate to your team that you are pumping (marking it on your schedule etc)

-Discuss where you can store your expressed milk and clean pump parts

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4. Teach your baby to take the bottle

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​There is no magic window for introducing the bottle other than after breastfeeding is well established and going smoothly. You can start offering the bottle a week or two before you head back to work. It’s best to have someone other than mom offer the bottle and experiment with different nipples if necessary. Rest assured that if your little one is having difficulty taking the bottle (and prefers you instead!) that they won’t starve while your away, some babies will do what’s termed “reverse cycling” and changing their feeding patterns to include more feedings at night when mom is home and more sleeping during the day.

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5. Determine how much milk you need to leave

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​This will depend on when you are turning to work; if returning around 3-6 months after birth, your little one will need around 24-26oz breastmilk/day. Starting the discussion with your provider regarding feeding instructions to ensure your infant is not overfed, ensure they are familiar with paced bottle feeding and that you are providing a slow flow nipple.

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Need more tips for returning back to work and keeping your milk supply up? Check out tips from Registered Dietitian and Lactation Educator @empoweredrd or book a consult at www.empoweredrd.com.

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We also included some of our favorite breastfeeding/pumping supplies below!