Going Back to Work? You Don’t Have to Stop Breastfeeding.

Going back to work can bring up a whole new set of questions about breastfeeding. How often will I need to pump? What will my baby eat while I’m gone? Will my milk supply drop? Do I have to pump every time my baby would normally breastfeed?

The answer to that last question is no. There are many ways to continue breastfeeding after you return to work, and your plan does not have to look exactly like anyone else’s.

The goal is to create a feeding plan that works for you, your baby, and your actual workday.

Start thinking about your plan before your first day back

You do not need to have everything figured out months in advance, but it helps to think through the basics before you return.

How long will you be away from your baby? Who will care for your baby? Will your baby take bottles, breastfeed, or both? Where will you pump at work? How much time will you realistically have for pumping?

These questions can help you create a plan that fits your life instead of trying to force your life around a breastfeeding schedule.

Your baby may feed differently when you’re apart

Your baby may breastfeed several times while you are together and take bottles while you are at work. Some babies drink more during the day. Others may nurse more often when they are back with you in the evening.

You may notice that your baby wants to breastfeed frequently after you get home. This can be completely normal. Breastfeeding is not only about getting milk; it is also a way for your baby to reconnect with you after being apart.

You do not have to make your baby’s entire feeding schedule match your workday schedule.

Do you have to pump every time your baby eats?

Not necessarily.

How often you pump at work depends on several things, including your baby’s age, how long you are separated, your milk production, and your feeding goals. Some parents need to pump several times during the workday. Others may be able to pump less often as their baby gets older.

The goal is to remove enough milk to support your baby’s needs and keep your breasts comfortable while you are apart. Your plan may also change over time.

If you are pumping so often that you spend your entire workday thinking about your next pumping session, it may be worth taking a closer look at whether your current plan is actually sustainable.

What if you don’t pump as much milk as your baby drinks?

This is one of the biggest worries parents have when they return to work.

You may pump two ounces and wonder how your baby could possibly drink four ounces at daycare. Or you may notice that your pumping output is lower than it used to be.

Pumping output can change for many reasons. Stress, time of day, how recently you fed your baby, pump settings, flange fit, and how often you are pumping can all affect what you see in the bottle.

A smaller pumping session does not automatically mean your body is no longer making enough milk for your baby.

Your pump is not your baby

A baby who is breastfeeding effectively can often remove milk differently than a breast pump. That means the amount you pump is not a perfect measurement of how much milk your baby can get from your breast.

If you are concerned about your milk supply, it is more helpful to look at the whole picture rather than judging your supply based on one pumping session.

Your baby’s growth, feeding patterns, diaper output, your pumping routine, and your milk production all matter.

What your baby eats while you’re at work can vary

Some babies take breast milk in bottles while their parent is working. Others receive a combination of breast milk and formula. Some families use bottles during the day and breastfeed whenever they are together.

There is not one feeding plan that works for every family.

If your goal is to provide breast milk while you are away, you can work toward that goal. But it is also okay if your plan changes along the way.

A feeding plan that keeps you breastfeeding and functioning may be much more sustainable than one that requires you to spend every break at work attached to a pump.

Don’t forget about the time you are together

One of the easiest things to overlook when planning for daycare or work is what happens when you are actually with your baby.

You may breastfeed before work, when you get home, before bed, overnight, and throughout your days together.

You do not have to maintain the exact same schedule around the clock just because your baby takes bottles while you are apart.

Many families find that breastfeeding becomes a different kind of routine once they return to work – one that fits around their new schedule rather than disappearing completely.

Give yourself some room to adjust

The first week back at work may not look like the plan you made at home.

You may pump less than you expected. Your baby may drink more or less than you anticipated. You may discover that your pump setup is uncomfortable or that you simply do not have as much time as you thought you would.

You can adjust your pumping schedule, talk with your baby’s caregiver, change your bottle plan, or get help with your milk supply if needed.

You don’t have to choose between breastfeeding and working

Going back to work does not have to mean that breastfeeding ends.

But continuing to breastfeed also does not mean that you have to recreate your newborn feeding schedule at your desk.

There is a middle ground. Your baby can breastfeed when you are together, take milk from a bottle while you are apart, and have a feeding routine that changes as your baby grows.

The best plan is not the one that looks the most impressive on paper. It is the one you can actually live with.

Your baby needs to be fed. You need to be able to work. And you deserve a feeding plan that allows you to do both without spending your entire day worrying about ounces, pumping sessions, and whether you’re doing it “right.”

You don’t have to choose between being a breastfeeding parent and being a working parent.

You just need a plan that makes sense for your baby, your job, and your life.

Let’s create a back to work plan – head to www.kentuckybreastfeedingcenter.com/schedule-an-appointment/ to book a virtual visit.