How Can I Make My Return
To Work Easier?
Leaving your baby to return
to work is hard, regardless of the feeding method chosen. Review these
tips for making the adjustment easier.
- Let your employer know
of your pumping needs in advance. This will give you a chance to develop
a plan that will work for both of you. Educating your employer about
the important health choice you have made and the relatively minor
physical accommodations required in the workplace will encourage cooperation.
Of course, there are significant employer advantages to continuing
breastfeeding once you are back to work. Breastfed babies are half
as likely to get sick in the first year of life as those receiving
artificial baby milks. If your baby doesn't get sick as often, you
will miss less time from work. This is one reason why at least 5 states
have enacted legislation to encourage
state employees to continue breastfeeding when they return to work.
- At home, discuss with
your partner who will shop for food, who will cook and when ordering
in is appropriate.
- Make a list of home responsibilities
such as cooking, laundry, housekeeping, shopping and errands.
- Determine who is responsible
for what. Don't forget childcare responsibilities, including breastfeeding!
- Make the first week back
to work a short one by returning late in the week. Do as much as possible
the night before such as:
- Prepare the diaper
bag so you only need to add the milk
- Lay out everyone's
clothes
- Set the breakfast
table
- Plan and begin the
preparation for the next day's dinner
- Use the crockpot for breakfasts
and suppers.
- Have weekly conferences
to see how the family is dealing with this new phase and to resolve
difficulties.
Resources for Additional
Information
Attend a La Leche League
Group meeting in your area for additional information and support. To
find a Leader of a local Group, visit Finding
a Local LLL Group.
Pumping
and Working: a collection of article from the LLLI magazine for mothers,
NEW BEGINNINGS.
FAQ
on storing human milk
These items may be available
from the LLLI Online Store or from your
local Leader.
- Pumps, storage bags and
other devices for easier pumping and storing of milk
- "A Mother's Guide
to Pumping Milk": Provides detailed information on common reasons
mothers use breast pumps and considerations that might make one type
of pump preferable over another. Includes ways to establish and maintain
a good milk supply; suggestions to help make returning to work easier;
human milk storage information; and addresses common questions.
- "Expressing Your
Milk": Includes two pamphlets, "Practical Hints for Working
and Breastfeeding" and "A Mother's Guide to Pumping Milk,"
helpful to mothers who need to pump or express their milk. Also contains
a tear-off sheet that explains the Marmet Technique of Manual Expression.
- Nursing Mother, Working
Mother, by Gale Pryor: Mothers who have decided to combine breastfeeding
with working will find this an immensely helpful and reassuring book.
The author includes practical information about planning for and returning
to employment, clear concise tips on breastfeeding, pumping, storing,
and transporting milk, and possible alternatives to full time employment
such as job sharing, working from home, and staying home full time.
The book suggests numerous ways mothers can build and maintain closeness
with their babies in spite of separation. (Softcover, 184 pages)
Our
FAQs present information from La Leche League International on topics
of interest to parents of breastfed children. Not all of the information
may be pertinent to your family's lifestyle. This information is general
in nature and not intended to be advice, medical or otherwise. If you
have a serious breastfeeding problem or concern, you are strongly encouraged
to talk directly to a La Leche League Leader.
Please consult health care professionals on any medical issue, as La
Leche League Leaders are not medical practitioners.
Last updated Friday, July 21, 2006 9:33 PM by sjs.
Page last edited Sun Oct 14 09:31:02 UTC 2007.
