New Breastfeeding Mom Going Back to Work

What type of workplace are you in? Let us other moms know. That may help in the advice we can give you.

Hi M.

I spoke with the HR Dept about needing to pump while at work and they made special arrangements with a small office that had a lock. I didn't have a lock on my office door and wasn't comfy pumping in their in case someone would have walk in. I think there is a law now regarding breast feeding mothers at work. I pumped for a year at work and felt like that was all I did since my first needed 50 plus ounces a day. When my second came, he only needed 30 ounces and it didn't seem that bad.
Good luck, I felt more comfortable going through HR instead of my boss since he was a single male with no kids but actually he was very understanding and no questions asked.

First of all congrats on your new baby boy! I myself had a son in June, and I also breastfeed. I went back to work in august and have been able to maintain breast feeding. However my husband and I do supplement with formula. I did notice a decrease in my milk supply when I went back to work...for the same reasons you are addressing here. My job is very busy and while my work is very supportive of breastfeeding mothers, puling myself away from my duties has proved difficult. I encourage you to speak with your boss or human resources department. I know where I work they cannot tell you you cannot pump, it is your right as a mother. I would hope that after you have a conversation about it, your employer should provide you the time to pump so you can do so. I however am not a lawyer, so I cannot tell you the legal stipulations in detail. I did however find this website for you: http://www.breastfeedingworks.org/labor-code.htm I would continue to research this as it looks like you should find enough to sell the idea to your boss. (This website appears to apply only in California) I also found this site: http://www.llli.org/Law/LawEmployment.html which gives topics to discuss with your employer.

If all else fails, remember that your body will adjust to the change. Even if you don't pump all day (Yes it will hurt for a while) but feed at night, you body will grow accustomed and soon you will only produce milk to feed at night. This is about where I am now, I only get about 6 oz total from 2 pumping sessions at work, which is only enough for 1 feeding a home, but i have more than enough to feed him in the evenings. We save what we can and use formula as little as possible.

Just be brave and approach your employer and be firm. It is your right to breastfeed your baby, not to mention healthy for both you and him. But in any instance, don't give up! Even if you are supplementing and breastfeeding just a little the heath benefits to you and your baby are better than just giving up!

M.,
By law your company must give you breaks to pump. They must also provide a clean, private place for you to pump. Your pumping breaks are not to be deducted from your lunch or other breaks you are entitled to. If you feel comfortable, discuss with your boss that you are committed to your job, but that you WILL be taking breaks to attend to personal matters. If your boss is not understanding or supportive, contact HR.

M.
I am not sure what your employer will think about it but most of the new moms I know are just honest with them and tell them they need a twenty minute break to pump. I know it is heartbreaking to lose that bonding time during the day to feed your little one but just imagine how awesome it will be when you get to come home and have your special time together. Just because you pump during the day does not mean you can not continue to nurse your baby in the evening and at night. Also make sure you pump more often than you would nurse becuase your breasts will produce a little more that way and you can leave milk for your baby at the childcare. Breast milk freezes well and stays good for quite some time. This will also help you out when it comes time for some mommy time later and you dont want the baby to take something besides your milk. Your employer should be sensitive to the fact that you have to take the time to pump. If not check with the HR department and see if there is an agreement you can come to about an extended lunch with no breaks or something. Good luck and congrats on your beautiful new baby!

It is so important for your baby to get breastmilk, and it is really possible for you to pump at work, it just takes a little time and effort. In the long run you will acctually spend less time off of work because your baby will get sick less (that is really true, not just a myth, belive me!) Take a small picture of your baby to work and look at it, you can also take a small piece of a blnaket or a burp cloth that smells like your baby, just have him lay on it tha night before. These reminders of your baby will help your body go into nursing mode. Buy a really nice pump, the good ones are invaluable and the bad ones can be hell on earth so do a little research and find a good quality pump, Medela is really good. Buy a nice discreet carying case for your pump too. If you do not have a fridge at work to put the milk in use insulated bags and ice packs to keep the milk cold until you get home. If your milk supply starts to diminish there are tons of things that you can do to get it bakc up so don't ever give up, one really effective way to build up milk supply is to take the herbal supplements fenugreek and blessed thissle, they are safe and effective, the lactation consultant at my hospital has recomended them to me. I have heard that oatmeal is good for making milk too but I have not tried it. There is more that you can do, just look at responces to low milkl supply questions on past mamasources. Congratulations on your new baby and best of luck to you!

Congratulations on your little one! It is hard going back to work but you can most definitely continue breastfeeding. Invest in a double electric pump. Most moms can prep and pump in 15-20 minutes and so you should be able to pump during your breaks. Hopefully you can find an office that isn't being used, but some moms pump in their car if they can't find another private place. Talk to your boss or human resources department. They should be able to help accommodate you.

Susanne is right on. Your boss has to allow you time to pump. Employees that are smokers are allowed several short "smoke breaks" during the day. This is the same idea, but for a better cause. If you don't have an office, you can go in a stock room (let your coworkers know not to disturb you), borrow your boss's office, or even use the bathroom if you have to. Just bring a small cooler with ice packs in it to store your milk in. It is so worth it!! You will still get to bond with your little one at home, and he will grow up healthy and strong.

I went back to work when my daughter was 8 weeks old. I pumped in the morning on my break, at lunch, and in the late afternoon on my second break. I was lucky enough that in the building that I was working in there was a private "quiet" room that I could use. You would need to speak to your supervisor regarding the possible use of an empty office, conference room, or something so you would be able to pump. I took a cooler bag with me to work to be able to keep my bags of milk in until I could freeze them at home. If you don't pump at all while you are at work you run the risk of losing your milk supply, so it would be worth it to speak to someone at your place of employment that might be able to help with some suggestions on where you might be able to pump. Good luck!

There are laws mandating your employer to allow for breaks for breastfeeding. They vary state to state, but I know that you can have breaks to pump. I really encourage you to look into the law and defend your right to feed your child the healthiest food available. Try to pump as often as you would feed, I know it is difficult but you will see the best results. Make sure you rent a good breast pump and have supplements if your supply is low. I suggest the Swing from Medela and More Milk Plus from Motherlove. I would also go to LLLI.org to research the laws because no employer can take away your right to be a good mom. Keep up the good work and good luck.

Perhaps your workplace is not aware, but it's a new law in CO (as of this summer) that ALL workplaces MUST provide time/location for pumping. Ask your pediatrician for the information to give to your employer. It's the law, and they must comply.

i went through that with my first child too, and by LAW they are required to provide a place for you to pump if that is your wish. I went through hell and back with my job in ft. campbell ky because they couldnt do that for me and i eventually had to give up breastfeeding...she was already 10 months and it was almost time to wean her anyways. it may have to be on your lunch hour or your break but they have to provide you with a private area to pump, or make other arrangements to accomodate you. i would check into it and talk to your boss about it as well. good luck!!

one other thing i wanted to mention...if you dont have a double electric breast pump i have one with extra parts. the parts can all be sterilized and are totally safe. it is a medela double pump and is very good!! let me know.

i read this book called, so that's what they're for. it has great ideas. i would suggest talking to your boss, and requesting a place where you can plug in and have privacy during your lunch break. if you need more breaks than that, see if your boss will work with you.

They just passed a new law in Colorado that requires companies to provide a room to pump in and time to pump. I think if you ask your employer they will work with you. I asked mine and he was fine with it. Although I do have to pump in the morning before I leave the house, then pump around 10:00 and then again in the afternoon. I really hope you can find a way to make it work - it's so worth it! Good luck! look at this link too: http://www.coworkforce.com/lab/nursingmothers.asp

Your work SHOULD be willing to work with you and breastfeeding. Talk to supervisors & Human Resources about breaks and a private place to do so. Some places act like it's a pain at first but it only takes a week for them to realize that it will not effect your work and they will forget about the hesitations they had. Definitely invest in the good pump the others talked about, I liked Medela, and freezer packs/cooler. Besides, I'm sure some people at your work get smoke breaks and by law, breaks and lunches are required.
Congrats & Good Luck!

I had to pump with my current youngest because he was in the hospital for his first ten days due to an infection. I couldn't pump enough to keep him going so I switched to formula. I think pumping at work and putting the milk in a fridge would be okay. For me, I would just switch. Good luck!!

It is unfortunate that your workplace doesn't make pumping a viable option (something you might mention to HR). BUT do not dispair...after BF my DD for 6 months, my schedule at work increased so I just couldn't pump twice a day. So, I decreased it to pumping once a day, then to no pumping and feeding her in the morning and twice at night (when home from work and before bed). During this transition she was on pumped milk and formula during the day.

I did the 3 breast feedings a day for 6 weeks - and it worked out great! Although you are not pumping, I'd suggest gradually start replacing BF with a bottle. I would take the whole 2 weeks to do this because your body needs time to adjust to only making milk for the limited feedings. It will be painful, but do all those things that help engorged breasts (heat, hot shower, self expression, even the epson salt bath helped me).

Good luck and although the transition is hard at first (emotionally, too) trust that you are doing the best thing for your family and that it WILL work out. Cheers - S.

I had the same problem when I went back to work and my daughter was 6 weeks old. I am a teacher and it was very difficult to find time to pump, but I figured out a schedule that worked. Try to talk to your boss and see if you can go to pump every 3 hours for about 10 minutes.

Also, I recommend that you start your baby on a bottle of pumped breast-milk right away. I started giving my daughter a bottle of breastmilk during the hours that I would be at work, about 2 weeks before I went back to work, so both my body and and my baby got used to that feeding schedule. It worked great, and I was also able to build up a milk supply in my freezer for emergencies. I also recommend pumping one extra time in the morning, when your milk supply is full. Wait about 10 minutes after you nurse the baby, and then pump.

Good luck!

M.,

Good for you for giving your baby the love, comfort, and health benefits of breastmilk already and for reaching out to find a way to continue! It is hard to contemplate doing this, and you are getting a crash course in becoming a lactivist! :)

Look up the laws in your state, people gave great links below. A La Leche League leader can help guide you in talks with your employer. Contact one at www.llli.org.

A hint for convincing your employer is giving them information on all the health benefits for baby having breastmilk and that baby will be less sick, therefore you'll miss fewer days when baby can't be at daycare for illness reasons.

Good luck! Enjoy your little boy!
H.

I am honestly not sure about colorado, but when my youngest daughter was born, I went back to work when she was 2 weeks old. I was in Missouri, but there, they had laws that made my workplace provide me with a private place and time for pumping. The time could not be taken out of my lunch break. It did take away from my other 15 minute breaks, but it only took me about 15 min twice a day to pump a good 4-6 oz. You should look into employee rights regarding pumping.
GOOD LUCK!

Hi M.,
I breast fed at work and froze the milk for later use. When I spoke with my boss and said it truly takes only a few minutes every few hours he said ok. Be sincere and honest with your boss. Good luck,
SarahMM

M.,
I know that my son who is now 6 months old requires lots of feeding. I am going back to work in November. I have read many of your posts and wanted to let you know that as your little one gets older, eating and pumping will become much more efficient! I pump now and can get it done in 10 minutes. I would say you definintely want to keep pumping every time you would be feeding. Avoid supplementing formula if you can for awhile, your baby is still so little and if you pump every 3 hours, you will keep your supply up.
Good Luck! S.

According to law, your employer should give you time and a place for pumping. I would definately look more into the laws and present them to your employer.

The responses I read seem very proactive and right on track. I pumped (as a high school teacher) through two of my three children. On the third, I was fortunate to be able to stay home. My advice: even though it may seem like a lot of effort to set up the whole pumping thing and getting it done, remember a couple of things: once you get it figured out (a couple of weeks at the most) it's simple and only takes about 10-15 minutes; AND remember, you'll save taking sick time in the future for your child because exclusively breast fed babies stay healthier and have fewer ear infections. Keep up the good work! It's so worth it!

This might be worst case, but if your office truly has no space to pump, my Medela pump has a car adapter that plugs into your cigarette lighter, and you could pump in your car. A blanket would give you some privacy. Good luck, I pumped for all three of my babies, and you'll be fine. The things moms do!

Doesn't your workplace have to comply with FMLA? If so, you should be able to take several weeks off after the birth of a child without losing your job. You might want to check into that.

M.,
First and foremost your workplace is required to allow you the time and a location to pump. Start talking to your boss now and explain that you are doing what is best for your baby and that it will not take time away from your job. I am a breastfeeding mom on an 8 month old and have been pumping at work since I came back. All you will need is 3 10-15min sessions to keep up.

I am lucky enough to have a door on my office. but you are in a cube you can put up a shower curtain rod and sheet to create some privacy. Just let your co-workers know that when you have a DO NOT DISTURB sign up that you will be with them momentarily. I have found that everyone respects that and if they need me they eiter leave a note or come back.

please contract me if you would like to chat more about this! it is hard to be a working mom and try to maintain breastfeeding but it is WORTH it. I weaned my first early, with my second he is still going strong and a healthier baby.

S.

I pumped at work for about 6 months. It worked well for me because I was able to find a private office. I left for lunch and went to my son's daycare to feed him, and pumped once in the morning and once in the afternoon. I would definitely recommend a good electric breast pump that does both sides at the same time. They are pricey ($150-200) but I couldn't have done it with a manual pump. Practice a few times at home first to get comfortable. Talk to your supervisor also--aren't there some rights for breastfeeding moms out there somewhere, that give you the right to some privacy to pump?

I would suggest pumping before you have to return to work and freezing your breast milk as well. Before I returned to work with my daughter, I would pump on one side while I fed her on the other, that way I had enough stored so she could have my milk while I was away. I pumped during my lunch break and sometime would take another break to pump a second time while I was at work. Your work has to allow you to pump as well as provide you with a place you are comfortable pumping that is sanitary....not hiding out in a bathroom stall! Good luck and cograts!

Congrats on your new little man!
I think it's worth it to work out some kind of arrangement to pump--for your baby and for yourself. Sudden weaning is a risk factor for mastitis and plugged ducts, and those would make you miserable and keep you home from work. You want to avoid engorgement and allow your baby to nurse often to keep your supply up.
I do recommend contacting La Leche League (you can find the local contacts for your area at www.llli.org)if you have specific pumping questions. They also have a couple of excellent books: "Working Mother, Nursing Mother" and "Hirkani's Daughters," which are both all about strategies for making working and breastfeeding a real option. I highly, highly recommend them! You can borrow them for free from your local La Leche Leagu's group library.
Consider starting to pump once or twice a day now, so you will have a stockpile ready when you go back to work. Also, consider starting back on a Thursday instead of a Monday so you can try out the new arrangement for a couple days and then recover on the weekend and decide if you need to "tweak" your plans. . . a full week of work right off while you're still setting things up could be overwhemling and discouraging.

M. - you absolutely have rights as a nursing mother and can take breaks to pump. I'm not sure how big your company is but they have to, by law, give you breaks to pump. They can get into trouble if they are not accomodating you. Check with your HR person and find out what you are able to do and also make a plan and take it to them about the times and how long you need to pump. They also have to provide you with a space to pump, not a restroom stall. If they are giving you trouble then you need to contact the state and find out what your rights are and what the company should be giving you. Don't take no for an answer. You need to take care of your baby and you need to pump so make sure the company knows that. Good luck.

M.:

It is the law in Colorado that your employer must give you (unpaid) breaks to pump. Download this document which is for employers and may give you some ideas. There is also a great contact (Moms on Board) here.

http://www.cobfc.org/PDF%20files/Colorado_Employer_Toolki...

or if you can't get to that directly, go to http://www.cobfc.org/Employers/index.html

and click on the Employer Toolkit.

S.

Your work is required by federal law to give you a non-paid half-hour break for lunch for every 6 or 8 hours that you work, plus a 15 minute paid break for every 4 hours that you work. If you are there for a total of 7 or 8 hours, that will give you two breaks and a lunch - plenty of time to do your pumping.

Also, start pumping now so you'll have the hang of it before you leave, and give him bottles of breast milk in between feedings to get him used to it.

If your work won't let you have the breaks, threaten to report them. Seriously, it's against the law to not give you the time, so even if you have to use the bathroom, that's better than nothing.

Good luck!

The law accommodating BF moms went into law Aug 5th:
Starting Tuesday, Colorado women will have an easier time breastfeeding in the workplace. A new law — one of 178 that were signed during the state’s most recent legislative session — goes into effect ensuring that women have ample time and private space to breastfeed their infants at work and that they won’t be penalized for doing so.

Colorado is the 16th state to enact such legislation. The law going into effect overlaps with Breastfeeding Week, a national celebration that takes place every year from Aug. 1-8 to educate families on the health benefits of breastfeeding their infants. This year’s theme is "Mother Support: Going for the Gold" to reflect the 2008 summer Olympics.