Breastfeeding Help!
Reliable information on
breastfeeding topics
by Heisje de Jong,
Certified Lactation Consultant
16.- BREASTFEEDING AND WORKING <previous topic next topic>
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If you are breastfeeding and you have to return to work, you
may be worrying if it will be possible to continue breastfeeding
your baby and how to go about it. Rest assured, it is possible,
in fact it is being done by thousands of mothers. It does need
some planning, and to help you I'm giving you some handy tips
and useful information.
| AFTER THE BIRTH OF YOUR BABY: |
* Plan to stay home with your
baby as long as you possibly can.
* Talk with your employer about your plans to breastfeed and
the need
to pump milk at work.
* Think of a suitable place where you can pump in privacy.
* Is there a refrigerator available?
* Select a breastpump that suits your needs
| ABOUT TWO WEEKS BEFORE RETURNING TO WORK: |
* Begin practicing pumping (for
example 2-3 times every morning, about one hour
after the baby has nursed). You may get little milk
at the beginning, this is normal,
and with practice you will be able to pump more milk.
The pumped milk you can
cool and freeze, so you start building your frozen
milk supply. You can also store
some of the milk in the fridge to give to your baby
in a bottle.
* Begin introducing a bottle with breastmilk to your baby once
a day so baby will
learn to accept it. (Baby will probably accept it
better from someone else than
from you).
* Think about clothes for work that will make pumping easier
(for example, no zippers
on the back and two- piece outfits instead of a dress).
* Visit the day care center or sitter with your baby, leave your
baby for short times,
let your sitter or the day care staff give baby a
bottle to see if baby accepts it.
| WHEN YOU RETURN TO WORK |
* Try getting up half an hour
earlier than you used to do. Nurse the baby, get
dressed and ready for work. Nurse the baby again
just before you leave.
* It is best to pump your breasts every three hours. Start counting
from the
time you breastfed your baby in the morning before
you left for work.
* The milk you pump
at work you can store in the fridge at your workplace and
take home in a cooler bag. This milk can be given
to your baby the next day.
See section STORAGE
AND HANDLING OF BREASTMILK.
* If you are not able to pump enough milk for your baby your
sitter can give
some of the frozen milk from the freezer. See also
section PUMPING TIPS.
* Nurse your baby as soon as you come home from work.
*· Your baby may want to nurse more in the evening and
night; this is good
because it will increase your milk supply.
* If you want to add more milk to your frozen milk supply you
can also pump
a few times in the weekends.
| SOME TIPS IF BABY REFUSES TO TAKE A BOTTLE |
* Try offering the bottle before
baby is likely to be too hungry.
* Wrap the baby in a piece of mothers clothing while offering
the bottle.
* Instead of pushing the bottle nipple into baby's mouth, try
laying it near
his mouth so he can pull it in himself.
* Run some warm water over the bottle nipple to bring it up to
body temperature.
* Try different types of bottle nipples.
* Try different feeding positions, some babies prefer not to
look at the care giver.
* Try to feed the baby while moving rhythmically, rocking or
walking, this may be
calming to him.
* Insert the bottle in baby's mouth when he is sleeping.
* Your baby can also be fed your milk by cup or spoon if baby
continues to refuse
the bottle.
| INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE SITTER |
* Explain to the sitter how to
thaw and warm up breastmilk.
* Tell your sitter, baby's last feeding should be 1 ½-2
hours before you come
home, this way baby will be ready to nurse when you
return from work.
* Explain your sitter that your baby is fed on demand rather
than on a schedule
and that many breastfed babies prefer small frequent
feedings.
* Remember to tell the sitter that the stool of a breastfed baby
is soft, that it is
not diarrhea.
| TAKING CARE OF YOURSELF |
* Drink plenty of fluids (water,
juice or milk are best choices) and eat nutritious foods.
Find easy recipes that need little preparation, prepare
larger quantities and freeze
half.
Limit your caffeine intake and avoid excessive sweets
and highly processed foods.
* Take a rest as soon as you come home from work, put your feet
up and nurse your
baby.
* Get help with household tasks or, if possible, employ professional
help.
* Take time for yourself. Let your husband or other family members
look after your
baby for a little while, and do something you enjoy;
read a book, go for a walk,
take a hot bath etc.
The advantages of continuing to breastfeed while going back to work are many. You maintain the special closeness and warm bond with your baby that breastfeeding provides. And you are doing something that nobody else can do for your baby, you continue to give to your baby all the goodness of your milk even when you can not be with him. This thought makes it all worthwhile and is another reason to be, once more, proud of yourself!
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