Guide to Breastfeeding And Working Outside the Home

Are you a new mom or a mom-to-be, thinking about breastfeeding and working full or part time? Are you thinking that this is an impossible dream? As many moms who combine breastfeeding and a career have found, breastfeeding and working can peacefully co-exist. If you want to work from home online or are looking to work at home telecommuting or even if you decide that you want to skip the challenges of working for someone else and explore one of the many free work at home opportunities that you can find online, the challenges and solutions we explore in this Hub aren't all relevant, but many of these tips you will find helpful, so read on and just skip the workplace environment section. Having said that, even if you are doing freelance work at home you may find the tips in that section helpful for dealing with client meetings or other activities you'll be attending where you will need to breastfeed your  baby. 

As breastfeeding in public becomes more commonplace, career moms are finding ways to make breast milk all or part of their babies nutrition plan. So, if you're committed to breastfeeding and working outside the home, there are many things you can do to improve your chances of being successful.

Most moms who successfully breastfeed and work outside the home are supplementing nursing with expressed or pumped breast milk.

Choosing a Breast Pump

There are many breast pumps out there and some of them are just a waste of money. There are lots of features that can make pumping quicker and more comfortable, such as an adjustable suction control and dual pumping models that can work on both breasts at the same time. You might find it helpful to talk to a lactation consultant or do some online research before you buy or rent a breast pump. If you your homework, you should end up happy with your choice.

Guide To Choosing The Best Bottles For Babies

With all of the news stories coming out on the dangers of BPA in plastic, you may want to check out this Hub for advice and research on what types of bottles are safe for your baby.

Practice

Have formula on hand so that you don't panic if you're first attempts to either nurse or express are not successful. Don't be discouraged if your first attempts don't bring much milk. Start out by pumping after your normal nursing sessions. You won't get much at first, but the additional stimulation will encourage your breasts to produce more milk. If your baby empties only one breast when nursing, use the pump to empty the other. Store any milk you pump early on for use later. See the section below on Storing Breast Milk.

Using a breast pump can take some getting used to, they're not quite the same as that warm loving bundle that you're nursing. Having pictures of your baby to look at can help stimulate milk production, especially early on.

Some other factors that can help to make pumping a success include:

• Nurse As Much As Possible - In the morning, in the evening, on weekends, during your lunch break if you're able to have your baby with you at lunch time ... Babies are much more efficient at emptying your breasts and stimulating milk production than any pump will be.
• Find A Private Place To Pump - If you don't have a private office try talking to Human Resources or your boss about a using a conference room, an empty office, or the Ladies restroom. It's a good idea to scope out your "pumping area" prior to purchasing a pump so that you end up purchasing a pump that will work in the space you have available. For instance, a plug-in pump isn't going to work if there isn't an electrical outlet, or you may not want to use a dual pump in a semi-private area like a Ladies restroom.
• Solicit Support From Your Coworkers and Employer - Support in the workplace can be a big factor in whether or not you're successful with nursing or pumping. A matter-of-fact approach, mixed with a confident attitude and a little humor will help to make those who depend on your work to be comfortable with your ducking out to nurse or express. You may also want to explore the possibility of working part of each day or some days working at home on the Internet or other telecommuting solutions.
  
• Commit to A Pumping Schedule - If you can time your pumping to coincide with your baby's eating schedule your weekends will be much easier. Try to be consistent when you express, even if it means writing pumping appointments into your calendar. When your production is up or you've stockpiled quite a bit of breast milk, you may be able to cut out one or more pumping sessions during the day.
• Have Extra Pumping Supplies Handy - It helps to invest in a couple of extra pumping horns so you can just rinse them after each use and save the full washing for when you're at home. Stash a few nursing pads and a blouse at your office in case you need a quick change of clothes. Believe me, as careful as you are, there will be a time or two that you'll be glad you had an extra blouse with you.
• Storing Pumped Milk - If you're uncomfortable leaving the pumped milk in the employee refrigerator, an insulated bag with an ice pack is a good solution. If you think you'll want this option, there are pumps which come with an insulated storage compartment in the carrying case.

Storing Breast Milk

Breast milk can be stored up to six months in the freezer and up to forty-eight hours in the refrigerator. Make sure to date each bag, and store in the proper type of container. The antibodies in breast milk will adhere to many plastic bags and make it so that they are not passed on to the baby. Your baby needs these antibodies so as much as possible, use the special bags designed for storing breast milk. They are made of a plastic that reduces this antibody loss. When thawing milk, use warm water. DO NOT microwave.

If you're lacking in either nutrition or sleep, your your milk supply can be reduced. While this doesn't need to deter you from breastfeeding it can be a frustration for both you and your baby.

Getting enough sleep to function well can be especially difficult if you're returning to work when your baby is at the stage of needing two or three feedings throughout the night. One solution can be to extend your maternity leave past this stage. Another way for you to get the sleep you need can be to pump milk and ask another family member (wink, wink hubby) to do the night feedings or at least trade nights so that you are continually exhausted. Or you can hire a night nanny who will bottle feed the baby with your expressed milk.

Another breastfeeding facts that affects your milk supply is staying hydrated. When you're nursing, make sure you're drinking lots of water and steer clear of beverages that are caffeinated. Caffeine is a diuretic and not good for you or your baby. You should also refrain from drinking beverages that are high in sugar or high fructose corn syrup, as well as any other drink that you suspect is causing problems for your baby.

If mixing breastfeeding and working isn't working for you, don't give up.

You might want to talk to a lactation consultant for advice. There could be something simple that is an easy fix.

Find a support group, such as the La Leche League or an online community. Often just talking things through with other nursing moms who are in the same situation as you are can help immensely.

If you're thinking about giving up because you aren't pumping enough breast milk, consider supplementing your own milk with a good quality infant formula. Don't mix breast milk and formula in the same feeding though. Use breast milk for one feeding and formula for another. The advantage to this plan is that it gives other family members the chance to be part of feeding and connecting with the new member of the family.

If you do decide that breastfeeding isn't for you, please don't feel guilty. Breastfeeding isn't for everyone. There are lots of happy, healthy, well-adjusted children who weren't breastfed. Your relationship with your child isn't going to be sacrificed because you couldn't or didn't want to breastfeed. Breastfeeding is a personal choice, and what you decide to do and how you decide to do it (as long as you're respectful of those around you), is no one's business but yours.