Return work breastfeeding

Communicate with your management about your desire to breastfeed. Explain to them that breastfed babies are not sick as frequently thus you will not miss work as frequently.
Discuss with them your
1)need for breaks to empty your breasts,
2) need for a clean, private pumping area, and
3)storage area for your expressed breastmilk.
(optional, you may store your milk in a portable cooler with an ice pack for 24 hours)

Purchase or set up breastpump rental now. There are many options and it is wise to make your decision BEFORE the baby gets here.

Click here for helpful tips on how to choose a breastpump.

Two weeks before you go back to work there are some steps you can take to prepare you for work.

If you want to give your baby 100% breastmilk to a year, then you must try to stay on the schedule that the baby is on even while pumping and it is best to offer the baby exclusive breast while with your baby. Do not be tempted to give bottles to baby when you are at home.

Here are some tips on keeping your supply up at work

BUT all that being said, it does not have to bee 100% breastfeeding or 0%. If you are unable to pump every 3 hours at work, then pump when you can.
Do not feel guilty about it. It would be better for a baby to recieve 50% breastmilk and 50% formula for a year than 100% breastmilkfor 6 weeks then 100% formula for the rest of the year.
Stay on a regular pattern with your pumping, as long as you are consistent, your body will make what you empty. What you CANNOT do it pump every 3 then 6 then 4 then 2 then 8 hours. YOur body will not be able to figure out what is going on. You will be engorged or you will have low supply. OR you could develop mastitis.

Even if you stay on the strictest of pumping schedules, sometimes you make experience low milk supply. Even the best breastpump on the market is a machine. It does not empty the way a baby does and it does not stimulate the way a baby does. So it can be expected that many women will experience supply issues while working a Monday-Friday job. For most, the supply begins to drop by mid-late week. Knowing this, many women are able to overcome this problem by the use of galactagogues. These herbs are able to stimulate increased milk supply and can be used as needed.

Do you need to wean/dry up your supply NOW?

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