Not every mother can be a stay-at-home mother for a long time. But even if you have to go back to work rather soon after birth you can breastfeed. With some advance planning, it is possible to successfully combine work and breastfeeding.
- Try to stay at home as long as possible. If you delay starting working outside home until breastfeeding is well established – usually after four to six weeks - this enhances the chance for successful breastfeeding.
- About two weeks before you return to work it is useful to learn to express your milk and to know how to store it. Ask your lactation specialist about correct and efficient expressing of your milk. Start to build up a supply of expressed breastmilk. You will have a better feeling if you have some milk on stock when you start working.
- Look for opportunities to express and store your milk at your workplace.
- Choose a babysitter or caretaker that supports your wish to breastfeed and allow enough time to get your baby accustomed to the babysitter.
- Let somebody else introduce the bottle to your baby or try alternative feeding methods to feed your baby while you are away.
- Look for clothing that facilitates breastfeeding or pumping, or invest in a breastfeeding cover