1. Plan ahead!
If you plan to express (pump) milk at your workplace, your toolkit should include:
• Extra bottles, breast shields, and an ice pack if you plan to keep the expressed milk
• A picture of your baby -- looking at him or her makes the pumping easier
• A bottle brush with a nipple-brush attachment, for cleaning bottles
• A bottle of water for yourself (drinking promotes milk flow, and it's important for your hydration), with a granola bar or an apple for a snack
• A handheld or electric breast pump (unless the company has a pump available for your use), and
• A bag to carry everything in
If you will be breastfeeding your baby instead of expressing milk for him or her make sure you have a blanket handy, and a nursing-friendly dress, blouse or sweater. (Some moms nurse in their cars in the parking lot, where their caregivers bring the baby once or twice a day -- or you might use a private area near the company's reception desk, where your caregiver can bring the baby at mealtimes.)
2. Work out logistics before you return to work
Talk with your boss and your company's HR representative about your planned breastfeeding arrangements. You might pump milk (or nurse the baby in person) during your lunch hour, or during a break, or you may bring work with you to the pumping or nursing spot and work right through. If you'll be pumping in your office, create a friendly Do Not Disturb sign for your door, plus instructions on how to leave you a message; and if you need to reserve space in a company lactation room or other pumping or nursing space, make sure you get that straightened out. Know before you return to work where you'll store your expressed milk (keeping it cold until it's time to go home) and where you can wash bottles afterward. Decide whether you will always try to save expressed milk for your baby, or pump-and-dump (to keep the flow of milk for your at-home time) or a combination.
3. Share your news
Let your workmates know your plan. They may wonder why you're disappearing a few times a day, so fill them in on your baby-feeding plans and get them enrolled in your informal support group. Breastfeeding or pumping milk at work takes some time and energy, so you'll want all the support you can get.
4. Use time wisely
If you plan ahead, you may be able to work while you nurse or pump, and many women like to do that rather than break the flow of their busy workday. You can use the pumping or nursing time to catch up on snail mail (or even catch up on e-mail if you can get access to a computer in the location where you're pumping or nursing), make phone calls, or browse the latest business periodicals.
5. Take it slowly
You may not pump all the milk you expected to right at first, or you and baby may be uncomfortable nursing in an unfamiliar spot and have trouble getting down to business. That's OK. Making the effort to keep nursing your child when you return to work is a huge achievement on your part. Don't hold yourself to an unrealistically high standard for milk production, calm nerves, or seamless integration of mom-time and work-time. It's not easy, but you will get better with every nursing or pumping session.
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