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Returning To Work

More and more frequently in households both Mom and Dad have to work.  Here are some tips to help make your transition back to work as emotionally and physically pain free as possible!

First, strategically plan your first day back.  Can you start on a Wednesday or a Thursday?  Is there anyone that you can job share with?  Is it possible to start working part time for a few weeks at first?  Check these things out!  You might be surprised at how flexible your job can really be.

Second, you will probably need to express milk while you are at work.  Be sure that you will be able to find a comfortable place to do this!  No woman should EVER have to pump in a bathroom, or out in their car.  Talk to your boss (before your first day back) to make sure they find a spot for you to pump.  Let them know what is going on.  Some of the largest companies in the world are providing pumping rooms for pumping moms!  This room should be equipped with a place to sit, and an electrical outlet.  Your boss does not take his or her lunch in the bathroom, and your baby does not need to either!!

On Monday, your will probably pump a fair amount of milk, but by Friday you may find you do not pump even half that amount.  This is NORMAL!  By the end of the week you are getting tired and stressed.  Both of these things affect how much milk you can pump.  Other changes in supply when pumping can be job-stress related (when a big project is due), or even your period returning after you have had your baby.

The breast pump you use is important.  It should:

If you receive a breast pump, or buy one and it does not work, TAKE IT BACK!  It does not matter that it is a personal use item.  If it does not work, it does not matter.  Make sure you let the store know that if they do not take it back, you will tell every single person you know what happened. 

Now, we have mom all taken care of, what about baby?  Make sure that there is a stock pile of milk in your freezer!  Refer to the Storage Guidelines for more information on length of storage for milk.

What if your baby will not take a bottle, or suddenly the week before you return to work they refuse to take one ever again?  Fear not, for there are several ways to feed a baby.  Try using a sippie cup, or a spoon. 

If you are able to go feed your baby over lunch hour, do it!  It will help both of you out immensely!   If you are unable to do that, make sure your daycare provider is educated about handling breast milk.  Let your daycare provider know when you are to be expected to pick baby up, and not to feed them after a certain time.  When you get there, or right when you get home, you will nurse your baby, so if they act like they are starving, only give them a tiny bit to drink.

When you return home, expect to spend the first half hour nursing, and your husband can get dinner ready!  Make use of your sling to get things done while spending quality time with your baby.

Here are other things to expect when you return to work:

Just take it one day at a time, and soon you and baby will have a great schedule and you will find going back to work was not as hard as you thought.             

 

 

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