Breastfeeding after you've returned to the office

Most new moms and pregnant women are aware of the benefits of breast feeding: studies have shown that breastfeeding helps protect babies from infections (for example, ear infections, lung infections, and vomiting and diarrhea), food allergies, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), as well as chronic problems such as diabetes, asthma, and obesity. Breast feeding is good for moms, too. It can lower a woman's risk of several medical problems, including breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and osteoporosis.

But most women who have tried to breastfeed will tell you it's not as easy as it might seem. For some, one of the most difficult aspects of breastfeeding is figuring out how to continue to do it after your maternity leave is up and you return to work.

One irreplaceable tool for the working mother who wants to continue breastfeeding exclusively is a breast pump. There are many different types of pumps, and many different brands. Friends and family members are probably the best source of advice for which brands work best. Your obstetrician and pediatrician can also help. Many hospitals have lactation consultants to offer advice. As far as type, this choice will depend on how many hours you are away from your baby each day: 

·         If you are away from your baby for only a few hours at a time—maybe you work part-time or work close enough to daycare to nurse your baby once or twice a day—you may be able to get by with a good hand-operated pump. Many however, find hand pumps to be a bother, using more time and energy than they have.  Pumps that run on a battery and ones that work with a foot pedal (like an old-fashioned sewing machine) are also options for women in these situations. 

·         If you're away from your baby most of the day, especially if this is the case two or more days each week, an electric pump may be better for you. These pumps generally enable you to produce more milk and provide enough stimulation to keep up your milk supply. When your baby—or pump—sucks on your breast, hormone messages tell your body to keep producing milk. Look for pumps labeled "double-pumping action," as this type of pump works more easily. Try to pump at least every three to four hours. Hopefully you have an office of your own or someone's you can borrow. Your workplace may have a room set aside for breastfeeding women. (If they don't they should!)You may have to resort to the bathroom, although this is neither ideal nor comfortable. Sometimes just unpacking your pump in a public space creates enough discomfort that you'll suddenly think of an appropriate space and solution.

·         To keep your breasts from feeling uncomfortably full, pump in the morning right before you leave for work (but after you have fed your baby), and feed your baby as soon as possible after you get home.  

There are lots of topics that surround breastfeeding at work—from how to properly store pumped milk, to how to talk to your boss about taking breast feeding breaks. I couldn't cover them all in this short article. The web site of La Leche League is also a good source of information for those who want the perspective of those most committed to breast feeding: www.laleche.org.

Kristen Eckler, M.D., is an Instructor of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Biology at Harvard Medical School, and an Assistant Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Biology at Massachusetts General Hospital.

Eat, Play, and Be Healthy
Parents are often bombarded with new information on children's nutrition, and as a result, the most important dietary considerations often get lost in the mix. From Harvard Medical School, Eat, Play, and Be Healthy offers guidance on healthy eating through the various stages of children's lives, from infants to eight-year-olds. From breastfeeding to school lunches, get the tools to put your child on the path to a healthy adulthood.

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