Pumping your breast milk at work

Preparation is very important if you're considering pumping your breast milk when you go back to work. Most moms don't have a whole lot of time off for maternity leave and just because you will be leaving your baby for a few hours a day does not mean you have to wean him.

Here are a few tips to make return to work go as smoothly as possible.

Planning

• Get a lactation consultant: They have experience in every area of breastfeeding, which includes returning to work and knowing your rights. They can be a great support and there for you whenever any questions or concerns should arise.

• Talk to your employer: Whomever you feel most comfortable with who has authority to allow you to pump when you are back on duty. It's best to let them know before you go on maternity leave or in plenty of time before your return so they can make any appropriate arrangements. STAND STRONG and don't back down if you receive any criticism.

• Know your rights: Georgia for instance has this law in place: "allows employers to provide daily unpaid break time for a mother to express breast milk for her infant child. Employers are also required to make a reasonable effort to provide a private location, other than a toilet stall, in close proximity to the workplace for this activity." Look up the laws and know your rights in your area.

• Ask for a private room or area: If you have your own office, that certainly is ideal but if not, your workplace may want to set up a small conference room for you with curtains and a lockable door. Quite a few will set up phones and laptops so you can work as you pump saving the company valuable time.

• How much time do you need: A few trial runs at home let you know how long to ask your employer for. Most moms find 20 minutes works well to set up, pump for 15 minutes and clean up. To keep up your milk supply, you should pump approximately every 2 hours.

How?

• Breast Pump: Using a double electric pump is the certainly the fastest way to go by expressing both at the same time, which stimulates "let-down".

• Hands-Free Bustier: The hands-free bra allows you to pump while working at the same time instead of holding two bottles for the time it takes you to pump, approximately 4 times per day.

• Separate refrigerator: Some workplaces will supply one solely for expressed milk, especially if they have one or more mommies pumping. If you need to put your milk in the communal refrigerator, you may want to keep it in a separate bag or cooler to keep people from touching it and they will never be the wiser of what's in the bag.

• Storing your milk: It is very important to know how to properly and safely store your milk until you reach home or the daycare.

Where?

• Private Room: Your own office would be perfect but that's not always available. Ask your boss or your Human Resources representative for a separate room with a lockable door and curtains for privacy, if needed. The only people to have the key to the door should be the pumping mother, HR and/or the employer.

• Cubicle: Not ideal but certainly better than using the restroom. Use a nursing cover, poncho or large scarf to cover yourself for privacy.

~ David Suzuki

Want to know more?

We would love to hear your pumping or breastfeeding at work story.