Going Back to Work: Starting To Pump

by tedgar | More from this Blogger

30 Sep 2009 11:10 PM

Whether you are returning to work soon after your baby is born or nursing an older baby, pumping your breast milk is something that helps you continue your nursing relationship, even when you're at work some of the time.

• Do you need to pump?

How often is your baby nursing right now? If she is an older baby, eats solids, drinks water, and nurses every few hours, you might be able to work for several hours and not need to pump, unless you're feeling engorged. Half days are great for the mom who is returning to work.

• Why are you pumping?

If you have a tiny baby and you're returning to work, chances are that you're pumping so that your baby can have a diet entirely of partially of breast milk. If you have an older baby who also eats food, breast milk is still a wonderful source of nutrition that boosts your baby's immune system. I chose to pump for my older baby because of milk allergies in the family - I didn't want her to have milk or soy proteins until she was a lot older. I also chose to pump because we have autoimmune problems in our family, and I wanted to give her immune system a boost. Finally, I chose to pump because I had a lower milk supply than many moms, and I wanted to make sure that being away from my daughter didn't compromise my ability to nurse her when I got home. Different moms pump for different reasons.

• Choosing a good pump

You want to find a pump that suits your needs. If you have very little time, you can even use hands-free pumps while you are eating your lunch. Do you have the space to store a larger, mechanized pump? If you are mostly pumping to reduce engorgement as you transition back to work, you might consider a hand-held, single side pump. Since you are trying to reduce your milk supply, you don't want to pump too often, or you'll end up with a lot more milk!

If you're pumping so that you can bring milk home for your baby to have at child care tomorrow, mechanized pumps allow you to relax a little more than hand-held, single side pumps. Look at reviews from other moms and choose the best pump that you can afford. You want pumping to be both comfortable and effective.

• Set up a pumping station at work

You want to find a place to pump that is relatively quiet and private. If there is no such place, scope out your work place for opportune nooks and ask! Other moms are probably thinking the same thing, and you'll make your workplace a better place for all moms. If you have an office, you can also post a sign on the door asking people to knock when you're pumping.

A good nursing station is comfortable. Bring a small back pillow. Have a glass of water. Listen to music. Bring a photo of your baby and think good thoughts about her - this helps your milk let down. Massage your breasts to help your milk let down, if you can. Try to let go of the stresses of your day. This will help you relax and make pumping more effective.

What have you done to make your transition back to work easier for you and for your baby? Is your workplace pumping friendly?

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Tricia Edgar is a mom of one lovely daughter. Before her daughter was born, she decided to be guided by the needs of her child, and this led her to attachment parenting philosophies.

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