Transitioning back to work
By: Joanne Aubrey, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant
For many women, the weeks before returning to work can be an anxious time as you try to figure out how you are going to juggle the demands of being a mum with returning to the workplace. It can be a challenge, but with careful planning and organization, plus the ability to be flexible on your days off and evenings, a return to the office can be a positive experience.
If you need to return to work before your baby is 6 months old, you might be wondering how you will continue breastfeeding while you are away at work.
Your options in this scenario are to:
Express your milk and leave it for a caregiver to give to the baby
Ask the caregiver to bring the baby to your place of work so that you can breastfeed
Take breaks from work and return home to your baby to breastfeed
Give formula during the day when you are at work and breastfeed in the evenings, overnight, and during the weekends.
In Kenya, the Health Act 2017 requires employers to “support working women to breastfeed at work”. There is a comprehensive document produced by the Ministry of Health outlining how employers can create a breastfeeding friendly workplace. It includes flexible work patterns, scheduled breastfeeding breaks, and providing a private space or lactation room.
If you decide to express your milk at work, it is recommended to purchase a double electric breast pump, which enables you to express milk from both breasts at the same time, cutting down the amount of time that you need to express. There are many different models of pumps to choose from so I recommend doing a bit of research beforehand and chatting to other mums to see what their experiences have been. As previously mentioned, your place of work is required by law to provide a comfortable place for you to express with a power socket and preferably a fridge to store the pumped milk in. If there is no fridge available, then take an insulated cooler bag with an ice pack inside. You will also need bottles to store the expressed milk. Under optimal and sterile conditions, breastmilk can keep in an insulated container for up to 24 hours, or at least 8 hours until you can get home and transfer it to the fridge, where it can be stored for up to 3 days.
Check out our blog about storing expressed breastmilk to learn more.
In the weeks following your return to work, you may notice some changes in your baby’s behaviour. This is completely normal and is simply a sign that your little one is adapting to the change in routine. You may also be feeling more exhausted so I recommend taking it easy on your days off and weekends. To help preserve your milk supply and also to assist with connecting to your baby, breastfeed your baby often or ‘on demand’ and take time for lots of cuddles! Often mums report that their babies wake more frequently at night at this stage and this can be frustrating but it's just a phase and is probably your baby’s way of ‘topping up’ on any missed breastfeeds while you were away at work. After a few weeks, you will both get used to this new routine and find your pattern. Be kind to yourself and recognize that you are doing an incredible thing parenting this little dependent human whilst continuing to work, superwoman!