WORKING AND NURSING

Can I breastfeed and work?
The primary problem in working and nursing is that the woman is the working mother of a young infant. Feeding method does not change some of the difficulties in working with an infant at home.
Many mothers have found that it "doesn't pay" for them to work. By the time mother figures earnings and baby sitting costs, some mothers find that they are working to pay the baby sitter and have a little pocket change left over. The mother should talk to an accountant or tax specialist. She may find that with just one income, the family is in a lower tax bracket and can adjust payroll deductions. She should be careful that she won't owe taxes at the end of the year. If she doesn't work, she might break even financially.
Another complaint I frequently hear from working women is that the baby sitter gets to see everything first. For example, baby's first steps, first words etc. It is not uncommon for the baby to call the sitter "mama" on occasion. Mothers may often feel that they have missed out on part of their child's babyhood. Mothers may feel that someone else is raising their baby rather than themselves. Often mothers try to make up for working by quality time projects. Babies need large quantities of quality time. Part-time work may be the solution.
In reality, thousands of mothers work and continue to breastfeed. There are several ways to manage working and breastfeeding. Here are a few suggestions. Each mother has to decide what is best for her and her baby.
1. Work at home or part-time.
2. Pump milk or have the baby brought to her for feedings.
3. Reverse the baby's nursing pattern so he nurses when she is home and sleeps while she is gone. (Babies sometimes to do this on their own.) Reverse cycle nursing
4. Partially wean the baby, giving formula during the hours that she would be away at work and nursing only during the hours that she will be home. This eliminates the need for pumping in most mothers. It will take several days for mother's milk supply to adjust. In many ways this schedule is like nursing a toddler two or three times per day. For the child who must be in day care with other children, even partial breastfeeding has been shown to provide protection against illness.

How often will I need to pump?
It will depend on the age of the baby when the mother returns to work, and how long she will be away from the baby. If she returns to work when the baby is six weeks old, she will need to pump at least every four hours or more often, depending on how frequently her baby has been nursing. If a mother can wait to return to work until the baby is six months old, she may only need to pump once in the middle of her workday or may not need to pump.

What is the best breast pump for me, the working mother?
I think the best pump for the mother who has to return to work early and works full time (away from baby eight hours or more) is a rented electric breast pump with a double pumping kit. When mother pumps both breasts simultaneously, pumping will take 10-15 minutes. Hand or single electric pumps require 30 minutes or longer to use. Double pumping will also help maintain her milk supply.

Isn't renting an electric pump expensive?
The initial cash needed for renting a pump can be high because most rental stations require that the rental fee be paid in full at the time of rental. Rental stations require a security deposit when renting a pump. In most states, sales tax is added to the rental fee. Call around and get several price quotes. Pump rental averages $30.00 to $60.00 per month. Some rental stations offer a reduced rate for long term rentals. A five-month rental is approximately $150.00 (equal to 99 cents per day). Many women find this less expensive than formula over the same span of time.

Are the large electric pumps available for purchase?
The mother can purchase a large hospital type electric pump from the manufacturers. Cost varies from $500.00 to $2500.00. Most of these pumps have a life span of 30 years.

Is there anything a bit cheaper?

Both Medela and Ameda/Egnell (Hollister) have smaller automatic pumps. Medela's Pump in Style and Ameda's Purely Yours have received great reviews by moms who are using them. These pumps are good for the mother who has to pump 2 or 3 times a day while away from her baby. They are not recommend for establishing a milk supply for the baby who is not nursing.

Where can I find more information about pumps and pumping tips?

There is a group of women who have dedicated themselves to pumping mothers: pumpingmoms.org. The web site is full of frequently asked questions (FAQ) about pumps and pumping. In addition they maintain an e-mail list for pumping moms through e-groups called pump moms. Women who sign up for the e-mail list join a group of other women who are pumping for mother to mother support. Sometimes it really helps to "talk" to moms going through the same thing and facing the same difficulties for support and suggestions.

On Monday I can pump several ounces, then less and less by Friday. Is this normal?
The mother's body is adjusting to infrequent nursings at the breast. To increase the amount of breastmilk, mother should: increase her fluid intake, pump more frequently throughout the workday, rest and nurse the baby as much as she can when she is home.

How can I store milk safely at work?
Many women use a small cooler when a refrigerator is unavailable for storage. Cooler bags are available through pump rental stations and baby shops that look like a tote bag. The cooler will usually hold several bottles of milk and may have a place for your pumping equipment. Reusable cooling units are less messy than blocks or cubes of ice.

How can I tell if breastmilk has gone bad (turned sour) ?
Unlike cow's milk, breastmilk may not smell sour if it has spoiled. If the milk is curdled, severely separated, has a bad or nasty smell, throw it out.

What if the baby won't eat while I'm gone?
Tell the sitter to keep trying but don't insist. If the baby won't take a bottle, tell her to try an eye dropper or a spoon. Some mothers find that they have to experiment with several types of bottle nipples before they find one that the baby "likes." If the baby is older (four to six months), ask your pediatrician if he is ready for solids. The sitter may be able to give the baby solid foods instead of giving a bottle while the mother is away. Some babies prefer to "stack-up" on feedings while the mother is at home and not eat when she is gone. Other babies may nurse frequently when she arrives home. Just to say "hello."
 
 
 
 

The First 4 weeks: Mom

The First 4 weeks: Baby

Questions after the first 4 weeks

Family Issues

Breast Milk Expression

Storage of EMM (Expressed Mother's Milk)

Working and Breastfeeding

Other issues
 

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Copyright Marie Davis, RN, IBCLC 1999 

Last reviewed: Wed, Nov 8, 2006