This post gives you all of the insight to help you prepare as a breastfeeding working mom.
Before you go back to work, remember that baby should have enough milk for a 24-hour period, and be very comfortable feeding from the bottle. You can help baby adjust to the bottle by having dad feed the baby once before bed.
Having dad’s help is good because the baby is smart enough to sense their mama and want your breast instead. Also, you can choose to bottle feed the baby. Then, if you have difficulty, you can try to have dad feed the baby. Having dad’s help at night for every feed is not a bad idea for two reasons. The baby will get used to the bottle and being fed from someone else besides their mom.
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The bottles I HIGHLY recommend trying for breastfed babies:
#1- Mimi jumi
#2- Como tomo
#3- Nano bebe
#4- Nuk
Anyone of these bottles is great for breastfed babies because the nipple makes it emulate the feeding from their mama.
Since you are back at work, you only need 4 bottles maximum so that you are not overwhelmed by all of the washing and sanitizing.
There will be a lot of washing when you have to take your pump to work.
When you have to go back to work and you breastfeed your baby, you want to make sure to pack the diaper bag essentials beforehand. Each night before work, you will want to have the baby’s diaper bag and a separate bag that contains items for breast pumping at work.
You will also want to plan and have your schedule written down so that you know when you should leave your house, drop off the baby, and give yourself enough time to nurse the baby in the morning before you head off to work.
BEST Breastfeeding Working Mom Tips
Pumping at Work Schedule:
Leave your house by 7:30 A.M.
Drop baby off by 7:45 A.M.
Feed baby at 8:15 A.M.
Leave the daycare at 8:30 A.M.
Start work at 8:45 A.M.
LUNCH BREAK 11:45 A.M.
Work ends at 3:45 P.M.
Picked up baby by 4:00 P.M.
The night before breast pumping at work with a 0-3 month old you can:
- Prepare their diaper bag the night before
- Pack a lunch the night before
- Move your breastmilk from the freezer to the fridge for the night (if you breastfeed) or make sure their formula is ready
- Wash all the bottles and pumping items that you need while at work
- Give the baby a bath the night before
- Set all things you take to work and the sitter by the door
- Find your outfit the night before
To make the morning of work easier you can:
- Wake up before the baby to shower, eat breakfast, and get ready
- Pack the baby’s bottles in the diaper bag
- Gather all of the pumping items in a bag to take with you to work
- Get all of your things for the baby and work into the car
- Once you are ready, you can wake the baby up to change the baby’s diaper and clothes
- HEAD OFF TO WORK!
Getting ready for work as a breastfeeding working mom:
By around three months old, breastfeeding should be a lot easier for you. Although the baby still eats often, they have most likely mastered their latch unless you are pumping full-time. Therefore, their feedings have decreased in time to around 10 minutes or less and it is not as long as it was in the beginning! (It is a huge noticeable drop in time).
You may feel that the baby should eat a long time, but they can fizzle the milk down quickly now! This is how breastfeeding and pumping gets easier!
When feeding in the car, you can breastfeed the baby quickly. It should be (a lot) easier to be in public around three months of age!
Also, if your baby is not on a schedule, you will notice that they will create a fair schedule for themselves at or around three months old! If you are going back to work around the baby’s 3-month mark, then you will notice that the baby may be sleeping while you get ready for work. If the baby can sleep while you get ready, you will be a lot less stressed in the morning.
Sleep help tips for the breastfeeding working mom:
If you are working when the baby is less than three months old, try to wake up early enough to give yourself time to quickly get ready in the morning before the baby wakes up! Sometimes you have to get ready around their schedule. For example, you may want to shower and then breastfeed.
After you feed the baby, you may put on your makeup while the baby is awake. If the baby is crying, you may need to use the Solly Baby wrap to do your makeup and complete the process of getting ready. *TIP: Give yourself enough time in the morning to work around YOUR baby’s schedule! This is different for every mom!
Kyla has always been a VERY needy baby, and could feel me leave our bed in the morning. She has also always been a busy baby! Here are four things that you will want to keep your baby sound asleep:
*TIP: If dad has the day off when you work, try to have him help you at least once a week in the morning to relieve some anxiety or stress. Lehi made my breakfast on his day off (Friday)! I loved this because I got ready a lot quicker. In addition, I felt so guilty for leaving Kyla, so I could snuggle her longer in the morning after I got ready for work!
You will want to make sure that the baby has enough ounces for two feeds when you are gone, you pack enough milk for three feeds while you are at work just to be safe. If the baby eats 4 ounces, then make sure you pack 12 ounces of milk just to be safe. Multiply the number of ounces (4, 5, 6, 7) by the number of times your baby eats (2, 3, 4) times while you are at work.
When you get to work you can put your pumping gear in a safe place. Your work is required by law to make a space for you, your milk supplies, and time to pump!
Breast Pumping at Work:
Okay, as soon as you have a break it is GO-TIME! You will want to pump for a good 10-15 minutes while eating your lunch. To do this efficiently you will want the Haakaa and an electric pump. Unless your electric pump is hands-free and pumps on both sides.
You do not have to worry about running out of milk, because your baby drinks from the bottle at daycare, while you are pumping more milk at work for the next day or to store at a later date, so it is basically just a cycle of storing the milk.
During break, I quickly ate my lunch and pumped for the baby in my car. Since I fed Kyla before I left to work, she would be ready to eat about 2 to 3 hours later. Lunch time was the “perfect time to pump!”
You can use the baby tracker app to track your pumping time. Kyla ate between 11:00 A.M and 12:00 P.M. depending on when she woke up from her nap. It was her choice, and I just emptied both breasts during my break, so that I could save up on ALL the milk I could! It is up to you to empty both breasts with your electric pump or switch off one or the other with the electric pump and the Haakaa each feeding.
*NOTE: I actually was able to (build more) for my stash! I did not lose out on milk because it is (as if I pumped around the time that she ate)! At the time, Kyla ate 4 to 4 1/2 ounces of milk.
*TIP: anytime she ate or cried, she wore (my t-shirt with my scent)! At 3 months old I pumped 5 to 8 ounces of milk and that was a win for me! I already met with the lactation specialist and did not use the hand pump any longer! I was finished eating and pumping after 15 minutes (to give you an estimate for your work schedule). After changing my strategy a few weeks into my school semester, I had breast pumping at work down packed!
You can also pump in your car at work if you want. Here is what you need to pump in your car: tinted windows, window shades, and an apron. Of course, a private room is always preferred!
YOU GOT THIS MAMA!
Preparing to go back to work is so very stressful and overwhelming for a working mom with a baby! Lucky for you, I prayed to find all of this information! Having all of this information means that you are steps ahead of the game! I hope that my story as a college student and working mom gives you insight into the process of smoothly transitioning back to school or work with a new baby as a breastfeeding working mom!
These are ALL my tips and tricks, yes it was stressful!! Hopefully you feel a little relieved or feel better prepared in your journey as a breastfeeding working mom! You can do this mama!! Hang in there!
[…] NOW! I know it is overwhelming and it can be difficult, but you want to start the week before you go back to work at least so that you can save all the milk you […]