Making It Work
Leaving Your Milk for Your Baby
From: NEW BEGINNINGS, Vol. 10 No. 4, July-August 1993, pp. 123-24
We provide articles
from our publications from previous years for reference for our Leaders and
members. Readers are cautioned to remember that research and medical information
change over time.
"Making It Work" is a
regular feature of the magazine NEW BEGINNINGS, published bimonthly
by La Leche League International. In this column, suggestions are offered
by readers of NEW BEGINNINGS to help mothers who wish to combine breastfeeding
and working. Various points of view are presented. Not all of the information
may be pertinent to your family's life-style. This information is general
in nature, and not intended to be advice, medical or otherwise.
Situation
I'm going back to work
full-time six weeks postpartum. How much milk does my baby need per
day?
Response
I congratulate you on your
foresight and your commitment to breastfeeding by anticipating the issues
you will face on your return to your workplace. As a Leader and certified
lactation consultant, I have helped many women combine nursing and employment.
A six-week maternity leave
accelerates the need to introduce a bottle and build up your stores
of milk. But with consideration and flexibility, you can preserve your
nursing relationship as long as you desire.
If you're separated from
your six-week-old baby for between seven and nine daytime hours, you'd
do well to plan for several missed feedings. Ideally, you'll nurse before
leaving and upon return from the workplace. Your baby will probably
need to be fed three or four times while you are gone. After the first
week or two, you'll have a better idea of how baby's feeding schedule
will work out.
A six-week-old baby will
require two to four ounces per feeding. Your caretaker can judge if
baby seems satisfied. In the beginning, limit the size of each container
to no more than four ounces. A couple of one- to two-ounce "snack packs"
in the sitter's freezer will allow for times when baby is extra hungry.
As baby grows and experiences "growth spurts," you can move the bottle
size upward or provide more "snack packs."
To build your stores of milk,
you need to become efficient at expressing milk. Many mothers with whom
I work find that renting an electric pump with a double pumping kit
is the quickest and easiest way to do this. If this option isn't available
or affordable, try a battery pump or manual expression. Whatever method
you choose, begin pumping and freezing the milk when your baby is about
three weeks old. Early morning is often the most plentiful pumping session
since you'll be rested and baby's sleeping pattern may be predictable.
Pump an hour or two after that last early morning feeding to ensure
baby's needs have been met. Some mothers pump after every feeding and
combine the milk for freezing in two- to four-ounce bags. Another option
is to pump one breast while baby nurses on the other side, taking advantage
of the letdown reflex.
Ideally, your focus will
be on getting to know your baby and establishing your milk supply in
the first three weeks. By anticipating a six-week return to work, it
becomes necessary to introduce the bottle in the third or fourth week.
It's usually preferable to have someone else give your baby the bottle.
Don't forget to pump your milk during these "practice" sessions and
store it for later! Some other tips to streamline your return to work:
A "dress rehearsal" day simulating
your work schedule can work out any kinks in your routine, or help you
establish one! Plan an appointment with your dentist, health care provider,
or beautician or return to your workplace and familiarize yourself with
any changes that took place in your absence. Plan to pump during your
missed feeding sessions and add this to your stores.
Return to work on a part-time
basis the first week or start back on a Thursday or Friday.
Begin now to interview caregivers
who are "breastfeeding friendly" and are receptive to your needs as
a nursing couple.
Jan Ellen Brown
Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
Response
I returned to paid work seven
weeks after the birth of my oldest son, Carter. So I'll share with you
some personal tips.
If I pumped for any reason,
I stored my milk. Many mothers are engorged and pump to relieve this
condition--take advantage of the surplus and freeze it for later on!
Otherwise, as Jan Ellen said, the first few weeks are best spent getting
to know your baby and resting.
When I first started pumping
for real I was dismayed that only an ounce or two would come out. I
started to panic. Don't. One or two ounces every day for two weeks will
be enough to get your baby through the first day.
I always labeled the day
the bottles were expressed and the ounces, then instructed the sitter
to use the oldest milk first.
If you work part-time for
a couple of days or try a simulated day of pumping, notice the times
you get that natural letdown reflex. Mine were pretty predictable, and
I arranged my schedule to be free during those times, which made pumping
quicker and less stressful since the milk was plentiful. When I felt
the let-down coming, I grabbed my breast pump and dashed off to the
bathroom. Other times, quite honestly, I'd lock my door and pump in
the middle of longwinded conversations on the phone. Once someone asked
me "What's that buzzing?" and I replied (quite truthfully) "It might
be the construction out in the street" (although it was more probably
the breast pump!).
Don't forget to pump on the
weekends. Even if you only get a few ounces, you're that much ahead
for next week. For me, I noticed that by Friday I just didn't get as
much milk as I had on the previous four days. Making up for it on the
weekends kept my stress level low. Conversely, Monday's supply seemed
extra plentiful, so I usually had enough for a "snack pack" from that
day's efforts.
I developed a technique that
I do not recommend for those women prone to plugged ducts. If you've
not experienced this problem, you may want to try nursing baby on one
side only during the night. By morning you'll have a large, aching,
un-nursed breast. With baby's first morning feed, pump that full breast
and then let baby finish on that side until it's soft again. I got a
minimum of four ounces with that tactic every morning (weekends included)
and many times closer to six or seven ounces. I got quite a psychological
lift from knowing half of the day's requirement had been met before
I even left the house!
Tamela Rich
Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
Last updated 11/12/06 by jlm.
Page last edited Sun Oct 14 09:30:23 UTC 2007.
