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To help make the transition from maternity
leave to returning to work smoother and easier, Expressiva Nursingwear offers
the following tips for mothers who choose to pump breast milk at work:
Inform your employer. Prior to your
first day back, talk with your supervisor about your plans for pumping at
work. If you do not have your own office discuss alternatives for where you
can have privacy.
Buy a breast pump. Before returning
to work, do your research and rent or buy a breast pump. A double pump works
the most efficiently and effectively. Make sure you're completely
comfortable with the pump - worrying if the pump is too loud or doesn't
pump fast enough can lead to stress resulting in a diminished milk supply.
Have lunch with your baby. If you
work close to home or near your child's daycare provider, find out if
you'll have enough time to go there to feed him or her in person. Even
better, find out if your child can be brought to work for a feeding.
Don't stress! Stress and a lack of
sleep can greatly diminish your milk supply. To help remedy the problem, try
to anticipate stressful days, deadlines and situations and plan accordingly.
While you can't fully control your night's sleep with a baby, catch a
cat nap whenever possible.
Dress accordingly. Select clothes
that are comfortable and that make pumping easy and convenient and wear a
nursing bra underneath. Avoid wearing light colors. Dark colors are better
at hiding leak stains and nursing pads.
Be prepared. In case of an accident,
keep a spare change of clothes at the office.
Be organized. Bring a small tote bag
for all your supplies - breast pump, nursing pads, baby wipes for easy
clean up, bottles or bags for milk storage and tape for labeling.
Cool it. If your office does not have
a refrigerator/freezer, bring a small cooler with ice packs to store your
expressed milk.
Relax. To maximize milk flow, relax
by keeping a photo of your baby nearby or by imagining you're with the
baby. Also, drink plenty of water throughout the day.
Plan to Pump. Try pumping twice a day
- during your morning break and afternoon break. If possible, save your
lunchtime for yourself. Once you've mastered pumping, you should be able
to empty both breasts in 15-20 minutes. Pumping at the same time everyday
can help maintain or increase your milk supply.
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