Tips for Pumping, Planning, and Maintaining Your Milk Supply
Returning to work after having a newborn is a milestone for many families, and it often brings new questions about breastfeeding/chestfeeding. When one or more family members go back to work, the daily dynamics and roles change. As schedules change, parents commonly wonder when to introduce a bottle, how to build a “stash” of milk, and whether they’ll be able to continue breastfeeding after one or both parents return to work.
With a little planning and support, many families successfully combine breastfeeding, pumping and storing milk, and work schedules. Your pediatrician and lactation consultant can help you develop a plan that works for your family, your baby, and your routine.
Question: Can I Continue Breastfeeding After I Return to Work?
Every family’s situation is different, but there are practical steps you can take before work obligations by the feeding parent (or others in the family) require more planning to maintain a milk supply. The answers below cover when to introduce a bottle, pumping and milk storage, and balancing breastfeeding with your work schedule.
Answer: When to Introduce a Bottle and Begin Pumping
Ideally, introducing a bottle can start around 3-4 weeks for most babies. This is a great time to start, as babies are primed and ready for learning at this age. Once the bottle is introduced, try to keep it as a regular, ideally daily, part of your feeding routine so your baby can maintain this feeding skill.
It can seem like there are a million bottles to pick from, and this can feel overwhelming! There are some general guidelines for how to select a bottle, and most of it comes down to the nipple—shape, material, and flow rate are some of the most important factors. Most babies feed best on nipples that gradually slope from the tip to the base and form, roughly, a triangle shape.
For newborns, you usually want to pick the slowest flow rate available, which helps babies manage learning how to suck, swallow, and breathe in a comfortable rhythm and can reduce air swallowing, which leads to discomfort.
If you aren’t sure about which bottle is right for your baby, or if you’ve tried and are noticing that your baby is gagging, leaking milk, or having difficulty coordinating, your lactation consultant can help! IBCLC lactation consultants do a lot more than just supporting feeding at the breast! An ideal time to discuss this is at your 2-week or 1-month check-ups. At Metro Pediatrics, we have lactation consultants at all of our locations who specialize in bottle feeding, and we can often see you the same day as your child’s well-checks if you call in advance to schedule.
Answer: Building a Freezer Stash Without Creating an Oversupply
Generally, if you add in one or two pumping sessions each day, you can start building up a “stash” of milk in your freezer. We advise trying to add this into your routine around the time you start giving the baby a bottle. You can pump after the first morning feeding if you are still feeling a little full, or if the baby only feeds from one side, you can pump the other breast.
Baby only needs to get about 2 oz a day to practice bottle feeding!
And remember, you don’t need hundreds of ounces in the freezer to prepare for your return to work! You only need to have enough milk stored in advance to cover your first work shift to get started. Once you start working, the milk you pump during your shift is fed to the baby the next time you work. It can feel more secure to have extra milk saved up, but it’s not necessary to maintain feeding and your milk supply, as long as you keep up the pumping routine at work.
Answer: Pumping Schedules
There’s a lot you can do to prepare for your return to work and start to build a daily routine!
A really big piece of planning for returning to work is to see your lactation consultant for a pump flange fitting. Pumps only come with one or two standard sizes, and these do not fit the majority of people’s bodies! Plan for a flange fitting about a month or so before you return to work so you can try on the different flange options (sizes and shapes) in our Metro Pediatrics office. Your lactation consultant can provide you with customized guidance to help you meet your feeding goals!
Answer: Balancing Work While Maintaining a Milk Supply
Employees in Oregon are protected by both state and federal laws for pumping. Speak with your manager and HR team in advance, before you start back to work, to clarify your routine and make sure your return goes smoothly with no surprises for either party.
Contact Metro Pediatrics Lactation Consultants for Support
After returning to work, you may need more information and support with maintaining a good breastfeeding schedule, supply of milk, feeding behaviors, and more. We encourage you to reach out to our Metro lactation consultants to schedule a visit so we can answer all your questions and provide the support you need.
