Handling Work And Nursing Your Baby

| Friday, December 2, 2011
By Kathleen Burch


You may have contemplated going back to work after your baby is born, but you have some doubts as to how you would manage. It is a time consuming choice, but many women do continue nursing even after they go back to work. In spite of all the time and effort involved, most of the women who tried it are happy with their decision. Here are some tips that can help you manage the two.

First of all, decide how you're going to feed the baby while you're at work. Some women have the caretaker prepare baby formula, while others express breast milk beforehand. So your baby needs to get used to drinking from a bottle early on. When your baby is about 6 weeks old, introduce at least one bottle a day, using either breast milk or formula, depending on what you plan of using when you are back at work. Also let other people feed your baby. This would prepare your baby for the upcoming routine.

Once you return to work, you'll need to express milk at work for feeding to your baby the next day, if you plan to supplement with breast milk instead of formula. Be sure to figure out in advance where you'll be able to nurse. Fortunately, more and more workplaces are creating private areas for nursing mothers. You can also freeze some breast milk before you go back to work, just in case you cannot nurse.

When you go back to work, you have to be prepared for some adjustment time for the baby and yourself. If you can, go back part time at first so the adjustment will be easier. It would be even better if you can wait until your baby is 16 weeks old, since the adjustment would be easier because the breastfeeding routine is better established.

There are many good reasons for continuing to breastfeed after returning to work. In addition to your baby's continued nutritional benefit, you may also find that it's easier to return to work knowing that you still have the close breastfeeding bond in the morning and evening. So go slow and you will see the good from it all.




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