Breastfeeding for Working Moms
THE BABBLE TAKE
Influenced by reports on the benefits of breastfeeding (and the accompanying tide of pro-breastfeeding sentiment among child-care experts), many mothers aim to continue breastfeeding once they're back at work. To some mothers, La Leche League's sunny assertions might feel like one more way they're required to be superwomen. Barring actually bringing your baby to work — which probably won't fly at most workplaces — pumping is the best option for keeping up breastfeeding while working. However, not all jobs are created equal in this regard. Studies suggest that a working mom's success at breastfeeding depends on her work environment and on the support of coworkers and employers. A New York Times article notes that there is a lactation class gap: overall, lower-income mothers have less control over their time and fewer resources at their disposal for lactation. If the idea of pumping at work doesn't appeal to you, many experts recommend creative solutions for keeping your baby breastfed longer, such as having your baby brought to work on your lunch break, or combining formula and breastfeeding.
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Breastfeeding.com
"This sheet provides information on how your baby can be fed when you are not with him. It is addressed in particular to the mother who is returning to paid work when the baby is about six months of age."
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La Leche League
"I went back to work three days a week when my son Augustin was five-and-a-half months old, still exclusively breastfed, and still nursing about every two hours. I was really determined to find a way to make pumping work: I didn't want my son to have formula just because I had to go back to work."
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Ask Dr. Sears
"Women have always worked and breastfed. The pioneer mother on the prairie had lots to do besides nurse her babies, and even modern mothers who are at home during the day struggle with the work of running busy households while responding to the needs of their infants. Combining working and breastfeeding is not really a new concept."
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Family Doctor
"Yes, it is possible to continue giving your child breast milk while you work. The easiest way to do this is to make a breastfeeding plan before you go back to work. This plan can help you deal with problems that could keep you from breastfeeding your baby."
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New York Times
"When a new mother returns to Starbucks' corporate headquarters in Seattle after maternity leave, she learns what is behind the doors mysteriously marked 'Lactation Room.' But if the mothers who staff the chain's counters want to do the same, they must barricade themselves in small restrooms intended for customers, counting the minutes left in their breaks."
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