Breastfeeding and Work: When The Two Worlds Collide And The Need Outweighs The Comfort

Most everyone knows that breastfeeding is beneficial to an infant. But the extent to which breast milk affects a child's well-being is amazing.

Studies have proven that breast milk helps reduce the incidence of ear and respiratory infections, intestinal disease, pneumonia, meningitis, Crohn's disease, colitis, diabetes, childhood cancers, allergies, constipation, urinary tract infections, tooth decay and obesity, to name a few.

And it is not only the child who benefits from the breast milk. Studies over the past ten years have shown that breastfeeding has reduced the occurrence of the following illnesses in women: breast cancer, diabetes, infertility, ovarian and endometrial cancers, osteoporosis and rheumatoid arthritis.

So, it is clear why one of the toughest challenges for some breastfeeding moms is returning to work while continuing to offer their babies the best nutrition available. Finding ample time and a comfortable place to either nurse your baby or pump breast milk during the workday can be difficult. However, as more and more employers realize the benefits of supporting breastfeeding moms, including reduced absenteeism, reduced healthcare costs and happier employers, more breastfeeding moms are finding it easier to return to work.

We've all heard the negative comments. It's gross, it's time-consuming, you're already playing super-mom by doing double duty, and formula is easier. And who wants to approach her boss with a topic that has the word "breast" in it? Society doesn't make it easy for moms to continue to breastfeed while working. Co-workers may think you're nuts, or resent the time you take to pump, although they happily sneak out for a smoke break.

During the first weeks of your baby's life, when you are on maternity leave and blissfully nursing your newborn, you may be grappling with whether you can continue this breastfeeding relationship, or if you should simply formula feed. Especially if you've had a difficult time getting nursing established, it can be a blow to think of giving it up. However, with some creativity, a decent pump and a good support system, it can be done.

For many families today, it's either financially necessary for the woman to return to work, or her career is what defines her. Job sharing and flexible hours may not be possible in certain lines of work but something must be done in order to provide a lactating mother the ability to let down and get the milk to her baby who could be miles away at daycare.

If a baby is in a traditional daycare situation -- either a daycare center or a family daycare, mothers are going to be pumping during the workday to provide milk for the baby, and to prevent the mother from getting engorged. The first thing to do is to invest in a decent pump. Though good pumps are expensive, they are worth the investment. The cheaper models are not efficient at expressing the milk, and many moms find that they cause discomfort such as raw skin, chaffing and even bleeding and sometimes eventual tissue damage. For part-time nursing, a single manual pump or battery/electric will easily do the trick, but for full-time pumping, it is best to look into a double electric pump. Not only is it more effective, but also it saves time, since a mother can pump both breasts at the same time.

Some working moms may be able to find childcare near their workplace, or find a flexible sitter who can bring the baby in at lunchtime to nurse. If a mother is careful not to work too many hours without pumping, she may be able to nurse before and after work, and at lunch, with minimal pumping during the workday. At first, most moms find that they need to pump at least once for their own comfort, and those extra bottles might come in handy for times when the baby needs a little extra at the sitter's.

It's also a good idea to pump for the first few months in order to keep the supply up. If the supply seems to dwindle with the pump, mothers must remember that a baby is more efficient than a pump, and how much a mother expresses isn't an accurate representation of how much the baby gets while nursing.

If an employer is not terribly supportive of the idea of taking time out to pump, try to be flexible. Mothers can break up their lunch hour into pumping sessions, or offer to work off the time spent pumping at the end of the day. It is has been shown that women who pump at work are actually more productive. Some mothers have even written up a proposal for a lactation room if their company doesn't have one.

Working and breastfeeding is most challenging for the first six months or so. Once the baby starts solids, it is easier for a mother to cut back on the frequency of pumping, and she is less likely to become full and uncomfortable during the workday. Having a positive attitude about maintaining a breastfeeding relationship with the baby will go a long way toward seeing it succeed.

Working moms give 100% of themselves and more. Returning to work and continuing to breastfeed can seem like a huge obstacle, but it is not just about doing the best thing for you and your baby -- it is a wonderful part of your relationship with your child. Picking up your baby and nursing him when you walk in the door after a long day at work creates instant gratification. You are forced to get off your feet and spend quality time with your baby, and your baby is able to immediately reconnect with you after the day's separation. Pumping during the day gives you a chance to do something special for your child and to spend some time focusing on family during the hectic work schedule.