Breastfeeding and Working
Continuing to breastfeed after you return to work or school can be challenging, but with good support and information, it's an accomplishment you can be proud of! The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends breastfeeding for a full year and exclusive breastfeeding for about six months. In addition to meeting these goals, expressing milk for your baby during your workday provides many benefits to you and your baby, including:
- Provide your baby with the best possible nutrition
- Experience the special bond of breastfeeding even when you need to be apart
- Protect your baby against common diseases - especially important if your child is in a daycare center!
- Protect your child against diabetes, allergies, and asthma later in life
- Provide the best start for a lifetime of good health for your baby
- Protect yourself against breast cancer and diabetes
The following handouts provide much more information for getting started back to work, expressing milk for your baby, and choosing a breastfeeding-friendly child care provider.
- Your Breastfed Baby in the Child Care Setting - contains information on choosing a child care provider, helping your baby adjust to time away from you, and hints for your provider to make your baby feel more comfortable.
- Pumps and Milk Supply - options for how to feed your baby, tips for choosing a pump, pumping effectively, starting bottles, and dealing with common breastfeeding concerns after you return to work.
- Letter to your employer - A letter that your baby's doctor can sign, stating their recommendation that you continue to provide breastmilk for your baby after you return to work.
More Information
- For Child Care Providers - Handouts you can bring to your child care provider, with information about how they can best support your choice to continue breastfeeding.
- For Employers - Information for employers on the benefits of being breastfeeding friendly, guidelines for establishing lactation support, and an application for the State of Vermont recognition as breastfeeding-friendly
Links
- Breastfeeding for Working Mothers at workandpump.com
- Pumping and Bottle-Feeding information at kellymom.com
- A list of Internet Resources for Working and Pumping moms