Working Without Weaning
Going back to work doesn't have to mean giving up nursing. Here are some options:
| Part-time breast-feeding | Pumping | On-the-job nursing | |
| Works if: | You're prepared for a little discomfort while your milk supply adjusts to meet your baby's demands.
You don't mind giving formula to your baby when you're away. Your baby will happily switch between breast and a bottle. |
You rent or buy a high-quality pump so you can express milk efficiently.
You have a private office or access to a "lactation room." You have access to a refrigerator. Your baby will drink from a bottle as well as from the breast. |
Your baby is in a day-care center at or near your office.
You live close enough to work so that you can run home several times a day. You have a caregiver who can bring the baby to your office for feedings. |
| Pros: | Does not interfere at all with work time. You can enjoy the "bonding" of breast-feeding without any demands during the day. |
Your baby gets the full health benefits of a breast-milk-only diet. You can limit the frequency of pumping during the day by expressing extra milk at home. | No special equipment necessary. Your baby has special time during the day to bond with Mom, plus all the nursing benefits. |
| Challenges: | Some babies move into a reverse feeding pattern and limit their nutritional intake during the day, so you need to get up more often at night to breast-feed. | You need to have a place where you can relax enough to express milk. This isn't something you'll want to do in a ladies' room stall. |
The key is having a job with some flexibility so you can make up for time lost, as well as the full support of your employer or manager. |
SAVE EVEN MORE! Say “Yes” to Ladies' Home Journal® Magazine today and get a second year for HALF PRICE - 2 full years (20 issues) for just $15. You also get our new Ladies' Home Journal® Family Favorites Cookbook ABSOLUTELY FREE!
Latest updates from @LHJmagazine
Follow LHJ on Twitter