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There comes a time when a new mother may have to go back to work and resume her routine after giving birth, even if she is nursing. It is natural to worry about breastfeeding the baby when the maternity leave is over. What should a mother do? Dr Gazala Khan, consultant lactation at Motherhood Hospitals, Lullanagar, Pune says that moms should follow seven crucial breastfeeding tips when resuming work. Scroll down.
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It is essential to start preparing your baby to accept expressed breastmilk using a supplementary method of cup feeding, sipper feeding, or spoon feeding. According to the doctor, the training should be initiated by new moms after having a clear agenda of joining work two weeks earlier. Start pumping milk at least 3-4 times a day when you are at home with the baby.
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Keep in mind the fact that a normal working day is usually 6-to-8 hours long. The mother must express milk in 3-to-4-hour intervals in the workplace, where there is privacy.
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Dr Khan says that whenever a mother decides to resume work, she should have a reliable family member trained to feed the baby with expressed milk. Working moms should have a sterile area for storing milk, which needs to be kept under the proper temperature. Use bottle warmers or sterilisers to maintain the sterility of the expressed milk.
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If the baby is above six months, the expressed breastmilk can be added to their daily diet. If a mother is resuming work and her shift is 6-8 hours long, she must breast-feed the baby before leaving. Take 4-hour breaks at the workplace to express milk. Store it in a sterile condition and at room temperature for 4-6 hours. Mothers can use a glass jar or air-tight container to carry the milk home.
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Efficient night breastfeeding sessions can help the mother to keep up the surplus of her supply and manipulate the frequency of breast milk secretion, the doctor states.
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According to Dr Khan, extended breastfeeding allows the baby to have good developmental IQs. It helps reduce the risk of reproductive cancers in mothers. While it is difficult for many women to continue breastfeeding for up to two years or more, expressing their milk can help. There is no need to rush into weaning the baby. Breast milk can continue being the first source of nutrition for the baby in later life.
