Going Back to Work or School

IF POSSIBLE, TAKE AS MUCH TIME OFF AS YOU CAN BEFORE RETURNING TO WORK OR SCHOOL.

At least six weeks of leave can help you recover from childbirth and settle into a routine.

Going back to work or school can make you happy, sad, or both. All feelings are normal. You may have lots of questions about how you will keep breastfeeding. Being prepared will help ease your mind.

Tips for Talking With Your Employer or School Advisor

Plan first – and come prepared with answers. Questions to ask yourself:

Schedule a time to talk:

Discuss different types of schedules such as:

Explain Your Needs to Your Employer/School:

Help your employer/school understand your needs, such as:

Time to express milk at regular intervals throughout the day. You will need to express milk during the times you would normally feed your baby. In the first few months of life, babies need to breastfeed often. This means during a typical eight-hour work period you may need to pump about two or three times. Expressing milk can take about 10 to 15 minutes. Sometimes it may take longer. Many women use their regular breaks and lunch break to pump.
A private space to pump that is not a bathroom

Work with your boss or school advisor to find a private place to express your milk. You may be able to use an office with a door, conference room, or classroom. The area should be private and secure when in use and must have an electrical outlet if you are using an electric breast pump.
Explain to your employer/school why it’s best not to express milk in a restroom.
Restrooms are dirty, and don’t usually have electrical outlets.
It can also be difficult to manage a pump in a toilet stall.

KEEP IN MIND THAT RETURNING TO WORK OR SCHOOL GRADUALLY GIVES YOU MORE TIME TO ADJUST.

Let them know you won’t take time beyond what you need. Whether your time spent expressing milk is paid or unpaid, you can offer to make it up if you are able to or do some tasks while pumping after you get set up. And when it comes to finding a place to pump, offer creative solutions, such as offices, areas that can be blocked off, storage closets or even your car with window coverings. It is key that you are comfortable when you express your milk.

Workplace Support

Breastfeeding mothers need all the support they can get as they go back to work. Click below to download a free Returning to Work Plan. Ask WIC breastfeeding staff to help you fill out this sheet so you can take it to your employer.

Preparing for Childcare

Having some stored milk started 1-2 weeks before you go back to work or school can help reduce stress while adjusting to your new routine.
Write your baby's name, the date, and the amount of expressed milk on each storage bag.
Have your baby get used to someone else feeding them from a bottle before their first time they are away from you.

Talk with your childcare provider. It is important to find a childcare provider that supports breastfeeding and will feed your baby stored breast milk while you are at work.

Tell them if you want your baby to only have breast milk.
Review your baby's feeding cues with them and encourage them to feed on demand.
Ask them to write down how much your baby eats at each feeding and to contact you when they are running low on breast milk.
Have them keep track of the number of wet and poopy diapers.
Teach them how to store and thaw breast milk. Encourage them to keep your breast milk frozen until it is needed.
Your local WIC office can review good bottle feeding techniques with you at your WIC appointment.