Most Canadian mothers are eligible for up to 18 months with our babies while our jobs are held for us. For some, though, finances or personal choices dictate an earlier return to work?and you may wonder if it is possible to continue breastfeeding after returning to work.
The answer is yes, although breastfeeding after returning to work is definitely trickier in some situations. Read on for tips on how to make it work for you and your baby.
1. Assess your breastfeeding status
If your baby is just a few weeks old and you must return to work, you may feel breastfeeding is not yet well established. This is the most challenging age to continue breastfeeding after returning to work. You?ll probably need to pump at least twice while you?re at work, and possibly three or four times during the day to keep up your milk supply. If breastfeeding is well established, but your baby hasn?t yet started on solids, you will also need to pump to provide milk for your baby while you are separated. 2. Don?t get ready to go back to work too early
Your focus should be on getting breastfeeding well established, so you have a solid milk supply and a baby who nurses effectively. There?s no need to, for example, introduce a bottle at two weeks because you are planning to return to work at six months. A couple weeks before your return to the job is usually plenty of time to begin helping your baby to get ready. If your older baby has always nursed to sleep, naptimes may be your biggest worry. You may...