Breastfeeding as it is can already be challenging for new moms. Likewise, keeping up with it while being a full-time employee can be challenging, but you can make it work! Here are our top breastfeeding tips for working moms.

The World Health Organization recommends that newborns be exclusively breastfed for their first six months. But mothers are encouraged to continue breastfeeding their little ones for at least a year. But the longer a child get breast milk, “the greater the protection from certain illnesses and long-term diseases,” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) explains.

Moreover, WHO Representative in the Philippines, Dr Rabi Abeyasinghe, says, “Exclusive breastfeeding protects against childhood diseases and death in infancy and childhood while improving the nutritional status of babies.”

He adds, “The protective effect of breastmilk is powerful against infectious diseases that are prevented through direct transfer of antibodies and other anti-infective factors.”

But what if you’re a mom with a busy career? How can a newborn reap the benefits of breastfeeding while the mom works full-time in the office? Believe it or not, while breastfeeding while working is challenging, it is very much possible!

5 Tips For Nursing Moms At Work

As all moms would know, breastfeeding is no walk in the park, even if you already need to return to on-site work. Here are five helpful tips that can make pumping at work more manageable for committed breastfeeding moms:

1. Introduce the bottle to your little one

Like you, your baby will also have to adapt as you return to work. Working moms’ common concern is that combining direct breastfeeding and bottle feeding can confuse the baby. But according to the pregnancy and baby blog site what to expect, “Most babies take to the bottle immediately and switch between bottle and breast without nipple confusion.”

Having your baby take your breastmilk through a bottle also doesn’t take away the special bond you created while directly breastfeeding. Besides, you’ll still have time to continue doing that in the evenings and at weekends.

You also must start training your partner or nanny to bottle-feed your baby to prepare the little one when you’re already away for work. Another tip is to take the time to “test drive a few different types of bottles before your little one gets the hang of it.”

2. Know your rights and inform your colleagues

As a breastfeeding and working mom, you need to know and impose your rights in the workplace. For example, in the Philippines, Republic Act No. 10028 or the Expanded Breastfeeding Promotion Act of 2009 mandates all companies and agencies to give breastfeeding moms at least 40 minutes of lactation breaks for every eight-hour work shift.

Workplaces must also provide lactation stations where moms can safely and privately express breastmilk.

With this law in place, there’s still the need to come up with an agreement between you, your boss, and your colleagues concerning your lactation breaks. It would also be beneficial to have your workmates understand your plight and journey as a breastfeeding mom.

3. Set up a schedule

Speaking of lactation breaks, one key to making breastfeeding easier at work is planning when you will express breastmilk.

“Don’t wait until your breasts get full before pumping. As a general guideline, you’ll need to pump the same number of times that you have been breastfeeding at home, or once for each feeding your baby has while you are apart,” according to the online breastfeeding resource, breastmilkcounts.com.

A breastfeeding session with your baby before work would also be helpful. In addition, below is a sample breastfeeding schedule from breastmilkcounts.com that you can use as a guide:

• 7 A.M. – Mom breastfeeds her baby just before heading to work.
• 10 A.M. – Mom pumps milk during a mid-morning break.
• 12:30 P.M. – Mom pumps milk during lunch.
• 3 P.M. – Mom pumps milk during the afternoon break.
• 5:30 P.M. – Mom breastfeeds her baby at home or in child care.

It’s also suggested that mamas invest in some breast pads in case of leakage between pumping sessions.

Get a 25% Discount on Mama’s Choice Breast Milk Collection Shells | ₱649 ₱489

Mama’s Choice Breast Milk Collection Shells is your new go-to product if you’re looking for breast pads. Not only does it prevent leakage, but it also ensures that every drop of your liquid gold is collected.

With this innovative breastfeeding product, you can move freely without the fear of leaking. Plus, you’re confident that every drop of your breast milk won’t go to waste. 

4. Know how to store pumped milk properly

Expressing breast milk at work is one thing. Storing it and ensuring it’s not spoiled upon arriving home is another.

Get a 31% Discount on Mama’s Choice Sling Cooler Bag | ₱1,379 ₱949

Instead of using the company refrigerator, it’s best to have an insulated bag filled with ice pack/s where you can store your expressed breast milk. If you’re looking for one, consider Mama’s Choice Sling Cooler Bag!

Make sure to label each container and put the time and date when the milk was pumped. When using stored milk to feed your baby, pick the milk pumped the earliest.

Here are guidelines from CDC that you should know when storing breastmilk:

Freshly expressed or pumped milk can be stored:

• At room temperature (77°F or colder) for up to 4 hours.
• In the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
• In the freezer for about six months is best; up to 12 months is acceptable.

5. Know how to clean your breast pump

Your breast pump is your most potent arsenal as a working-slash-nursing mom, so it’s among the top tips for breastfeeding moms to ensure it’s always clean and safe to use.

Here are some tips to keep your breast pump clean and help you and your baby from harmful germs:

• Make sure you have clean hands before placing all of the pump parts that have come into touch with the breast or breast milk in a basin rather than the sink, taking note that germs in the sink may contaminate the pump parts.
• Combine liquid soap and hot water in a mixing bowl.
• Scrub the parts with a cleaning brush according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Rinse it thoroughly under running water or in a separate basin filled with clean water.
• Allow the pump parts, brush, and basin to air dry on a clean cloth or paper towel. The towel should not be used to dry the pump parts since germs could be introduced to the pump.
• Only store the parts until they’ve completely dried.
• If your breast pump parts are dishwasher safe and your workplace has them, place the breast pump on the top rack of a dishwasher and put it on hot water and a heated drying cycle.

Pump with no worries at work with these essentials for working moms!

The physical challenges of breastfeeding at work can be overwhelming to new mamas. But balance can be achieved with the proper knowledge and tools.

Get a 21% Discount on Mama’s Choice Seamless Hands-Free Pumping Bra | ₱999 ₱789

Aside from a reliable and efficient breast pump, Mama’s Choice Seamless Hands-Free Pumping Bra can make your at-work breastfeeding experience more smooth sailing by giving you easy access when pumping.

It’s made of soft and comfortable material, and most importantly, its easy-access slits are designed to make pumping or to breastfeed less hassle.

Get a 21% Discount on Mama’s Choice Intensive Nipple Cream | ₱379 ₱299

Aside from a functional bra supporting breastfeeding moms, it’s no secret that new moms breastfeeding their babies can experience sore and cracked nipples. Mama’s Choice Intensive Nipple Cream addresses just that!

This nipple cream is made with entirely natural date palm extract and coconut oil, providing a soothing and hydrating effect to help relieve nipple pain naturally.

It’s also crafted to be as convenient as possible, making it perfect for every on-the-go working mom. Before nursing, there is no need to wash it off because it’s made with food-grade ingredients that will not harm your baby, even if they ingest or swallow the cream.

Find everything you need to succeed on your pumping journey while working at Mama’s Choice. Shop now!

Sources: whattoexpect.com, breatmilkcounts.com, CDC, Philippine Official Gazette

ALSO READ:
8 Breastfeeding Must Haves For the Working and Pumping Mom
17 Best Breastfeeding Tips and Tricks You Need To Know Now
Breast Milk Pumping Tips And Tricks For New Mamas

Mama's Choice Team

The Mama's Choice PH team is composed of three Mamas who are dedicated to spoiling their little ones with lots of cuddles, playtime and the occasional sweets, of course. <3