Getting Into a Routine

One of the hardest parts about starting back to work is getting yourself into a new workable routine.  During my maternity leave with my second child, I nearly had panic attacks when I tried to figure out how I'd get a 2 year old, a baby and myself out the door in time (hubby left for work very early back then), but now I manage it with 3 kids in under an hour!

When it comes to pumping, storing milk, washing up and preparing the next day, I recommend figuring out a routine that works for you before your first day, work out any kinks, and then stick with it.  That way you'll be ready to go in the morning and less likely to find yourself at puming time missing something critical - like your bottle caps, or those darn little membranes that seem to disappear when you're not looking!

Here's what my schedule looks like - I've left out all of the herding of small children, schlepping of heavy bags, etc., that's also a part of my daily routine...

Arriving home after work:

1. Immediately place my pump and other bags on the end of the kitchen counter in a row, so I don't forget one the next day.
2. Remove milk from the pump's cooler bag and place in the fridge.
3. Place pump freezer pack  and cold pack from baby's diaper bag into the freezer.
4. Take apart and dump all of the baby's bottle parts into a tub of soapy water in the sink to soak.
5. Play with the kids and nurse the baby.

Time - 3 minutes

After kiddie bedtime:

1. Measure out milk into clean bottles for the next day.  Label with a sharpie and masking tape (per daycare regulations).  I have enough bottles for 2 days, but this isn't a necessity.
2. Wash all bottles and pump parts in hot, soapy water and allow to air dry overnight.

Time - 15 minutes

In the morning:

1. Pack up baby's bottles and a freezer pack into her diaper bag.
2. Assemble pump parts and place into pump bag.
3. Grab freezer pack from the freezer and put it into the pump bag.
4. Do a quick double check to make sure nothing was left behind on the counter!
5. Out the door to daycare drop off!
   Time - 2-3 minutes
   
    

Getting Started - Preparing to Return to Work

Whether you're still pregnant or nearing the end of your maternity leave, the thought of returning to work can fill even the most dedicated career woman with feelings of dread and anxiety. How will the baby adjust to daycare? Will my boss and coworkers still value me? Will I ever fit into my professional wardrobe? It can all be so overwhelming!


If you're worried about whether you will be able to continue breastfeeding your baby after your leave ends, the answer is Yes! Absolutely! The list below gives you a step by step guide you can follow to maximize your chances for success. As this site develops, look for articles devoted to each of these topics and much more!


Checklist: Preparing for Pumping

1. Learn as much as possible about breastfeeding your baby. See here and here for my top 2 favorite sources for research-based information.
2. Know the law. Certain federal and state laws protect the rights of breastfeeding mothers in the workplace.
3. Choose a pump. Consider your needs, budget, and product reviews.
4. Figure out where and when you will pump. Discuss your plans with your supervisor and/or human resources department.
5. Buy your accessories. Do you want to pump hands-free? Need an alternate power supply?
6. Set up your milk storage system - how will your milk bank work?
7. Practice setting up and using your pump.
8. Sterilize your collection bottles, horns, valves and baby bottles a few weeks before your due date.
9. Establish a solid breastfeeding relationship before you return to work! Whether you and baby are a match made in nursing heaven or need a bit of help from a good lactation consultant, this is the most important thing you can do to ensure you'll make your breastfeeding goals.
10. Review the guidelines for freezing, storing and thawing human milk. It's not nearly as fragile as you may think!
11. Start building your milk stockpile. Take advantage of that early over-supply to learn how to pump and begin building your frozen milk stash for a rainy day. However, be careful not to pump yourself into over-supply!
12. Introduce baby to the bottle. Most experts recommend waiting until breastfeeding is well established, and at least 2-3 weeks, to introduce baby to expressed milk.
13. Learn about the typical feeding patterns of exclusively breastfed babies receiving expressed milk by bottle. The average baby only needs about an ounce per hour while she's away from mom.
14. Review your feeding plan with your baby's care provider. Make sure they understand that your milk needs to be treated differently than formula and that it's not a biohazard!
15. Develop routines for the cleaning and prep of bottles and your pump.
16. Take a deep breath and head back out into the real world!