8 tips for pumping breast milk at work

CARIBBEAN Cement Company Limited is the latest organisation to announce that it has implemented a lactation room for breastfeeding mothers so they can express milk away from the intrusion of other employees and the public.

This addition is in keeping with practices worldwide as part of a thrust by mom-friendly companies for greater diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

The lactation room was introduced to coincide with World Breastfeeding Week, which was observed between August 1 and 7 by some 120 countries, and was aimed at bringing awareness to the roles people have in protecting, promoting, and supporting breastfeeding.

The World Health Organization recommends that mothers breastfeed exclusively for the first six months of their babies’ lives, but what happens when you have to return to work after your 12-week maternity leave?

Many organisations in both the public and private sector have introduced lactation rooms to provide a safe space for mothers to pump, but what if yours does not?

Here are some tips for pumping at work, in less than ideal conditions, from lactation specialist and nurse Irene McLean.

Find a private space

If your company does not provide a private space where you can pump, create your own little nook for this purpose. It can be anywhere, even your car. Find a space so you can relax and let the milk flow. Afterwards, store the bottles in a fridge, if you have access.

Make-do

If you don’t have access to a fridge, travel with a cooler packed with ice. A small cooler will do just fine, and once packed with ice will provide adequate storage protection for the duration of your workday.

Try to express before work

As much as possible try to express and store breast milk in preparation for each day. This means getting up earlier and pumping before you leave out. Of course, you may also need to pump again during the day, but early pumping gives you a longer stretch between that and the next pump session.

Expect stress, but don’t bend

Once you’re back at work it’s expected that your milk production may decrease for multiple reasons. These will include increased stress levels which may affect the release of hormones — especially oxytocin — responsible for milk production. But it’s important to keep your stress levels as low as possible so your supply is not affected too much.

Talk to your boss

Sometimes education is all that’s needed for those who supervise you to understand how healthy and recommended baby-friendly spaces in the workplace may lead to better work conditions. Once you explain the importance of that space and of pumping, your boss’s opinion may change.

Mark your calendar

Your day will be stress-filled, but it’s important to remember to pump. Mark the sessions on your calendar and set your alarm so you will take the time needed to go pump.

Invest in a hands-free pump

The hands-free, double electric breast pump allows you to fit the pump directly in your bra for discreet pumping, which you can do while you work. Made for multitasking moms, these pumps are for those women who don’t have a lot of time to sit around pumping. And the good thing is you will not need a dedicated space to pump — just a sanitary place to empty the pump into bags or bottles and then store the milk.

Feed the baby as soon as you get home

Feeding the baby well and continuously once you get home will encourage ongoing milk production. Do this on weekends and your days off, too, so your supply doesn’t dwindle.