Working mothers breastfeed
Release time : 03/06/2025 09:30:02
Working mothers return to work after taking maternity leave. In order to continue breastfeeding, I carry a complete set of milking tools to work.
Using the break time to store breast milk and carry it back home for the next day's feeding.
Maternity milk is not merely a food, but carries the love and care of the mother.
Working moms face many challenges, but for the sake of their baby's healthy growth, they are willing to overcome everything. This is the 37°C of motherly love.
Working moms, the breastfeeding period for babies aged 4 to 6 months is a critical stage of their growth and development. The quality of nutrition directly impacts their future intelligence and physical development.
If the mother's breast milk is abundant, she should still insist on full breastfeeding.
However, many working mothers need to return to work during this period. How to breastfeed their babies has become the most troublesome issue for them.
If you are returning to work during breastfeeding, it is inevitable. So, in the 1-2 weeks before your maternity leave ends, you need to adjust your baby's sleep pattern and breastfeeding schedule so that he can adapt to it.
If the workplace is close to home, one can feed the baby before work, once during lunch break, and again after work, plus several times at night, basically fulfilling the baby's needs.
If you live far from home, you need to pump milk and store it in advance for your family or a nanny to feed you one or two times a day when you get back home at night.
To be a working mom and breastfeed, you must first learn how to express milk.
Some mothers prefer to express milk with their own hands, while others choose a breast pump.
Both methods are feasible, and mothers can choose the one they find most convenient to use.
If you are using your hands to express milk, wash your hands thoroughly and prepare a container that has been sterilized.
Next, place your thumb over the areola (the dark area of the breast), and the other four fingers hold the entire breast underneath, and then squeeze gently to let the milk flow into the container.
When the breast milk is not flowing, relax for a moment and then gently squeeze.
Then, after the rhythmic squeeze and release for three to five minutes on each side, switch sides and do the same for another three to five minutes.
Alternate in this way to squeeze out milk from both breasts.
When squeezing, your fingers should not slide to avoid constant friction on the breast, which could cause skin injury.
If you choose to pump milk with a breast pump, make sure to clean it properly in advance.
Then follow the instructions on the breast pump.
Mom can start practicing about two weeks before work, and then feed the baby with the milk from the bottle.
Let the baby get used to sucking milk from a bottle.
After work, mom should make sure to pump every 3 hours.
This approach not only effectively prevents engorgement but also ensures a good supply of breast milk, allowing for the continued successful breastfeeding.
How to Store Breast Milk for Working Moms: 1. Room Temperature Storage of Colostrum: 27-32°C, can be stored for 12 hours.
Mature breast milk: It can be stored at 15℃ for up to 24 hours.
19-22°C can be preserved for 10 hours.
It can be stored for 6 hours at 25°C.
2. Store refrigerated at 0-4℃ for 8 days. Do not put it on the refrigerator door. Put it in as much as possible.
3. Freezing: For frequent opening and closing of the freezer door to retrieve items, the preservation period is 3-4 months.
The deep freezer, which can keep for up to 6 months.
4. Thawing Method: It is recommended to thew in the refrigerator, or use cold water to quickly thew the bag before adding hot water gradually until it reaches the feeding temperature. Avoid directly heating with a stove as this can destroy nutrients.
Frozen breast milk cannot be re-frozen.
When storing breast milk in a freezer, it may separate into layers, which is normal and should be blended before use.
Where can working moms get milk? Most workplaces do not provide a designated space for expressing breast milk. Therefore, mothers who join the "breastfeeding back" group must find a private location to express their milk.
Having a private office is certainly a great option, but for many working mothers, they don't have such a private space to use. Thus, mothers will opt for the bathroom instead.
That's not a good solution.
The bathroom lacks concealment and is not sanitary.
At that moment, mother should look around the whole company, locked meeting room, not often used storage room obviously better than bathroom.
The milk that is expressed must be stored to ensure that the baby gets enough breast milk.
If the unit lacks refrigeration equipment, mother can prepare a mini fridge to temporarily store. When you get home, quickly let the baby eat or put it in the fridge for ice storage.
Nursing Moms' Essentials for Breastfeeding: 1. Breast Pump: A breast pump is an indispensable item for working moms, especially when the baby cannot suckle directly or if the mother's nipple becomes problematic. There are both electric and manual types of breast pumps.
Additionally, breast milk may flow from both sides simultaneously; therefore, it is also prepared to be used concurrently in both sides and separately on either side.
2. Breast Pads: When you're working or meeting clients, it can be embarrassing when your clothes get wet from breast milk. Breast pads are a must-have for working moms.
It has a soft and dry inner lining that keeps the skin dry; an ultra-absorbent core that can absorb excess breast milk and secure it inside; and a breathable waterproof layer providing strong protection, ensuring the clothes are dry and stay cool for a long time.
Additionally, there are also single-sheet packaging options, which make it convenient to carry around at work.
3. Breastmilk Warmer: If your company doesn't have a refrigerator, this product is also an essential one for you to have. Its usage method is as follows: (1) Place the ice box inside the refrigerator and freeze it for over 4 hours before taking it out as the refrigerant medium.
(2) Fill the bottle with breast milk, replace the cap with a sealed bottle and place it in an ice pack to store for one day. It is convenient to carry.
(3) If the breast milk stored in the ice bag exceeds 10 hours, if it needs to be continued for storage, it should be considered to be moved to the refrigerator for cold storage.
4. Breast Milk Storage Bag: After collecting breast milk in a sterile state into a breast milk bag and sealing it, it can be stored for later use.
Wipe away any remaining moisture from the breast milk bags, then wrap each bag in plastic wrap or a freezer bag and place them in the freezer for quick freezing.
The outer bag is heat-resistant up to 120°C, the inner bag is heat-resistant up to 90°C, and the whole bag is freeze-resistant down to -85°C. Mom can safely use it.
Mom must not use inexpensive freezer bags to store breast milk, in order to prevent contamination of the breast milk.
The medical part covered in this article is for reading and reference only.
In cases of discomfort, it is recommended to seek medical attention immediately. The diagnosis and treatment should be based on the clinical examination conducted by a doctor in person.