Ready to return to work but not ready to stop breastfeeding? Our guide will help you make the transition.
It’s up to you when you decide to stop breastfeeding and returning to work shouldn’t mean you have to stop. In fact plenty of mums continue to breastfeed when they return to work. Depending on your baby’s age and your plans for childcare, you can usually find ways to continue breastfeeding if that’s what you want to do.
Here are a few suggestions:
Childcare Close to Work
If possible arrange childcare that’s close to your workplace. Whoever is looking after your baby could bring the baby in for a feed during your working day. Or you could pop back home for feeds during your breaks. While there’s no legal right for your employer to provide breastfeeding breaks at work, you might be able to come to your own arrangement with your employer if you discuss it with them in advance. If you can make this option work then great, but for many parents it’s not the easiest or most sustainable option.
Breast Pump
Alternatively, you could use a breast pump to express milk so you have a ready supply on hand at home for your baby to be given your breast milk while you’re out. If you’re expressing milk make sure you label and date your expressed breast milk before putting it in the fridge (or freezer) so your caregiver will know which one to use first. Always store breast milk in a sterilised container (or in special breast milk storage bags) in the fridge and it’s advised* that you only keep it for up to 5 days at 4 degrees C or lower. If your fridge temp is higher than 4 degrees C, use it within 3 days.
If you choose this option, you’ll probably need to continue to express milk through the working day, to keep up your milk supply. You should be free to express at work and can request that your employer provides you with a suitable private space where you can do this. There’s no legal obligation for your employer to provide this space however guidelines recommend they provide some access to a private, clean and comfortable room with a lockable door (not a toilet!) where you’re able to express. Also remember to check whether you have use of a fridge to store your breast milk.
Combination Feeding
You might decide that you want to start combination feeding – this would mean instead of feeding breast milk exclusively you would supplement your own milk with an appropriate milk formula. If you’re going to start combi-feeding or feeding your baby expressed milk, allow extra time for your little one to adjust to feeding from a bottle. Some babies take a while to adapt so you don’t want to leave it to the last minute.
Change your Hours
Depending on how flexible your workplace is you could change your hours to suit your breastfeeding schedule. You could return part-time or flexi-hours or WFH, to suit your feeding routine. Discuss different options with your employer.
Your legal rights around breastfeeding at work
Before returning to work, it helps to let your employer know that you’re breastfeeding. Employers are legally required to provide a space for mums who are breastfeeding to rest if they need to. They also have certain obligations to employees who breastfeed under health and safety law and discrimination law. So for example your employer must make sure you don't feel unfairly treated because you are breastfeeding. And they must not stop you returning to work because you’re breastfeeding.
Plan in advance….
Think about it early - before you go back to work – and let your employer know (in writing) that you plan to continue breastfeeding. If you have an HR department, you might want to consult them. This will give them plenty of time to make any necessary preparations, such as finding you a private room where you can breastfeed or express. If you’re feeling nervous, chat to other breastfeeding mums who’ve already returned to work and ask them for advice.
…but stay flexible to changes
However you decide to make your return to work, only do what you feel comfortable with. And remember breastfeeding is a journey, so what works for you now might not work in the long term. Allow some flexibility and don’t be too hard on yourself if you don’t feel like it’s going to plan straight away. You’re doing an amazing job and you should be proud of yourself.
*NHS guidance
