There are times when mothers are not available but need to feed their babies or newborns and this can happen at any stage of the breastfeeding journey, whether it is in the early stages where the baby is only a few days old. Or at a later stage where the child is 12 months or older. At any age, mothers need to express their milk to maintain their supply as well as provide milk for the baby in case the baby stops nursing.
In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Anuradha Khurana, OBGY consultant at Daffodils by Artemis in New Delhi, said, “Spending time away from the baby can be challenging and even necessary, especially for working mothers. As a mother, the bond between you and your baby is absolutely priceless and breastfeeding is an important part of that bond. However, striking a balance between the demands of work and life sometimes becomes difficult which leads to the need for a period of isolation. Balancing work commitments with breastfeeding can be quite challenging, so requires careful planning and consideration.
Khyati Chaudhary, Founder, MyBirthSquad, said, “The idea of going back to work after six months and not being able to be at home with the baby can make you emotional and will make you reconsider your decision to resume work . But with the right approach you can happily do justice to both the roles. Thank you to the Government of India for giving the Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act 2017 to enable women to take care of the baby and continue breastfeeding for the first 3-6 months of life. New mothers who are committed to continuing their breastfeeding journey and are career-oriented can balance breastfeeding and work. They can do this without the guilt of not being able to breastfeed the child.
How should breast milk be expressed?
Dr. Anuradha Khurana suggests, “For starters, breast milk can be expressed through a very common technique called pumping. It is important to invest in a high-quality breast pump for efficient milk expression. The timing of pumping sessions should be as per the baby’s feeding schedule as possible. Ideally, pumping every 3-4 hours helps maintain milk supply and prevent engorgement. Finding a private and comfortable place to pump, perhaps in the workplace or in a designated breastfeeding room, allows for a stress-free pumping experience. For working mothers who want to ensure consistent breastfeeding, creating a routine is essential. It is recommended to start pumping a few weeks before returning to work. Doing this helps build a reservoir of stored milk, providing a buffer for early infection. You can also integrate pumping sessions into the workday, perhaps during breaks or lunch. “This helps maintain regular milk flow.”
Stating that continuity is important to maintain milk supply, she said, “Maintaining a healthy lifestyle further helps breastfeeding efforts. Keep yourself hydrated by drinking plenty of water, eating a balanced diet and getting enough rest. All this contributes to adequate milk production. Stress can have a negative impact on milk supply, so it’s important to find ways to manage stress, such as practicing mindfulness or taking brief breaks. Communication with employers is also important. Discussing your breastfeeding needs openly and requesting a supportive environment can make the return to work easier. Companies that provide breastfeeding support, including flexible break times and private space for pumping, can make a significant contribution to making things easier for working moms.
To maintain a healthy milk supply, she recommended, “Mothers should breastfeed on a regular schedule, even on weekends and holidays. The principle of supply and demand applies here; Pumping frequently signals the body to produce more milk. Experimenting with different pumping techniques, such as massage or different suction levels, can help extract more milk efficiently. By investing in a good breast pump, creating a routine, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, asking for breastfeeding support at work, and making consistent pumping a priority, working moms successfully balance their professional commitments while providing the benefits of breast milk to their babies. Can do. It’s quite a tough journey, but with determination and implementing the right strategies, mothers can strengthen their bond with their baby and maintain an abundant milk supply even amidst a busy work schedule.
Bringing in his expertise, Khyati Choudhary offers some tips for a smooth transition –
- Start breast pumping a month before you go back to work and start stocking up on a few items in your fridge.
- If you live nearby, ask your employer to allow you to work fewer hours or allow you to visit your child between jobs.
- If there is a crèche facility available in the office premises, avail it and breastfeed the child during working hours.
- Read milk storage guidelines.
- A compact, convenient electric breast pump that can be taken with you to the office in a bag will make the process easier, faster and more efficient.
- Plan ahead and hire a nanny to take care of your child or help if family members are not available. Expressed or pumped breast milk can be given to the baby by the caregiver/nanny in your absence.
- Make sure your employer knows about your pumping schedule in advance and gives you breaks in between work to pump and also provides a clean and hygienic place for pumping. Also check for availability of a refrigerator to store expressed breast milk.
- You can breastfeed your baby in the morning and then pump before leaving for work.
- After returning, breastfeed the baby first and continue breastfeeding at night to maintain your breast milk supply.
- Maintain your diet and health and keep taking supplements.
Rogayeh Byazi, lactation consultant at Cloudnine Group of Hospitals in Pune, shared –
- Some mothers are comfortable expressing by hand But it mostly depends on how often they plan to express milk. There are different types of breast pumps available in the market that can be used to express breast milk and every mother can choose different types according to her condition.
- massage and hot fomentation, if possible, but not mandatory. Manually massaging and pressing the breasts may help to empty them. Research has shown that looking at a picture or video of a baby while pumping can be helpful in getting more milk expressed because it reminds you of the baby. Even baby smells like bits of clothing can help trigger the let-down reflex and good milk ejection.
- manual breast pump This is the best option for occasional pumping and is cheaper than an electric pump, but it takes more work to operate and is not a suitable option for every woman.
- electric breast pump This is another option that is available in the market in many models and from different companies but the functionality is the same. They are smaller in size and require less physical effort to express milk and most can be plugged in or battery operated. This type of pump is a good option for women who want to pump regularly and more often because it takes less time than a manual pump and can save the mother time. Therefore, it is essential to select the right pump before you start pumping. Mothers can easily carry it to the workplace. The size of the flange or shield must be chosen correctly to prevent nipple injury and it needs to cover the entire nipple and areola. Consulting a lactation consultant can help you choose the right size for your nipple size as most pumps come with different flange sizes. Moreover, mothers need the support of society and family and the right place with good privacy to be successful in this process, which will be beneficial for the baby as well as the mother.
When does breast milk need to be expressed?
Roghayeh Bayazi replied, “There are many reasons for a mother to stay away from her child for a particular period of time. One reason for this could also be returning to job after maternity leave. In this situation, it is advisable that a few weeks before returning to work, start training the child as well as yourself to get comfortable with the new situation. The baby needs to learn to express breast milk using cups and spoons etc. and it would be better if the mother practices expressing and storing the milk. However, depending on each mother’s condition and how long she will be away from her baby, the frequency of milk expression will vary.
Where does breast milk need to be expressed?
Roghayeh Bayazi highlighted, “First of all, by law, employers are required to provide breastfeeding employees with a reasonable area to pump their milk and they need to consider a reasonable time to do so. Mostly, mothers have to feed every 2-3 hours for better results to increase milk secretion and prevent milk engorgement. Secondly, it may take some time for a mother to get used to the new situation and try to maintain her milk supply without her baby being around. Therefore, they need emotional support without work pressure.
He further added, “Hand hygiene and sterilization are important parts of pumping because if not followed properly, it can cause contamination in the expressed milk. Therefore, facilities should have clean space to disinfect all parts of the pump and all parts used to store milk before milking begins. Expressed milk can last for 4-6 hours at room temperature and up to 24 hours in the refrigerator, but it must be an airtight container. Finally, every mother needs to select the right pump with the right size for pumping and ensure that the expressed breast milk is stored in a correct and hygienic manner. If employers are not providing facilities for lactating mothers then mothers have the right to demand the same from the supervisor.
Remember the key is to go with the flow. Gradually your body will understand and adjust to the baby’s demands. This phase is new for you as well as your baby. Both of you will learn, adjust, and create memories together.
