Most moms are daunted by approaching back-to-work date. How will they continue to nurse their little munchkin once they head back to the office? While pumping at work is absolutely doable, often mums find the thought overwhelming. Will you get the privacy? Will your boss understand your frequent breaks? Will your work interrupt your nursing routine? The list of questions is endless. But the good news is you can successfully pump milk on the job, with some good planning and communication.
Talk to your boss
You already know your date of rejoining; so don’t wait for maternity leaves to get over to have a proper conversation with your manager. It’s wise to let him or her know in advance your pumping plans. With the support of superiors, it becomes easy to manage regular break times, schedules, and rearrange meetings. Even you can openly discuss this delicate subject and ask for other support – like finding an appropriate space – you may need it.
Secure a space
Most mums feel awkward when talking about a space where they can pump without experiencing peeking glares. But it’s your right and you should know about it. Federal and state laws require employers to provide a reasonable amount of breaks and an appropriate space for new mothers to express breast milk on the job.
Schedule pumping sessions
Always schedule your time to express without interruption. If you work in a firm, consider blocking off the time on the company’s calendar to let others know that you’re unavailable at the present moment. For mothers who are not in an office situation, consider communicating with fellow employees about necessary breaks in a friendly way.
Put a reminder of supplies
Breast pumps aren’t self-cleaning, which means you have to carry your supplies every day at work, and then bring them back home with you. With so many supplies, it’s normal for a couple of things to slip through your mind. When you don’t want to be forgetful about your essentials, create a list, and put it on a reminder. This will help you to grab all gears before you head out the door.
Start preparing yourself to express milk at work before your maternity leaves come to an end. To prepare you, consider shopping in advance for supplies like breast pumps covered by Insurance and other supplies at Healthy Babies Happy Families.