Returning to Work

Returning to work after having a baby can be a tender and emotional time, often filled with both excitement and uncertainty. A gentle transition can ease the shift. If possible, a mid-week start or taking a mid-week day (like Wednesday) off can give you and your baby time to rest and reconnect. 

On your days off, prioritizing napping and nursing together can help sustain your bond. We recommend pumping about every 3 hours while at work to support your milk supply and protect the breastfeeding relationship you have nurtured with your baby.

At CLS, we are your supportive partner, helping you transition back to work in practical, compassionate, and empowering ways. Our experienced lactation consultants can help you create a customized return-to-work plan that fits your schedule, workplace setup, and feeding goals.

Returning to work doesn’t mean you have to end your breastfeeding journey. In fact, continuing to breastfeed after returning to work can offer lasting benefits for both you and your baby.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, followed by continued breastfeeding until two years of age or longer, alongside the introduction of solid foods. The longer breastfeeding continues, the greater the lifelong health benefits for both you and your baby.

For mothers, breastfeeding has been shown to reduce the risk of osteoporosis, diabetes, breast cancer, and ovarian cancer. It can also help support postpartum weight loss in many women. Every feeding session continues to contribute to your long-term health. It is also a great way to reconnect with your baby.

For your baby, the benefits of breastfeeding extend well beyond infancy. Breast milk provides essential nutrients and immune-protective factors, including antibodies, enzymes, and white blood cells, to your growing baby. This means fewer days missed from work being home with a sick baby.

At CLS, we understand that balancing work and breastfeeding requires planning and support. We can help you navigate this transition with confidence so you can continue feeding your baby when returning to work.

Returning to work while continuing to breastfeed is a meaningful choice, but it also comes with some practical challenges. We help you create a pumping plan that keeps your milk production aligned with your baby’s needs while also adjusting for your unique work schedule.

• Managing milk supply while away from the baby: It's natural to worry about maintaining your supply when you and your baby are apart. You can manage your supply by pumping about every 3 hours while at work or away from your baby. 
• Finding time and space to pump at work: Every workplace is different. We can help you with the current State and local laws that protect your right to pump as well as help you strategize conversations with your employer, organize efficient pumping sessions, and maximize your milk production.
• Transitioning your baby to bottles or other feeding methods: Introducing a bottle or other feeding method can require some planning. We will guide you through the ideal timing, bottle feeding techniques, and tips to help your baby while protecting your breastfeeding relationship.
• Handling emotional challenges: Balancing work, breastfeeding, and motherhood can feel overwhelming at times. We provide not just practical solutions, but also emotional support, reminding you that every step you take is an act of love and strength.

With thoughtful planning, support from loved ones and your workplace, and expert guidance from our lactation experts, you can successfully continue breastfeeding while working outside the home. 

At CLS, our compassionate team will work with you to create a personalized plan that honors your feeding goals and adapts to your work schedule. 

Here’s how we help you prepare:

• Build a Strong Foundation: In the first 4 weeks after birth, we encourage holding your baby skin-to-skin and breastfeeding on demand. This early period is essential for helping your body establish milk production and supporting your baby in learning to latch effectively.
• Ease into Pumping: If breastfeeding is going well, we typically recommend introducing one pumping session per day after a feeding starting around 4 weeks postpartum. This gently signals your body to begin storing milk without disrupting your feeding rhythm.
• Establish a Routine: Starting a daily pumping habit about 3 to 4  weeks before returning to work can help build a freezer stash and prepare your body to meet your baby’s needs during times of separation.
• Plan for Bottle (or Cup) Feeding: Once a supply has been stored, we can guide you through introducing a bottle in a way that supports continued breastfeeding. For older babies (around 6 months or more), transitioning directly to a sippy cup may be an option.
• Set Realistic Goals: Our lactation consultant will help you determine how much milk to have stored, how to create a workday pumping schedule, and how to communicate your needs to your employer.

With preparation and ongoing support, you can return to work feeling confident in your ability to nourish your baby and maintain a strong breastfeeding relationship. We also offer CLS Ships service to help you continue providing breast milk for your baby, even when you're away for work. With this service, you can quickly and safely ship your milk home.

Establishing a pumping routine as you prepare to return to work can help you meet your breastfeeding goals. At CLS, we help you create a routine that protects your milk supply, supports your baby’s needs, and fits your unique schedule.

Here’s how we help you build a sustainable routine:

• Understand your baby’s daily intake needs: On average, exclusively breastfed babies consume about 25–30 oz of milk per day from around 2 to 6 months of age. This amount tends to stay consistent, even as your baby grows.
• Calculate how much milk to store while you’re away: Your baby’s daily intake can be divided by the number of total feedings to determine how much milk they’ll need during your workday. For example: If your baby nurses 7 times per day and you’ll be home to breastfeed 4 of those times, they may need three bottles while you’re at work — each about 4 oz. We’ll walk you through these calculations step-by-step.
• Establish a daily pumping habit before returning to work: Once breastfeeding is well established (usually around 4 weeks), we recommend adding one daily pumping session, often after a morning feeding, to start building a freezer stash. 
• Use timing to your advantage: Pumping shortly after breastfeeding ensures your baby has plenty of milk available for the next feed. As your supply increases, you can slowly extend each pumping session by 5–10 minutes to store more milk.
• Stay consistent even after returning to work: Continuing a once-a-day pumping session at home can help maintain supply and reduce the pressure to produce all the milk your baby needs during work hours.
• Keep your equipment clean and in top shape: We advise you to keep your breast pump clean for effective function. Follow manufacturer guidelines to regularly replace pump parts like valves and membranes, especially if you notice any changes in suction or output.

Introducing a bottle to your breastfed baby is an important part of preparing for your return to work and with the right approach, it can be a positive change for both of you. 

Our lactation experts can guide you on how to ease this transition.

• Timing matters: Most babies are ready to start learning to take a bottle around 4–6 weeks of age, once breastfeeding is well established and they are consistently latching and feeding effectively.
• Have someone else offer the bottle: Babies strongly associate mom with the comfort of nursing. Therefore, it can be helpful for your partner or another trusted caregiver to offer the bottle at first. Changing the person who offers the bottle can make it easier for your baby to accept it in place of the breast, which is a more familiar source of nourishment.
• Hold baby upright: When offering the bottle, keep your baby in a more upright, seated position rather than lying flat. This supports a safer, more controlled feeding experience.
• Encourage a wide, open mouth: When offering the bottle, gently stroke your baby's lips with the bottle tip to invite a big, open-mouth latch just like with breastfeeding.
• Mimic natural breastfeeding rhythms: Pause frequently during the feeding to imitate the natural flow and letdown of nursing. This is referred to as "paced bottle feeding,” which helps prevent your baby from drinking too quickly and supports healthier feeding habits.
• Make it a regular part of the routine: Once your baby accepts the bottle, try to offer bottle feeding at least a few times each week to keep this skill familiar and comfortable.
• Start with fresh milk: Use freshly expressed breast milk, warmed to room temperature, for the first bottle feedings. After your baby is comfortable with bottle feeding, you can begin offering thawed milk from your freezer stash for occasional feeds.

Introducing a bottle is a big milestone, and it’s completely normal for babies and moms to need a little time and patience during this process. Once breastfeeding is well established, typically around 4 to 6 weeks, introducing a bottle can support a seamless transition without interfering with nursing.

Careful handling and storing of breastmilk help preserve its nutrients and protect your baby’s health. 

We recommend the following guidelines for storing breast milk for full-term, healthy infants for storing freshly expressed breastmilk.

• When stored at room temperature (up to 77°F), breastmilk is safe for 4 hours after pumping.
• When stored in an insulated cooler with frozen ice packs, breastmilk keeps well for up to 24 hours, and is great for workdays or travel.
• When stored in the refrigerator, breastmilk remains safe for up to 4 days, and should be placed in the back of the fridge, where it’s coldest.
• When stored in a regular freezer, breastmilk is best used within 6 months, though it can be stored for up to 12 months.
• When stored in a deep freezer, breastmilk is safe for up to 12 months, especially when kept at consistently cold temperatures.
• When thawed from frozen milk, breastmilk should be used within 24 hours and should never be refrozen.
• Leftover milk from a feeding should be used within 1–2 hours of the feeding and any remaining milk should be discarded after that time.

To heat breastmilk, warm it by placing the container in a bowl of warm water or using a bottle warmer, and always test the temperature by dripping a few drops on your wrist to ensure it's comfortably lukewarm before feeding. Never use a microwave to heat breastmilk, as it can create hot spots that may burn your baby and damage the milk's nutrients.

If your baby was born prematurely or is in the NICU, be sure to follow the hospital’s specific recommendations for milk handling and storage.

As you plan your return to work, open communication with your employer is key. It's equally important to understand the legal protections that support your right to continue breastfeeding after returning to the workplace.

Your right to pump at work is protected by the Federal Providing Urgent Maternal Protections (PUMP Act, which was signed into law on December 29, 2022. The PUMP Act added protection to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) that has helped mothers successfully balance breastfeeding and work. This law requires employers to provide:

• Reasonable break time for expressing breast milk throughout the workday
• Private, non-bathroom space for pumping that is shielded from view and free from intrusion

These protections are important for working moms who wish to continue breastfeeding.

At CLS, our expert lactation consultants provide personalized guidance to help you manage the emotional and logistical aspects of returning to work. Whether you are navigating childcare, struggling with emotions around separation, or trying to figure out how much milk to stash, we provide the tools and support you need to feel confident and prepared. 

Our lactation consultation services include both one-time virtual sessions for quick guidance and Comprehensive Lactation Programs for ongoing support throughout your feeding journey. 

To start your journey with our certified consultants, call us at 888-818-5653 or request an appointment online.