Breastfeeding and returning to work: a practical guide

For mothers returning to work who choose to continue breastfeeding, expressing breast milk allows lactation to continue. In particular, it helps to extend breastfeeding over time and avoid an unwanted early weaning. 

Recent studies have shown that mothers who continue to breastfeed their baby after returning to work take less time off to care for a sick child (almost three times less, thanks to the protective immune effects of breast milk). This means a less frequently ill baby when starting nursery or with a childminder, and less exhaustion for the whole family. Some studies on infant health also point to an 8 times lower risk of diarrhoea and a 2 times lower risk of respiratory problems in children who continue to receive breast milk.

Not to mention the benefits of breastfeeding: an easier separation from your baby and a sense of reassurance for your little one and for you (the famous reunion feed!).

You can also use the milk collector, incredibly handy for collecting milk that would otherwise be lost in the breast pad. 

The real secret to combining breastfeeding with a return to work is knowing that it’s possible. 

Contrary to popular belief, returning to work while continuing breastfeeding isn’t just for a lucky few or tireless superwomen.

Surround yourself with support: talk to your partner and the people who will be looking after your child. Speak to mothers who continued breastfeeding when they returned to work. There are breastfeeding support groups, including on Facebook, where you can find other people’s experiences and advice. And if needed, you can take breastfeeding food supplements to support your milk supply during the transition. 

No need to cut back on breastfeeding beforehand

Something few mums know about continuing breastfeeding is that you don’t need to cut back in the month before returning to work or get your baby used to a bottle (or other, more suitable feeding methods).

Your baby is likely to refuse milk offered in another container by you or your partner. They won’t understand why their milk is being offered in a different way when you are still there.

Rest assured: babies do eventually accept a bottle or another feeding method from the person looking after them. They soon realise they need to feed while you’re away. Of course, this transition from breastfeeding to another feeding method can take more or less time, but trust your baby. If your baby doesn’t feed much during the first few days at nursery or with a childminder, they’ll make up for it when you return. 

One advantage of not “practising” with a bottle or another feeding method before returning to work, besides sparing yourself a lot of stress, is that it can reduce the risk of breast–teat confusion and give your milk supply more time to become established. If you continue breastfeeding your baby until you return to work without replacing breastfeeds with bottles, you will have gained a few days or weeks of exclusive breastfeeding, helping you maintain your milk supply.

Don’t worry about an irregular routine 

To combine breastfeeding with a return to work, don’t be afraid of having an irregular routine.

You can continue breastfeeding your baby on demand when you’re together (in the evenings, mornings and at weekends). It doesn’t matter if your baby’s routine is different from the one at nursery. Your baby will soon understand that things are different when you’re there. Continuing to breastfeed on demand as much as possible will help maintain your milk supply. The more often your baby breastfeeds, the more milk you continue to produce. If you feel your milk supply is decreasing, don’t hesitate to see an IBCLC lactation consultant, and if needed you can take a breastfeeding food supplement. 

Expressing milk to combine breastfeeding and work 

If you express milk at work to continue breastfeeding, you don’t have to wash your pump attachments and accessories after every expressing session at work.

Take a resealable bag, such as a Ziploc bag, for the pump parts and keep them in the fridge until your second expressing session. This saves you a few minutes of cleaning during the day. In the evening, make sure you wash everything with soap and leave it to air-dry. Consider using a double breast pump too, to save time by expressing from both breasts at once!

Remember to take a cool bag so you can store your breast milk storage bag and keep it properly stored throughout the day. 

Alternatives to bottles for breastfeeding 

Bottles aren’t the only option!

You can reduce the risk of breast–teat confusion by trying alternatives such as:

• a supplemental nursing system (SNS)
• a syringe
• a soft cup or spoon (your baby will lap up the milk)
• a cup (from 6 months)

“These methods use the muscles of the tongue and face to drink in what is described as a more ‘physiological’ way. They are a form of myofunctional therapy. Myofunctional therapy is simply the retraining of the muscles of the face and mouth.” (Lynda Pourchet, IBCLC lactation consultant). 

PS: No bottle or teat can prevent breast–teat confusion 100% of the time. 

For more details about the risk of breast–teat confusion (and why it happens), read our article on the subject by healthcare professionals. It was written by Caroline de Ville, a GP and IBCLC, and Lynda Pourchet, an IBCLC lactation consultant.

We also explain paced bottle feeding if you decide to use a bottle.

One last tip for breastfeeding at work 

If you want to keep breastfeeding, it helps to know that the pace of the first few months won’t last forever.

By around 12 months, as your baby eats more solid foods, they will probably need only two breastfeeds a day (morning and evening), and you will no longer need to express milk at work. So this period of expressing milk for your baby lasts only a few months.

Above all, be kind to yourself. If you don’t want to keep expressing milk beyond 6 months (the duration of exclusive breastfeeding recommended by the WHO), know that breastfeeding your child 1 to 2 times a day can help you maintain your milk supply, especially if you can breastfeed on demand at weekends. You don’t have to wean.

There are many breast pump models on the market. Most are very effective with practice. What matters most is thinking about how you will use it and how frequently. Will you be expressing every day at your workplace? Do you need to carry it with you daily? 

Read our article how to express breast milk to find out more about the different breast pumps and choose the one that best suits your needs. If you have questions about breast milk storage, read our article on the subject. Keeping expressed milk in a cool bag throughout the day, with an ice pack for example, is one option. 

In France, the Labour Code allows any employed mother who wishes to do so to express milk or breastfeed her baby for 12 months from the birth of her child. You are entitled to one hour during the working day to breastfeed at work. You can divide this into several breaks throughout the day as you wish (Article L 1225-30 of the Labour Code). Don’t hesitate to ask your employer for this: it is your legal right.

In France, if you work for a company with more than 100 employees, your employer must also provide a dedicated breastfeeding space on the premises or nearby for employees. If there isn’t one, they must take the necessary steps to set one up. 
This allows you to express milk in suitable conditions. If you can, you may also breastfeed at work if someone brings your baby to you. 

Your job is protected when you return

When you return from maternity leave, you return to your job or a similar one, with at least equivalent pay. No change to your contract can be imposed on you, and you are protected against dismissal for 10 weeks after your return (except in cases of serious misconduct or where it is impossible to maintain the contract).

Any paid leave you had not taken before you went on maternity leave is carried over, even if the relevant leave period expired while you were away. Parental leave, covered in the FAQ, lets you delay your return or ease back into work. You can also resign without working a notice period by sending a registered letter at least 15 days before your return date.

Two appointments to arrange when you return to work

The return-to-work appointment with occupational health takes place within 8 days of your return. Your meeting with your manager is a chance to discuss your return, your working arrangements and your plans, not to assess your work. Don’t hesitate to suggest it yourself: it’s a good time to talk about your breastfeeding breaks
and where you can express milk.

Feel confident about your childcare arrangements

To feel at ease when you return to work, it’s important to feel confident about the childcare you’ve chosen. Don’t skip the settling-in period: it gives you time to get to know the nursery team or childminder, explain your breastfeeding routine and how to give your baby your milk, and hand over care gradually. A shared notebook or a few photos during the day can often be very reassuring in the first few weeks.

Ease your mental load

Returning to work adds another layer of organisation to an already busy day-to-day life. Three habits can help you keep a clear head:

• plan ahead where you can, from meals in the freezer to backup childcare if the childminder
  is ill;
• book regular appointments (paediatrician, pelvic floor rehabilitation) in advance so you no longer have to
  think about them;
• sort out your priorities, then let go of what can wait and delegate what you can, both at home and at work.

Regain your energy

Your energy levels may be tested in the first few weeks, and that’s normal. This isn’t the time to put yourself on a diet: focus on a varied diet rich in protein, fruit and vegetables, and essential fatty acids (see our advice onpostpartum nutrition can help), and pop a breastfeeding snack in your bag for expressing breaks. Gentle physical activity, such as walking, yoga or swimming, resumed with the agreement of the healthcare professional overseeing your postpartum care, can also give you moments just for yourself.