Staff Breastfeeding Guide
Making Breastfeeding Work...At Work!
Before leaving on your maternity leave…
- Have a conversation with your supervisor/manager to discuss your plan to continue breastfeeding when you return to work. Begin to explore possible options.
Before returning to work…
- One month before returning to work, have a conversation with your supervisor/manager to develop a plan to continue breastfeeding. Let them know what you will need and what they can do to help you.
- Learn about expressing and storing breast milk. Find the method of expression that works best for you. For more information, call Capital Health Public Health Services 902-481-5800 or refer to Breastfeeding Basics, a free Public Health resource
- Begin storing your breast milk about two weeks prior to returning to work to ensure that your child has enough
- You may want to get your child used to drinking pumped breast milk
- Check your wardrobe. Two-piece outfits are a more practical choice when breastfeeding or expressing milk at work. Patterned tops can hide leakage and/or the contour of a nursing pad. It may be useful to keep a sweater at work, just in case
- Perform a “test run” workday. Arrange for the child to be left with a caregiver for a typical workday. Breastfeed and/or pump as you would during a workday. As a result, any kinks can be worked out
When you are back to work…
- Stay organized. This can decrease the stress associated with returning to work and maximize your success with continuing to provide your child with breast milk.
- Give yourself time before work to breastfeed at least once and breastfeed right after you return from work.
- When at home, breastfeed as often as you can. This will help you maintain your milk supply.
- Talk with other women who have combined work and breastfeeding.
- When using a work space to breastfeed or pump, please post a sign on the door while the space is in use. Here are examples of signs that Capital Health staff have used - Sample 1; Sample 2. Feel free to make your own sign. Signs could be as simple as, “Space in use, please do not disturb.”
Be proud of yourself and celebrate your commitment!
- Consult the Capital Health Employee Breastfeeding CH 40-107 policy for more information or call Capital Health Public Health Services 902-481-5800.
Adapted from: Making breastfeeding work…at work!. South Shore Health.