Four Tips for Breastfeeding Career Moms Going Back to Work When Baby is Still on Milk Only

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This post is especially for nursing moms who have babies but who want to go return to work outside the home.  Whether you will be transitioning to bottle feeding breast milk or formula given by a caregiver, I hope you'll consider the expert points below offered by Sara Chana Silverstein, IBCLC, before weaning your baby and heading back to the office.
 

I nursed my triplets and also used a breast pump to feed them

As a mere mom who nursed my four babies  --  triplets plus one more all born within a year -- I wish I'd known about this talented practitioner after I delivered. That's because at the time I didn't even know how to change a diaper, much less nurse my first child, when I became a mother.

I admire Sara Chana not only because she has made a name for herself professionally both here in L.A. and in New York as a highly-regarded board-certified lactation consultant but has also mothered seven children.

Sara Chana Silverstein, Photo from SaraChana.com

Sara Chana's Working Moms Dos and Don'ts

• Do assure breastfeeding is well established before the introduction of the bottle, if that has become your choice for getting back to work.

• Don't introduce a bottle before six weeks. If possible, wait until eight to ten weeks. Most babies take a minimum of six weeks to learn how to master and become a professional on the breast

• Don't worry that your baby will not be able to learn to take the bottle. A baby who is nursing well and truly being satisfied on the breast, will be able to figure out and learn how to take a bottle in mommy's absence.

• Do ask someone else to introduce the bottle to your baby. It is better for someone other than the mother to introduce the bottle so that the baby identifies the bottle only with another caregiver and not with the mother.

Moms with infants might also like 5 Tips for Successful Breastfeeding features more helpful hints from Sara Chana.

FTC Disclosure:  The Dos and Don'ts in this post were provided by lactation expert Sara Chana Silverstein. I did not receive any payment or other compensation associated with this post. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.