As a nursing mom, there will undoubtedly be times when you will have to be away from your baby. Perhaps it will only be for a short period of time, such as when you go on a date with your husband. Sometimes you might have to be away from baby for a longer period, such as if  you have to travel on business and cannot take your baby along. Or there is a medical procedure that you must have, that will make it impossible for you to breastfeed for awhile.

This doesn’t have to mean weaning, however.

If you are a nursing mom, there are some extra steps you can take to ensure you and your baby cope well with this change in schedule.

This means stocking up on milk to nourish your baby while you’re away, keeping up your milk supply and remembering a few comfort techniques for yourself.

Here are a few tips for moms who have to leave their nursing baby.

1) Store Milk for Baby

Depending on how long you’ll be gone, you’ll want to begin pumping extra milk a few times a day to be stored and used to feed your baby while you’re away. This might take a couple of weeks, depending on how much your baby eats, how often you pump and how accustomed you are to pumping. Pumping is definitely a learned art. Don’t be discouraged if you get little or no milk at first.

Many moms find that it’s easiest to pump extra milk in the morning when their supply is higher, or after a nap. (Typically a woman has more milk after a period of sleep.) You could also nurse baby on one side and pump on the other with a high quality hand held pump. The familiar sensation of baby’s nursing makes the milk flow more easily, and you’ll often get more milk.

Store your milk in freezer-safe containers that the babysitter or another family member can pull out and warm for baby when he or she is hungry.

If your baby is not used to bottle feeding, it’s a good idea to introduce the bottle to him or her before leaving. It usually works best if someone else offers the bottle, not you, as baby will often reject a bottle when your breasts are nearby. Some babies are so sensitive, they won’t bottle feed if mom is in the house, so consider running an errand the first time your baby’s caregiver attempts this.

You can also leave behind an article of clothing of yours, such as a shirt or nightgown, to remind baby of your smell while feeding.

2) Keep Up Your Milk Supply

While away, it is important to keep up your milk supply if you plan on nursing your baby when you get back. To do this, you’ll need to find a pump that works well for you. It may be a hand pump, electric pump or by hand expressing your milk. You’ll want to pump as often as your baby usually nurses, if possible. (If you can’t manage this, shoot for every 4 hours and once at night.)

As long as milk is being taken out of your breasts, your body will believe it is still nursing and continue to produce milk on a regular basis.

Many women find it helpful to take along a picture of their baby to look at while pumping or a blanket that has their smell. It is a good idea to use the same blanket during a couple of feedings before leaving and take this with you. You might want to wear nursing pads throughout the day to catch any leaking that may occur.

3) Comfort Techniques

Not being able to nurse as frequently can cause painful engorgement for some women. The breasts feel sore, tender and hard in some areas.

Pumping the milk out can help out tremendously, but you may still want to employ some comfort techniques for your own benefit.

Take a warm compress, such as a hand towel moist with warm water and place on your breasts. After a few minutes of direct heat, gently massage the lumps in your breasts. This will help the milk flow easier and is a good time to pump some milk out.

After massaging the breasts, a cold pack might help reduce discomfort and pain. A hot or cold shower can replace the hot or cold packs if you wish.

It may not be easy when a mom has to leave her nursing baby, but hopefully with these tips you’ll be as comfortable as possible and resume a happy breastfeeding relationship once you and baby are reunited!

photo credit: Daquella manera

By Marjorie Greenfield, MD

The topic of balancing work and motherhood could fill many books. In my practice, I talk to new moms every day who invariably share their thoughts and ideas about the unexpected challenges of caring for young children, attending to their personal needs, and managing to perform well in their jobs.

Here are some different strategies that I’ve found are helpful when dealing with jobs and young children.

Be proud of your juggling abilities. Although you may sometimes feel overwhelmed, step back and look at all you’re achieving. By handling it all, you become an inspiring role model for your kids.

Learn to live with guilt. Most moms feel guilty when dividing their time, attention, and loyalties between home and work. Accept that you’ll sometimes feel conflicted, and then move on.

Think creatively about work options. Try to negotiate work hours that fit with your whole life. Ideas include part-time, flextime, job sharing, and having your partner work less and parent more.

Find childcare that works for your family. Learn about your childcare options as early as possible, and pick the one that will free you physically and emotionally to do your best on the job.

Have backup childcare at the ready. Plan ahead for when (not if) a childcare crisis will develop. Some ideas: visiting nurse “sniffle care” for mildly sick children; trading childcare with other parents; getting you or your partner’s boss to allow an emergency day off.

Simplify your domestic life. Shop online; ask your partner to help more around the house; have dry cleaning, groceries, or drugstore items delivered; pay for a lawn mower or house cleaner.

Be efficient and organized. Spend the last few minutes of your workday preparing for the next morning. Keep only one calendar and coordinate with your spouse–doctor appointments, kids’ activities, work obligations. Put clothes out for the next day; make lunches the night before. Pick up toys just once a day.

Book grown-up time. When life gets busy, you need to schedule time for yourself or you won’t get it. Have boundaries, such as a closed bedroom door, and set rituals, such as strict bedtime hours. Nurture your relationship. A happy parent has happy kids.

Do a reality check. Periodically reassess how your arrangements are working for yourself and your family as a whole. If you’re miserable, make changes. Saying “no” to people who want too much of you is okay.

Remember to enjoy life. Take pleasure in your children–they grow up quickly. Think of parenting as a gift, and make time for fun with your family. Don’t forget to laugh and keep it light.

* * * * *

Marjorie Greenfield MD is a practicing board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist, and associate professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine MacDonald Women’s Hospital. An esteemed expert in her field, Dr. Greenfield has earned more than a dozen top awards, including spots on several “Best Doctors in America” lists over the past decade, and is author of The Working Woman’s Pregnancy Book (Yale University Press).

This doesn’t have to mean weaning, however.
photo credit: EraPhernalia Vintage (somewhat busy)

If you are a nursing mom, there are some extra steps you can take to ensure you and your baby cope well with this change in schedule.

This means stocking up on milk to nourish your baby while you’re away, keeping up your milk supply and remembering a few comfort techniques for yourself.

Here are a few tips for nursing moms who have to be away from their baby.

1) Store Milk for Baby

Depending on how long you’ll be gone, you’ll want to begin pumping extra milk daily to be stored and used to feed your baby while you’re on your trip. This might take a couple of weeks, depending on how much your baby eats, how often you pump and what your milk supply looks like.

Many moms find that it’s easiest to pump extra milk in the morning when their supply is higher, or after a nap. (Typically a woman has more milk after a period of sleep.)

Store your milk in freezer-safe containers that the babysitter or another family member can pull out and warm for baby when he or she is hungry.

If your baby is not used to bottle feeding, it might be a good idea to briefly introduce the bottle to him or her before leaving. It usually works best if someone else offers the bottle, not you, as baby will often reject a bottle when your breasts are nearby.

You can also leave behind an article of clothing of yours, such as a shirt or nightgown, to remind baby of your smell while feeding.

2) Keep Up Your Milk Supply

While away, it is important to keep up your milk supply if you plan on nursing your baby when you get back. To do this, you’ll need to find a pump that works well for you. It may be a hand pump, electric pump or by hand expressing your milk. You’ll want to pump as often as your baby usually nurses, if possible. The pumping will cause your body to believe it is still nursing and continue to produce milk on a regular basis.

Many women find it helpful to take along a picture of their baby to look at while pumping or a blanket that has their smell. It is a good idea to use the same blanket during a couple of feedings before leaving and take this with you. You might want to wear nursing pads throughout the day to catch any leaking that may occur.

3) Comfort Techniques

Not being able to nurse as frequently can cause painful engorgement for some women. The breasts feel sore, tender and hard in some areas.

Pumping the milk out can help out tremendously, but you may still want to employ some comfort techniques for your own benefit.

Take a warm compress, such as a hand towel moist with warm water and place on your breasts. After a few minutes of direct heat, take some natural oil, such as sweet almond oil and gently massage the lumps in your breasts. This will help the milk flow easier and is a good time to pump some milk out.

After massaging the breasts, a cold pack might help reduce discomfort and pain. A hot or cold shower can replace the hot or cold packs if you wish.

What’s your take on this? Are you more comfortable nursing where you’re at, or do you specifically shop at establishments that have breastfeeding rooms set aside?

One of the advantages of a breastfeeding room is that you will at least have a comfortable chair to sit in, and no bystanders staring or worse, getting offended and asking you to leave. Of course, many moms find that once they learn how to nurse discreetly, this is no longer an issue because noone even knows they’re doing it!

Depending on the location you are at, some shopping centers and other public buildings have special nursing areas for moms. If you feel much more comfortable nursing in private, these are great. Bathrooms are often busy distracting and dirty. Not to mention smelly! You wouldn’t want to eat in a bathroom, and your baby shouldn’t have to either. If you’re in a store, the fitting rooms are great for some privacy and a place to sit down.

Of course, breastfeeding rooms in the workplace are a wonderful thing for many moms who are returning to work and pumping their milk to give to their babies. They provide a clean, private area where a mom can keep her pump away from the eyes of nosy (and perhaps unsupportive) coworkers.

Breastfeeding has so many benefits for the employer – saving them money due to reduced absenteeism, reduced insurance claims, and more retention of female employees – that you think more would jump on the bandwagon.