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

Early pregnancy is a time of transformation—an exciting roller-coaster ride that for many women includes some stomach-flipping surprises. A demanding job can amplify the challenges, but knowing what’s ahead can really help.

Here are some early-pregnancy troubleshooting tips:

How to handle early-pregnancy fatigue at work:

* Accept less of yourself off the job—you may not be able to get anything done in the evenings for a few weeks. Eat take-in, for example, instead of cooking, or take a cab instead of public transportation.
* Rebalance your load. Try to figure out what time of day is best for you and shift your work hours, or schedule your hardest tasks for your high-energy times.
* Replenish with a brisk walk (wakes you up when you feel sleepy) or a light snack. Take a catnap during lunch hour.

How to handle early-pregnancy nausea at work:

* Avoid triggers—such as smells—that will set you off.
* If your prenatal vitamin makes you sick, take your vitamin during the time of day that you feel best, or talk to your practitioner about just using folic acid or children’s chewable vitamins until you feel better.
* Keep bland dry foods, such as crackers, in your desk and eat them multiple times a day. Drink liquids separately from when you try to eat. Never get too full or too hungry.

How to stay physically healthy at work.

* Establish healthy eating patterns at work. Eat when you’re hungry, but make them small portions, and have healthy fruits and vegetables on hand for snacks.
* Try to get exercise during the day—either by walking on your lunch hour, or by walking up or down the stairs at work.
* Avoid heavy lifting, extreme heat or cold, long hours, swing shifts, excessive standing, and exposure to toxins.
* Keep a bottle of water—half frozen, if you like it cold—on hand and sip frequently.

How to hide your pregnancy until you’re ready to reveal it:

* Combine trips to the bathroom with other reasons for getting up, such as making copies or posting mail.
* Plan a vacation in your eighth or ninth week, when nausea is often at its peak.
* Sit next to the door at meetings so you can escape more easily if you need to.
* Keep mouthwash and a change of clothing in your desk.
* To avoid buying new pants in the beginning, use a rubber band doubled up through the buttonhole to extend the reach of the top button on your pants, and wear a top that covers your waistline.

* * * * *

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).

Working women all over know the joy that comes when they find out there will soon be a baby added to their family.  She and her spouse have a lot of planning to do and a long time to plan.

Many women decide to breastfeed their babies and wonder how being a breastfeeding mom will affect their job.

Breastfeeding isn’t always easy no matter how natural it is.  Add job stress to the fears you may already have about not being able to supply enough milk for your baby, and you may be concerned about the prospects of being able to do both.  You may be glad to know that millions of women have become breastfeeding moms and held down their regular job.

Employers are required by law not to discriminate against breastfeeding moms.  In fact, they may also be required to provide you with a relaxing place where you can pump while you’re at work.  Of course, you would have to pump during your scheduled breaks and during your lunch hour, but they cannot keep you from doing so.

You may wonder if it’s worth the effort to continue breastfeeding.  Here are some reasons why continuing to breastfeed even though you’re stressed from work is a good idea:

* Breastfeeding provides the best nutrition possible for your baby.

* Pumping while at work will make breastfeeding while you’re at home easier.

* Breastfeeding can save you quite a bit of money.

* Your baby will be healthier because your breast milk provides antibodies and nutrients that just aren’t available in formula.

* Because your baby is healthier, you’ll miss less work.  This should be enough reason for your employer to encourage your choice to pump while you’re at work.

* You may have fewer worries about your baby which could make you more productive at work.

* You will enjoy the special closeness that nursing provides when you are with your baby on weekends and at night.

* Your employer also benefits – they save money because you miss less work and since breastfed babies get sick less often, they go to the Doctor less.

Be sure to let your boss know that you plan to breastfeed and that you intend to pump during the day to provide your baby with the best possible start.  Talking with them ahead of time will enable them to research the laws concerning breastfeeding and to set aside a private area where you can pump in privacy.

If your company doesn’t have a refrigerator, plan to bring a small cooler that you can use to store the breast milk.  You’ll also need to bring an electric breast pump to make expressing milk quicker.

Don’t beat yourself up if you find that pumping while at work doesn’t work for you.  Remember that your baby will still get the benefits of breast milk while you’re at home on maternity leave.  If you continue to breastfeed when you get home, your child will receive the benefits of breast milk but you’ll have formula to fall back on while you’re apart.

Remember that even partial breastfeeding has many benefits. It doesn’t have to be an all or nothing proposition.

Recommended:

Being forearmed with knowledge is a nursing mother’s success secret. Here are a few books on combining working and breastfeeding:

Working and Breastfeeding