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The WHO and UNICEF recommend breastfeeding to 2 years and beyond.
It can help to have an early and frank discussion with your employer, childcare and those closest to you about the possibility of your continuing to breastfeed upon your return to the workplace.
Going back to study or work may be the first time you have been separated from your baby for long periods. Continuing to breastfeed helps to keep the close relationship you’ve built up, providing your baby with extra comfort and security for as long as you both want.
You don’t need to stop breastfeeding just because you’re returning to study or work. Many women find ways to continue breastfeeding their baby – and employers have certain obligations towards breastfeeding women.
“Throughout all of history, women have been creative about combining motherhood and work. All the reasons that you chose breastfeeding are still important, and some are even more important now.” – The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding
We want to share with you real experiences of families here in Lancashire.
Baby James was breastfed from birth and here his Mum, Dad, Childminder and Mum’s Manager discuss the often daunting but doable feat of returning to work and continuing the breastfeeding journey.
Breast milk does not lose it’s value at any stage and in fact the antibodies which fight infection can prove invaluablewhen entering a nursery or childcare setting with lots of other children.
Anaesthetic nurse Grace from the Royal Blackburn Teaching Hospital shares her experience and talks about her supportive colleagues. Grace is expressing breast milk at work and shares her top 10 tips.
For further guidance do reach out to your Health Visiting Teamand have a read of these articles from trusted evidence-based sites here in the UK:
Association of Breastfeeding Mothers – Returning to work whilst breastfeeding
Have you downloaded the parent and breastfeeding app Anya (Latch Aid)? You can find tips from other mums in the Community forum on this topic. There is also an in-depth discussion from amazing IBCLC Kathryn Stagg who delivers a Webinar dedicated to this topic – click on ‘Explore’ then ‘Webinars & Events’ in the App.
Pop along to your nearest face to face NCT support group to have a chat with other mums about their experiences of returning to work – many mums find it’s not as tricky as it first seems!
Refer to these helpful guides, share them with your employer too:
Follow us on Facebook for more helpful information and join your local breastfeeding peer support group NCT.