expressing whilst at work!

What are the advantages of expressing at work?


Expressing milk at work can be a nuisance, and doing such a personal thing in a work environment can feel strange. But many mothers find that the benefits far outweigh the inconvenience. You are still able to give your baby the health and nutritional advantages of breastmilk, and expressing can be a wonderful way of feeling close to your baby during the working day.

One of the best things about expressing at work is coming home to a baby who still wants to breastfeed - you get to snuggle with her immediately, re-establish your bond, and nurture her in a way that nobody else can. To make sure your baby will want to feed when you get home, ask your carer not to feed her during the hour before she is expecting you, or only to give her enough to take the edge off any hunger. Then you and your baby can look forward to a warm reunion every day.


How can I successfully express breastmilk at work?



You will need:

• a pump - a double electric one is most efficient, but expensive. Many women find that hand pumps work just as well for them

• bottles

• access to a refrigerator or a chiller box

• breast pads

Start expressing milk at home before returning to work so you know what to expect and can get used to the odd sensation of having two cones pushed up against your breasts. Express after as many day time feeds as you can and start to build a supply in the freezer. You will get less milk doing this than if you express a full feed, but if you express in between feeds and breastfeed as well, you may end up over-producing milk and feeling very uncomfortable. You will probably collect very little milk at first, but soon you'll have several ounces after every 15- to 20-minute expressing session.

Ideally, you should have access to a private room at work, such as an unused office or conference room, or even a large, clean storeroom with a chair, a table, and a power point. Ask the human resources staff for suggestions, and try to enlist the support of a colleague or manager. If there's some demand (even two mothers is enough), you could lobby to create a nursing mothers' area in the office. The worst-case scenario is having to express in a lavatory cubicle, but many women have done so - successfully - for months.



Should I tell my colleagues that I'm expressing?


You don't have to tell your colleagues what you're doing during your breaks if you feel uncomfortable, but you should tell your line manager. She needs to know that expressing milk won't interfere with your work, so reassure her that by feeding your baby in this way, you will have much more peace of mind that your baby is only getting the best. This will leave you free to concentrate exclusively on work whilst you are there.

The Breastfeeding Network produces a leaflet on Breastfeeding and Returning to Work, which includes information on your legal rights as a breastfeeding mother and how to express and store milk at work.


How can I maximise my milk flow?


Relax and look at your baby's picture, or visualise her while you are expressing. Many mothers find that once they get the breast pump working well, they can use the time to catch up on work-related reading.


When should I express?


It's really up to you, but try to do it at the same time every day. If you can pump every three hours, you will probably be able to produce all the milk your baby needs. Pumping once or twice a day may be more realistic, though, and it will be enough to keep up your milk supply to cover morning, evening, and weekend feeds.


How do I transport, store, and thaw breast milk?


• It's essential to start building a supply of breastmilk in the freezer before you return to work, as you'll need to have enough milk for your first day at work.

• Pump and store milk either in glass or plastic bottles or plastic bags made especially for this purpose. Research suggests that white blood cells may cling to glass, though not to plastic, making plastic a better choice. The downside of plastic bags is that they can tear, and this may not be noticed until you start to thaw the milk. Also they do tend to fall over when thawing! Label and date the bottles and bags, and use the oldest ones first. Leave room at the top of each bottle or bag for expansion during freezing.

• Store freshly expressed milk (well-labelled as yours) in the office refrigerator or a cooler while at work. Bring it home in a cooler with an ice pack if your journey is longer than 30 minutes – although freshly expressed milk is OK at room temperature (and no warmer) for six hours.

• If you refrigerate or chill freshly pumped milk, you can add it to a bottle of already frozen milk.

• If you refrigerate the milk you pump on Monday, your carer can give it to your baby on Tuesday, and so on.

• Thaw milk by holding the bottle or bag under warm running water or by placing it in a bowl of warm water. Do not use the microwave or the hob: high heat will destroy some nutrients. The milk will have separated, so you will need to shake it gently while thawing or before giving it to your baby.

Source.. http://www.babycentre.co.uk/baby/breastfeeding/pumpingexpressing/expressingmilkatwork/