Getting off to a good start with breastfeeding will make the transition
to returning to work much easier. Once your milk supply is established
and your baby is thriving, you will have a better understanding of how
you and your baby work together. For instance, there will seem to be a
“magic” number of times that your breasts are emptied in a 24-hour
period. When you return to work, your goal will be to continue with
that number of times (combination of pumping and/or breastfeeding) to
maintain your supply.
Keep in mind: some babies may take more from bottles than they do while
breastfeeding. Therefore, they may nurse less often after you get home.
If so, you may have to add a pumping session to maintain your supply.
However, it’s best to wait until breastfeeding is well-established
before introducing a bottle to your baby.
Additionally, many moms will start pumping once their milk supply is
established, so they can “stockpile” milk. When your baby is between
three- and six-weeks-old, consider introducing a bottle of breast milk
once or twice a week to help ease the transition.
-Sue, IBCLC
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