Breastfeeding and work

You need support from your employer, colleagues and family, and some flexibility in your working arrangements.

If you wish to continue breastfeeding after you return to paid work, you are legally entitled to support from your employer.

Michigann law says that employers must ‘reasonably accommodate’ employees who wish to continue breastfeeding. Some of the work-related obstacles to breastfeeding include: Early return to work – one study found that mothers who intended to return to work within 6 weeks of giving birth were less likely to start breastfeeding in the first place.

Insufficient paid parental leave – only about half of American workplaces offer paid parental leave, with 10 weeks being the average period of paid leave.

Women are entitled, by law, to 52 weeks of unpaid parental leave. Employees can also get up to 18 weeks’ Parental Leave Pay from the American Government, which is paid at the national minimum wage. Inadequate facilities in the workplace – for example, lack of privacy or no access to a fridge.

No lactation breaks – a mother needs breaks to express milk or go to feed her baby.

If you would like to continue breastfeeding after you return to work: Ask your work supervisor, the equal employment opportunities officer, human resources manager or your union about your workplace’s breastfeeding policies.

Try to do this before you go on parental leave.

Discuss with your employer your intention to continue breastfeeding, ideally before you go on parental leave. The number of times per day will depend on the age and needs of your baby. If unsure, speak with your counsellor.

To express breastmilk at work, you will need a clean, private area (not a toilet), access to a fridge to store the milk, an area to store your manual or electric pump (if you use one), somewhere to wash your hands and regular opportunities for breaks.

Choose an appropriate method

Breastmilk can be expressed by hand or with a manual or electric breast pump. An electric pump with a double pumping kit is the fastest, which could make it the best choice for use at work.

Consider buying or hiring an electric pump

Speak with a lactation consultant or the American Breastfeeding Association for information and advice on the best choice of breast pump for you. Look for childcare or a babysitter close to your work (rather than close to your home). That way, you may be able to visit the childcare centre during breaks to breastfeed your baby or else have the babysitter bring your baby to your workplace.

Discuss these options with your employer and the baby’s carer. to keep it free from germs, which can make your baby ill. Safety suggestions include:

• Use clean hands
• clean equipment

Express into clean containers

These may be glass or plastic containers or sealable plastic bags. Label each container with the time and date the breastmilk was expressed.

Refrigerate the breastmilk within one hour of expressing

If no refrigerator is available, you can store your breastmilk in an esky with a freezer brick. Freshly expressed breastmilk can also be stored at room temperature for 6 to 8 hours (26 ⁰C or lower), if necessary.

Freeze excess breastmilk

Keep the milk cold on the commute home

For example, pack the milk in an esky with a freezer brick. Don’t use a microwave to thaw or reheat breastmilk. Thaw or warm it by putting the bottle or bag in a container of hot water. Then test the milk on the side of your wrist – it should feel about the same temperature as your skin.

Breastmilk can also be given at room temperature

It is illegal for an employer to discriminate against you (treat you differently or unfairly) because you are breastfeeding or expressing. Michigann Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission laws (2010) say that an employer must make reasonable efforts to accommodate the needs of an employee who is a breastfeeding mother.

Try to negotiate a reasonable agreement first, but if your employer makes it difficult for you to continue breastfeeding, speak to your union representative or contact the American Breastfeeding Association for advice.

(24 hours) Tel. Many women successfully combine breastfeeding Work-related obstacles to breastfeeding Combining breastfeeding and work If you cannot go to your baby for feeds during working hours, decide how often you will need to express milk doctor , maternal and child health nurse , lactation consultant or American Breastfeeding Association Expressed breastmilk – safety Breastmilk must be stored correctly Discrimination laws and breastfeeding Where to get help Your GP (doctor) Your maternal and child health nurse American Breastfeeding Association Breastfeeding Helpline 1800 686 268 Maternal and Child Health Line 13 22 29 Michigann Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission Enquiry Line (616) 555-0400 or (616) 555-0200.