World Breastfeeding Week 2022: Managing breastfeeding routine as a working mother
We spoke to Dr. Ravneet Joshi, Consultant - Lactation Specialist, Manipal Hospital Old Airport Road, who gave us some tips for new mothers and encouraged the natural breastfeeding process.
Follow If you’re a working mother, you might find balancing your professional commitments and breastfeeding your baby challenging. Getting back to work after maternity leave often worries, especially about feeding the baby. It is natural to be worried, as balancing work responsibilities and feeding the baby needs to happen without one disrupting the other. While there are other alternatives, the benefits of breastfeeding outweigh those options.
Breastfeeding the baby ensures that they grow up healthy, with stronger immunity. Therefore, it is important to ensure that mothers continue breastfeeding their babies even as they concentrate on their careers.
Also Read: World Breastfeeding Week: 5 benefits of breastfeeding for both baby and mother
India should focus on ensuring the future generation's strong immunity and mental development. The rate of breastfeeding decreases with an increase in working mothers. To combat such an occurrence, workplaces should incorporate flexible rules and regulations for new mothers and encourage the natural breastfeeding process.
Managing Breastfeeding Routine as a working mother
It is advised for all mothers to breastfeed their newborns right from the moment they are born. Exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months is essential and all doctors advise its continuation up to or beyond two years. Research shows that employment significantly impacts breastfeeding behaviour and that full-time job can affect children's health.
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The maternity leaves provided by companies can be utilised to adapt your body for a continuous supply of breast milk to your newborn and establish a feeding pattern. This will allow your breasts to build a strong milk supply after you resume work. You should breastfeed on demand (minimum 6-8 times a day) to attain a full milk supply.
The government has passed laws to ensure mothers get six months of maternity leave. Therefore, taking the full benefit of the same would be advisable. Furthermore, with many workplaces still offering work from home or a hybrid model, ensuring that babies are breastfed becomes comparatively easier.
Before joining the workplace, talk to your employer about your feeding schedule, and ensure there is a working arrangement so that you can feed your newborn in daycare. In case of resistance from the employer, you can ask your doctor to write you a letter recommending breastfeeding your newborn.
If your work routine does not allow you to breastfeed, you can use high-quality electric pumps for expressing milk and storing it for later use. The expressed milk should be used within six hours if it is stored at room temperature. You can store expressed milk up to two days in the refrigerator and three months in the freezer. You should ensure that your office provides a clean room with a working lock so that you could express your breastmilk. Make sure your child’s caregiver is trained in storing and feeding expressed milk to your baby.
Every mother should be educated on the benefits of breastfeeding for their infant and for themselves. Breastfeeding ensures a strong immune system for the baby and provides all nutrients essential for them. For mothers, breastfeeding helps in preventing postpartum depression, breast cancer, diabetes, and high blood pressure. Most importantly, it strengthens the bond between the mother and the child. Every mother wants the best for their baby, and breastfeeding is the first responsibility they need to take for a healthier baby.
