Reasons to Breastfeed

By breastfeeding your new baby, you can ensure that her or she gets the very best start in life. There are many factors that make choosing to breastfeed your child beneficial for both you and your child. The following list details just a few of the many reasons why breastfeeding is best for your baby.

Nature’s Perfect Food

– Breastmilk provides infants with the absolute best nutrition. The unique composition of carbohydrates, antibodies, proteins, fats and minerals is exactly what your baby needs to grow and develop during his or her first months of life.

Breastmilk, unlike infant formula, is able to change and adapt has your growing baby’s nutritional needs change. Additionally, babies are able to digest breastmilk more easily than formula. Cow\’s milk, which is used as a base for many infant formulas, is an intestinal irritant.

Breastmilk provides your baby with immunities and reduces his or her risk of several childhood illnesses including allergies, asthma, diabetes, Crohn\’s disease and SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome).

Brings Mom and Baby Closer

– Breastfeeding is nature\’s way for mother and child to bond. When a mother breastfeeds, her body releases the hormone prolactin, which creates a calming affect that allows her to relax and enjoy this peaceful time with her child.

Helps Mom Bounce Back From Pregnancy

– Milk production requires lots of energy and burns an extra 500 calories each day, which helps the breastfeeding mother to lose her pregnancy weight faster than a non-breastfeeding mother.

When breastfeeding, a mother has an increased level of the hormone oxytocin, which minimizes uterine bleeding after birth, and shrinks the uterus back to its pre-pregnancy size more quickly.

Exclusively breastfeeding delays the return of the mother\’s menstrual period and acts as a natural birth spacer for the first six months. Breastfeeding also reduces a mother\’s risk of developing several cancers including breast, ovarian and endometrial.

Defrays Additional Baby Costs

– Since breastmilk is free, you can easily eliminate many of the costs associated with infant formula feeding such as bottles, nipples, sterilizers, formula and pacifiers.

It Comes Highly Recommended

– Breastfeeding is endorsed and promoted by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the World Health Organization, UNICEF and the American Dietetic Association as the best way to provide infant nutrition.

If you are unable to exclusively breastfeed your child, you can still provide him or her with nutritious breastmilk by expressing your milk. By feeding your child expressed breastmilk, you and your child will still receive many of the same benefits that you would get from breastfeeding.

To successfully express milk for your baby\’s feedings, you will need a quality breastpump. The articles under Finding the Right Breast Pump can help you to decide which type of pump you will need.

Corporate Lactation Programs

Corporate lactation programs provide support and services for working mothers who have chosen to breastfeed or express milk for their babies. Although these programs are designed to help the mother, they also provide many benefits to the employer who offers the program.
When working for a company with a lactation program, mothers generally return to work sooner after maternity leave. Additionally, mothers who feed their children breastmilk have fewer work absences related to infant sickness and make fewer medical claims each year because breastfed babies are healthier.
Employers who offer lactation programs also see an increase in employee productivity, morale and loyalty because the women feel supported in their decision to breastfeed and valued as an employee.

Developing a Lactation Program

Designate a Private Pumping Room

– The room should have a door that locks from the inside and have access to an electrical outlet. A table for setting the breast pump on and a comfortable chair for the mother to sit in should also be provided. Restrooms are not considered appropriate accommodations for expressing breastmilk. Consider using an unused office or conference room.

Quality, Electric Breast Pumps

– There are two options available when it comes to providing breast pumps for your employees. The first option is purchase a hospital grade pump that all mothers can use with their own pump kit. The second option is to purchase or subsidize the cost of personal electric breast pumps for each mother as needed. Either option will provide mothers with a pump that will express milk efficiently throughout the day.

Professional Lactation Consultant Services

– The services of a certified lactation consultant can help mothers adjust during the early stages of breastfeeding and make the transition from home to work less stressful. The International Lactation Consultant Association has a directory that makes it easy to find practicing consultants in your area.

Educational Breastfeeding Materials –

Lactation Room packages are available through La Leche League International . These packages come in sizes to properly accommodate businesses of all sizes and include breastfeeding books, pamphlets and videos.

Optional Ways to Enhance the Lactation Room

• Baby inspired décor
• Area for mothers to display baby photos
• Refrigerator for milk storage
• Relaxing music
• Sink with hot running water for cleaning up
• Space for storing pumps or pump kits

Is Special Storage Needed for Expressed Milk?

According to both OSHA and the US Center for Disease Control, there are no special handling or storage requirements for breastmilk. As long as milk is stored in a tightly closed container, it can be stored in a common refrigerator or freezer that is used by others in the workplace.
Although expressed breastmilk does not pose any risks to others, some employees may be resistant to have it stored in a common refrigerator with their lunch. To ease any concerns milk can be place is a secondary, opaque container.
As an employer, you can help to make a big difference in the way that your employees are able to balance work and family when a lactation program is provided. The article Reasons to Breastfeed can help you learn more about why continuing to breastfeed after returning from maternity leave is important to your employees.

Incorporating Pumping Into Your Workday

Your workday schedule was booked solid before your took maternity leave, so how will you fit pumping into your day and still manage to get your job done? With a little planning on your part and cooperation from your employer, you’ll be able to work pumping sessions into your daily routine without having work pile up on your desk.

Discuss your pumping plan

with your employer before you go on maternity leave. Have answers prepared the following questions before meeting with your boss or supervisor.

• How long will you be pumping at work?
• How much time will you need each day to pump?
• Do you have an efficient pump?
• Where do you plan to pump?
• Will you need a place to store expressed milk?

If your boss seems to be resistant about your pumping at work reassure him or her that pumping will not affect the quality of your work and that you will be able to work your schedule around meetings and presentations. It is also a good idea to familiarize yourself with your state laws that pertain to nursing mothers at work just in case you need to use them to support your plan.

Purchase a good quality pump

and begin pumping at least 2 weeks prior to returning to work. A double electric pump can really save valuable time during the day since it will allow you to pump both breasts at the same time. View our Breast Pump Comparisons to find out which pump will work best for you.
Since a mother’s milk supply is well-established 4 weeks after her baby’s birth, it is best to delay your return to work until your baby is at least 4 weeks old if you plan to pump.

Set a pumping schedule

and stick to it. It is generally recommended that you should express milk every 3 or 4 hours during the time that you are apart from your baby.
Sample Pumping Schedule for Full-time Working Mom
7:00 AM Nurse Baby before going to work.
8:00 AM Start Work
10:30 AM First Pumping Session
2:00 PM Second Pumping Session
5:00 PM Off Work
5:30 PM Nurse Baby after picking up from daycare.
Although it is important to have a pumping plan in place before returning to work, your plan should be flexible enough to allow you to easily make changes when unexpected factors like client meetings and business trips are presented.

Dress appropriately for pumping

Two piece outfits with lightweight tops that can be pulled up from the bottom or buttoned down work well for pumping. In addition, any nursing tops or dresses that allow you to breastfeed discreetly can be worn for easy pumping access.
Be sure to wear absorbent, cotton nursing pads in your bra to soak up any leaks and bring extras with you in case you need to change them out during the day. Wearing printed tops rather than solids can help to camouflage stains from milk leaks.
With a pumping plan, the right equipment and the support of your employer you can successfully pump breastmilk for your baby after your return to work. You may even be able to help your employer develop a Corporate Lactation Program to make pumping easier for moms in the future.

Pumping at Work

For many breastfeeding mothers returning to work poses the challenge of deciding whether to switch your baby to formula or to begin expressing your milk while at work. Pumping breastmilk for your baby’s feedings is a great way to remain connected to your baby while you are apart during the day.
Successfully pumping at work will require the use of a quality breast pump, dedication and proper planning as well as the cooperation and support of your employer. You can begin to plan and prepare for your return to work with the information provided in the following articles.
Incorporating Pumping Into Your Workday
Corporate Lactation Programs

Open Systems vs. Closed Systems

Is there really a big difference between a closed system pump and an open system pump? This is a question that many mothers ask when trying to select the best breast pump for their needs. Since we are often asked this question, we’ve outlined the main differences between an open system breast pump and a closed system breast pump.

Open Systems

Pump collection system is open to pump tubing and motor, which means that during normal use milk particles can enter into parts of the pump that cannot be cleaned. Most often small milk particles enter the pump tubing and go unnoticed until the mold begins to grow in the tubing.

When mold develops in the pump tubing, your expressed milk is at risk for contamination since the pump’s vacuum has drawn air through the moldy tubing and into the pump motor. This leads to the possibility of mold growing in the pump motor and consequently the recontamination of the tubing.

The protocol for keeping open system pump tubing clean includes thoroughly washing and drying the pump tubing. To effectively dry the tubes prior to the next use they can be attached to the pump motor while it is running for a few minutes or a small amount of isopropyl alcohol can be poured into the tubes to speed up drying time. Please keep in mind that when using alcohol to dry tubing that the vapors can be drawn into your collected milk.

If mold has developed in the tubes, they should be sterilized by boiling or replaced. Pump tubing can become opaque after repeated boiling, which can make it difficult to see milk or mold in the tubes.

When an open system is used your collected milk is exposed to the outside air that is pulled through the pump’s tubing. As your milk is exposed to air it is being exposed to any contaminates that may be present in the air such as smoke, dust, pet dander, airborne bacteria and viruses.

Closed Systems

A closed collection system has a barrier in between the pump tubing and the breast shield, which prevents outside air from reaching your expressed milk. This helps to safeguard your milk’s purity so that it is as pure as possible from breast to collection and finally to your baby.

The possibility of milk leaking into the pump tubing is eliminated when a closed system is used which cuts down on cleaning time since the tubing never needs to be washed.

The closed system concept was first used for hospital grade pumps that were to be used by multiple mothers. Since the pumps would be used by more than one user a barrier in between the collection and the pump motor was needed to ensure that the pump would not be contaminated by bacteria or viruses from the mother’s system. Although many personal use breast pumps are now designed as closed systems they are not intended for multiple users unless stipulated by the manufacturer.

To find the pump that will best meet your milk expression needs, check out the articles under Finding the Right Pump and visit our Breast Pump Comparisons section to look at your top pump choices side-by-side.

Should I Rent or Buy a Breast Pump?

When trying to decide whether to rent or buy a breast pump, you’ll need to consider the advantages and disadvantages for both choices as they pertain to your situation and pumping needs. For the most part, your decision will be determined by a few key factors.

Factors to Consider

How long do you plan to pump?
Why you are pumping?
Where you plan to pump?
What is your budget?

Renting a Pump

There are two big advantages to renting a pump. One advantage is that you are receiving a pump with a long motor life and a higher level of suction. Also, if you encounter any mechanical problems with the pump the rental company will handle it.
A rental pump will work well for a mom who is pumping for premature baby, has a low milk supply or needs to pump for full-term twins because the increased pump power provides more stimulation and helps to increase milk production.
Renting is also a more affordable option for moms who are planning to pump short-term or are unsure of how pumping will go. The average rental costs about $50 per month.
The downside to a rental pump is that they are generally heavier, bulkier pumps that can be difficult to tote around to and from work.

Buying a Pump

Purchasing a breast pump is a more cost effective option for moms who plan to pump for 6 months or longer and have healthy babies who were carried full term. Owning a breast pump is also a great investment if you plan to have more children.
Breast pumps that are available for consumer purchase are generally more lightweight and portable when compared to rentals. Many of these pumps also come with stylish bags that can be used to carry your pump and other supplies when traveling.
The upfront cost of purchasing a quality breast pump can be a bit discouraging since most models range between $200 and $300.
If you decide that buying a pump will be the best option for you, our Breast Pump Comparisons can help you to find the right pump model for your needs. To find a pump rental in your area, contact a hospital or lactation consultant in your area.

What Type of Pump Do I Need?

Which type of breast pump you will need is directly related to the reason why you are pumping. Your pumping needs can range from occasional pumping for engorgement relief to frequent pumping needed to establish a milk supply. Regardless of your reason for pumping, there are several pump types and models available to help meet your needs.

Relieve Engorgement Pain or Sore Nipples

– If you do not plan to express milk for any of your child’s feedings, but would like to be prepared in case you experience painful engorgement or sore nipples, a manual pump is an affordable option that you can keep on hand.
A manual breast pump can also be used to draw out flat or inverted nipples before breastfeeding.

Share Feeding with Dad or Enjoy a Night Out

– If you plan to breastfeed majority of the time, but would like to express milk for an occasional feeding to give dad a chance to feed the baby or to leave with a sitter for a night out then a manual pump should be able to meet your basic pumping needs.
Should you decide to express milk more than once or twice a week you may consider using a handheld electric pump, which can make it easier and faster to express milk.

Return to Work

– If you will be returning to work and expressing milk for all or most of your infant’s daily feedings then you will need a quality electric breast pump. A good quality, double electric breast pump can help you to quickly and efficiently express enough milk for all of your infant’s feedings since it allows you to pump both breasts simultaneously.
For moms who will return to work part-time, a handheld electric pump can be used to effectively pump milk for missed feedings.

Need to Build or Increase Supply

– If you need to increase your milk supply, you can use a quality, personal electric pump to frequently express milk and empty your breasts. Double pumping is essential to increasing a low supply because it stimulates the breasts better and signals a need for increased milk production.
For more extreme cases where a mother is having a difficulty maintaining a supply or needs to induce lactation for an adopted baby, a hospital grade pump may be necessary. Hospital grade pumps are available for rent through many hospitals and lactation consultants. Some personal, electric pumps that are available for purchase now feature hospital grade motors as well.

Pumping for a Premature or Sick Infant

– When pumping for a premature or sick infant who is unable to nurse, maintaining a plentiful milk supply is crucial. By using a hospital grade pump, you are able to express milk from both breasts simultaneously. A hospital grade pump is recommended because it is able to provide ample stimulation that is needed to establish and maintain a good milk supply.
After you have figured out which type of pump will work best for your situation, our Breast Pump Comparisons can help you to choose the best model for your needs. Not sure if buying a pump is right for you? The article Should I Buy or Rent? can help you decide.