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Home › Articles › Pumps and Pumping › Planning to Pump

Planning to Pump

Before Birth, After Birth and Once You Return to Work

By Kelly Burgess

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When Katie Young of Austin, Texas, found out she was pregnant with her third child, she had just started a job she loved, and she didn't want to quit. However, she wanted to breastfeed this child for a year, like she had done with her other two. It almost turned into a disaster right away.

"I had never really pumped before and figured that one pump was just as good as another, so I bought a little hand-held one," Young says. "I couldn't express enough milk to feed a kitten, much less my big boy."

At this point, it was just a week before Young's six-week maternity leave would end. In desperation, she called her local La Leche League and was given information on good, battery-operated breast pumps. Although it wasn't always easy, Young was able to give her baby breast milk for his first year.

Planning for Pumping
Because Young did not work when her two oldest were infants, she never had to deal with pumping at work and hadn't really planned for it. Jane Balkam, a certified lactation consultant, says planning is the single most important factor in successfully continuing breastfeeding after returning to work. Balkam's lactation consulting practice, Babies 'N Business, specializes in providing support for mothers who wish to breastfeed their babies while continuing to work and advises companies on setting up nursing-friendly environments for new mothers.

"A woman needs to start talking with her employer even before she goes on maternity leave," Balkam says. "More companies are beginning to understand that it's in their best interest to support new moms who want to breastfeed – not just because it's nice, but breastfed babies are healthier, which results in lower health costs, less turnover and fewer sick days."

Specifically, a mother-to-be needs to inquire if there is a formal program in place for nursing mothers. If not, she needs to ask if the company would be willing to arrange for her to have a private area in which to nurse. According to Balkam, this area would ideally have a sink for washing nursing equipment and a lock for the door.

In addition to talking with her employer, a woman should make contacts within the nursing community. These contacts can give tips on talking with the woman's employer and provide materials for the woman to show her employer if they are unfamiliar with nursing programs. These contacts are people who can help the woman learn as much as possible about breastfeeding so that she's less likely to have problems and will be more comfortable getting started. After the baby is born, these contacts will be knowledgeable sources for advice on all aspects of breastfeeding.

After Birth
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