#  Feeding Baby After Going Back to Work or School 

 

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Going back to work or school can feel hard, but with planning, you can keep breastfeeding and stay connected with your baby.

## Before You Return

- Don’t think too much about going back to work in the first weeks.
- Around three weeks, start practicing bottle feeding a few times a week. Pump or hand express about 1oz. of breast milk in the morning to put in a bottle.
- Start storing milk one to four weeks before you go back. Having one to four days of milk stored is enough.
- Pump after the first daytime feed and store in the freezer. Pumping too much can cause oversupply and plugged ducts.

## At Work or School

- Pump about every three hours for 15 minutes to keep milk flowing.
- If you feel full or uncomfortable, pump to avoid pain and infection. Even five minutes of pumping or hand expression helps.
- Arrive a little early and pump before your first class or work shift.

## Make Pumping Easier

- Keep pump parts in a clean bag in the fridge during the day and wash them at home at the end of the day.
- Look at baby’s photo, listen to music, or relax to help milk flow.
- A hands-free bra and gentle massage can help you get more milk.

**Remember: Every drop of breastmilk is good for your baby. Find the routine that works best for you.**

## Support and Rights

If it’s hard to get time or space to pump, talk to your healthcare provider. They can explain [your rights](https://www.mass.gov/info-details/massachusetts-law-about-pregnant-or-breastfeeding-employees) and may write a letter for your workplace or school.

## Storing and Preparing Breastmilk 

### How to Store Breastmilk

Type of BreastmilkCountertop (at Room Temperature)FridgeFreezerDeep FreezerFreshly pumped milkSix hoursSix daysSix monthsUp to one yearFrozen breast milk, thawedTwo hoursTwo days*Do not refreeze*Left over after a feeding*Use within two hours*- Store breastmilk in breastmilk storage bags or in clean hard plastic or glass containers. Talk to your provider or health plan to order milk storage bags.
- If you combine milk from different pumping times, chill the fresh milk in the refrigerator before adding it to milk that was already stored.
- After pumping, put milk in the refrigerator or in a cooler bag with ice packs.
- Thaw frozen breastmilk overnight in the refrigerator.

### How to Prepare Frozen Breastmilk

1. Thaw the milk. 
    - Place frozen breastmilk in the refrigerator overnight, or for quicker thawing, hold the sealed container under warm running water or place it in a bowl of warm water.
    - Never use boiling water or the microwave
2. Gently mix the milk.
    - Swirl the bottle gently to mix the milk.
    - Do not shake hard. This can break down helpful nutrients in the milk.
3. Warm if needed.
    - Place the container in a bowl of warm water for a few minutes or hold under lukewarm running water.
    - Test a few drops on the inside of your wrist—it should feel warm, not hot.
    - Some babies will drink cold or room temperature milk.
4. Use right away.
    - Thawed breastmilk can stay in the refrigerator for up to two days.
    - Do not refreeze thawed milk.
    - Leftover milk in the bottle should be used in two hours or thrown away.

## Additional Tips

- Babies may drink a little less milk when you are away. Your baby will eat more when you get back.
- Always give breastmilk before formula.
- Do not mix breastmilk and formula in the same bottle.

## More Resources

- [WIC Program Back to Work Support](https://wicbreastfeeding.fns.usda.gov/going-back-to-work)
- [La Leche League Working and Breastfeeding](https://llli.org/breastfeeding-info/working-and-breastfeeding/)

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