Breastfeeding and Return to Work

Return to work and breastfeed? Yes you can!

You can return to work and continue breastfeeding! It will take planning, commitment and ingenuity but what about motherhood doesn't?

New Oregon law requires employers of 25 or more employees accommodate breastfeeding employees. They must provide clean, private space that is not a bathroom stall and 30-minute breaks every four hours. to express breastmilk during the workday.

The following guide is adapted for Oregon from the HRSA Business Case for Breastfeeding Toolkit Employee Guide.

During your pregnancy:

Pregnancy is the best time to prepare for breastfeeding and return to work.

Attend prenatal classes that include breastfeeding information.

Find childcare that will be supportive of breastfeeding, ideally close to work.

FInd other breastfeeding mothers at your workplace.

Talk to your supervisor about your plans. You and your baby will be healthier and you will miss less work if you breastfeed. For a sample letter click here.

During the first weeks of your baby's life:

Get a good start at the hospital by putting your baby to breast within the first hour after birth, and at least 8-12 times every 24 hours.

Use the first few weeks of your baby's life as a time to rest, get to know your baby, and nurse often to establish a good milk supply.

Avoid using bottles or pacifiers for the first 3-4 weeks as this may decrease milk supply.

If you need to be away from your baby, express your milk and refrigerate or freeze your milk for the baby's care provider to feed them while you are away.

During your maternity leave:

Take as many weeks off as you can. Ideally, at least six weeks helps you recover from the birth and establish good breastfeeding techniques. Twelve weeks is even better.

Practice expressing your milk by hand or with a quality breastpump, and freeze 1-2 ounces at a time to save for your baby after you return to work. Pick times of the day when you seem to have the most milk. Many women find this is the morning. Some women express during or right after breastfeeding while their milk is flowing.

Be patient with yourself and enjoy this special time together.

Help baby adjust to taking breastmilk from a bottle shortly before you return to work. Have someone else feed the baby so they will get used to being fed by other people.

Talk to your family and childcare provider about your progress and let them know you are counting on their support and help.

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For your return to work:

Return to work gradually. Can you work part-time, have a flexible schedule, or work from home? Returning on a Thursday or Friday rather than a Monday will help everyone adjust.

Breastfeed your baby just before you leave for work and as soon as you are reunited.

Under new Oregon law, employers of 25 or more must help breastfeeding employees. You are entitled to a clean, private space thats not a bathroom stall, and 30 minute breaks every four hours to express breastmilk. They must also provide a refrigerator or space for a cooler you bring.

Maintaining your milk supply will depend on great hand-expression skills, or more commonly, a quality breastpump.  Individual pumps are costly, so it's worth checking if your insurance will provide a pump.  If you are on WIC, talk to your Nutrition Educator or Dietician about a pump for return to work.  Nursing Mothers Counsel of Oregon sells and rents breastpumps just above cost, and they come with education and support.  Second-hand breastpumps, unfortunately are not a good idea.

Most employers will be happy to help once they understand how simple it is to meet you needs and be in compliance with the law. If you have given your employer notice of your plan to breastfeed but they have not made these accommodations for you, you can file a complaint to the Bureau of Labor and Industry here.

Related parts of this website include:

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