Working and continuing to breastfeed: how do you do it in practice?

Can I extend my maternity leave to breastfeed?

Officially no. “Breastfeeding leave”, introduced in the 50s, was abolished in 1975. However, many mothers manage to extend their breastfeeding a little by means of postnatal pathological leave. This sick leave, of a maximum duration of four weeks, is normally prescribed in the event of problems related to pregnancy or after childbirth. If your doctor or midwife understands and believes in the benefits of breastfeeding, they will likely agree with you. But he must not include on the sick leave the reason “breastfeeding”: the Social Security will refuse your file for sure.

Breastfeeding and the labor code: what rights within the company?

Several provisions aimed at facilitating breastfeeding by mothers who have returned to work are contained in the Labor Code. Breastfeeding (in the workplace or elsewhere) is a right during the child’s first year. The room for this purpose must be separate from any work room, have a water point nearby, be clean, provided with seats suitable for breastfeeding and properly heated (article L.224-3).

Breastfeeding: how many hours of break to express breast milk at work?

According to articles L.224-2 and L.224-3, breastfeeding and working mothers have, to do this, one hour per day, “divided into two periods of thirty minutes” (article R224-1), one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Warning ! As these breaks are not considered to be actual work, they are not not paid, unless there is a collective agreement or company agreement to the contrary.

In addition, like the pregnant woman, the breastfeeding woman may benefit, in certain risky positions, froman arrangement of the tasks to be accomplished. In practice: these rights are often overlooked by employers, especially in small businesses. Their respect will therefore depend on your relationship with your hierarchy and the social gains in force within your company.

Breastfeeding and returning to work: how to organize?

“Some days, we have enough: we go to work with fifty bags… It’s quite an organization! Today, I wonder how I did to do all of this. But at the time, I couldn’t see myself doing otherwise. “

These words of Coralie Camille show to what extent motivation and the desire to breastfeed your baby are essential. To help you out, here is a little memo of things to remember when you return to work.

Nursery, nanny and breastfeeding

At the crèche, it is the professionals who will advise you, and perhaps even provide you with an explanatory sheet regarding the protocol concerning breast milk at the crèche. If your child is in the care of a maternal assistantor a home carenot very aware of breastfeeding issues, be sure to give them all the necessary information, in particular concerning the preservation of breast milk. Remember to always leave more milk at the nanny’s than necessary … Your little lover might have a sudden hunger pang. The nanny may also interpret her crying as a need for more milk. You will always be happy to have a little head start in small containers. Especially since to avoid any bacterial risk, warmed breast milk cannot be kept at room temperature indefinitely.

Breast milk: the importance of respecting the cold chain

Do not freeze too large amounts at a time. So the nanny will be able to thaw the right amounts and your precious milk will not be wasted. When transporting this milk, always make sure you respect the cold chain. Always use a cooler with ice packs, and leave the bottles as little as possible at room temperature. To know : breast milk is very clear, with a slight deposit of fat that forms on top after standing for a while. This is completely normal, then you just need to shake it gently before giving it, to re-homogenize it. Do not hesitate to specify it to the nanny so that she is not surprised or panicked.

Can I reconcile going back to work and full-time breastfeeding?

If you want to continue breastfeeding full time, it takes some organization. The World Health Organization (WHO) advocates exclusive breastfeeding until the baby is six months old. How to proceed ? Before going to work, express your milk. You will entrust it to the person who takes care of your child in your absence. Or, even better if you have the chance, go home and breastfeed your baby. When you are not working, continue to feed it on demand, day and night, to stimulate your lactation.

Breastfeeding and working, isn’t that too tiring?

It is a fear often heavily supported by those around them, both private and professional. At the slightest blow to the bar, some will be tempted to put your loss of form on the account of breastfeeding … This is partly true. But, often, your fatigue will be above all due to new organizational and rhythm constraints linked to returning to work, which all working moms know, whether they are breastfeeding or not. In fact, if you have enough motivation, you should be able to combine the two without too much difficulty, especially after a break-in period.

How can I express my milk at work?

Regarding the operation itself, several choices are possible. You can of course express your milk manually, but it takes time and some practice! Be aware that some breast pumps allow milk to be extracted from both breasts at the same time, these are so-called “double pumping” breast pumps. This cuts the extraction time in half! Check if the device can be used on the mains, possibly on a cigarette lighter if you express your milk in your car, and not only with batteries. Ask your pharmacist for advice, especially as some breast pumps are available for hire, and the amount partially covered by Social Security if you have a prescription. Professional rental companies also exist.

On the timing side, the chosen moment (s) must correspond to the sensation of rising milk. The ideal being, in any event, tospace prints at least 2 or 3 hours apart, at the same rate as baby drinks his milk.

What equipment should I take to express my milk at work?

Breastfeeding at work can sometimes be like a commando operation! In addition to the manual breast pump (ISIS d’Avent) or electric (Medela, Spectra or Ameda, preferably double-pumping to go faster) and the containers (all in an insulated bag if possible, to keep the milk cool during the journeys to your home), plan any cold blocks (or, better, a mini-cooler) if your business does not have a fridge. But also sponge, tea towel, bottle brush and washing up liquid to clean containers and breast pump, if you prefer to do so immediately after use. Not to mention nursing pads against leaks. If possible, leave all of this material there.

Breastfeeding: the list of essentials to take to work

• A cooler to store milk, possibly with additional ice packs;
• The breast pump if you have chosen this method;
• Jars or sachets to store the extracted milk;
• Breast pads to be able to change them often in case of overflow.

How do I store my milk at work?

Storage times for breast milk

Breast milk can be stored at least 3 to 4 hours at room temperature (19 to 22 ° C), so it’s not too bad if you don’t have a fridge immediately. If you can, choose nevertheless to refrigerate it, after having cooled it quickly under a trickle of cold water: it can be kept for up to 8 days in the refrigerator (0 to 4 ° C, in the coldest part). You can also freeze it, for later use (it will keep for two weeks in the frozen compartment of a refrigerator, 3 to 4 months when frozen in a fridge-freezer combination and up to six months in a separate freezer, at -18 ° C), but be aware that freezing destroys some of its anti-infective factors.

What to store breast milk in?

Any well-washed container that can be tightly closed may be suitable. For smaller quantities, you can use glass yoghurt jars, baby jars, small juice bottles, or even ice cube trays or bags. Or opt for freezer bags provided for breast milk (Ameda, Medela, Lansinoh or Lactisac), very practical because they often adapt directly to certain breast pumps. Use a different clean container each time throughout the day. The milk must be labeled with the date, the quantity collected, and the baby’s name if it is kept in a collective structure.

How to warm the collected breast milk?

Warning: to heat your milk, especially no microwave, but hot water or a bottle warmer. The microwave oven will heat the milk too quickly, destroying or altering some of its components. Not to mention the risk of burns!

Breastfeeding: what if I have unwanted leaks during a meeting?

Congestion and unwanted discharge can actually occur on the first few days when your baby used to breastfeed. To remedy this, express your milk on a regular basis if you can at “critical” times. You can also wear breast pads. A tip against “leaks”: it is generally enough to press strongly on the breasts (for example by crossing the arms) as soon as it starts to “tingle”, to prevent the milk from flowing.

Can I force my baby to be fed with my milk at his place of care?

On this question, it is the greatest legislative vagueness. When cared for by a licensed nanny or employee, the donation of milk can be included in the contract. However, some nannies will be quite unsettled by this request to require you to sign a waiver.

The problem is complicated when the child is placed in a collective structure (nursery, nursery assistant house, daycare). In the nursery, giving the child the milk drawn by his mother comes up against various obstacles (availability, hygiene and above all, misinformation from staff). Faced with this reluctance, no legal text allows a mother to force a nursery to agree to give her milk to her child. Neither, moreover, authorizes the nurseries to refuse it. The best solution: negotiation, dialogue on a case-by-case basis. More and more nurseries are implementing a protocol with strict hygiene conditions for breast milk. Some even allow young mothers to come and breastfeed their babies at the nursery! Conclusion: find out beforehand so that everything goes as well as possible.

Breastfeeding and working: don’t panic

In order to be able to breastfeed while returning to work, it is advisable to let go, although this is easier said than done. However, some questions and anxieties can cross your mind, even making you panic and doubt your choice, which is the best for your baby.

Do not think that your milk is likely to dry up because the baby takes bottles during the day. Three or four months after birth, lactation adapts easily to demand.

Do not panic either at the idea that untimely flows “adorn” your blouses with an unsightly halo … In principle, engorgement is rarer after the second month of breastfeeding.. They usually occur during the first week of partial weaning, while your body adjusts to the lower demand of the infant. Nursing pads, a kind of compresses that you place in your bra, can, in all cases, prevent accidents. They are found in pharmacies, supermarkets or specialty stores.

How to wean Baby after returning to work?

If you only want to breastfeed your baby when you are together and thus not have to express your milk at work, you must partially wean your baby.. You will then opt for mixed breastfeeding, which can work very well for several months if it is done well. Don’t worry if your baby refuses the bottle, cup or spoon from you – he will accept it more from the hand of the caregiver. If you work part time, weaning will not be too complicated. Your baby will only take one or even two bottles in your absence. Start getting used to it 8 to 15 days before your recovery. If you work full time, with standard hours, plan a fortnight. Replace the afternoon feed first. Then, after 3 or 4 days, that of the morning. Finally, 3 or 4 days later again, that of mid-day. You will therefore only breastfeed in the morning, evening and night. If you are working full time, with staggered schedules, cut off feedings as directed, but at the corresponding times. If your rhythm is more irregular, weaning can be trickier. However, keep the progressiveness of weaning. On rest days and weekends, resume full-time breastfeeding if you wish, to prevent your lactation from drying up.