I am not just yet, but a breastfeeding friend is going back to work and she is fretting. I understand the fretting. I remember it well. I can still feel that doulbe-edged sword. Looking forward to becoming professionally productive and not looking forward to leaving my baby in daycare, in the care of others. I would miss her! I should be with her, I am her mommy! I don’t want to miss her firsts! On and on and on and on my head kept talking. SHE IS STILL NURSING!

I even tried the easing-us-into-it-slowly routine. I dropped her off for half dats, every other day, two weeks before my start date. I even negiotiated a four day work week (every Friday off) for the first 3 months. Both techniques barely eased the pain…but it did eventually get better.

 We naturally modified our nursing schedule - feeding overnight, first thing in the morning, bottles during the day, nursing at pick-up before we even left the center (on live webcam no less!), and throughout the evening as requested. I pumped during the day so there were always breastmilksicles in the freezer to bring to the daycare center. Returning to work wasn’t easy, but we made it work. I was, and am, a dedicated breastfeeder. I wasn’t going to be the backto-work statistic! Returning to work is one of the top reasons moms quit nursing, with less than 25% still nursing at 12 months. It is emotionally trying, but it can work, have faith. Just keep these points in mind of you too are going back to work.

• Don’t be hard on yourself! In the spirit of fair warning, the first day is going to suck. The first week, the first month even, is going to suck. I set up a shrine to my daughter in my office, so I could stare at her beautiful face when I longed to hold her. Allow yourself the time to adjust. Emotions during these early days are raw, so don’t make any big decisions about anything - work, breastfeeding, life in general - until a few months have passed. It may seem like the life of a working mom is impossible, or just plain miserable. It is busy, but it doesn’t have to be miserable. Not forever anyway.
• Find a support group in your workplace. There may be other breastfeeding moms, network! They can help your adjustment back to work by sharing stories and tips on how to make it work. This can include pointers about pumping at work.
• Talk to HR about setting up a lactation room. You will need to pump during the day and the bathroom is not an option. I pumped in my office, but if your office is a cube without a door, that is also not an option.
• Stockpile as much milk as you can in your freezer. At least three to four work days worth is a good amount to aim for in the beginning. More if you can.
• Make sure you have everything you need to pump at work, including a picture of your baby to help your milk let-down.
• Believe you can do it! Believe it will get easier! It may not seem so right now, but trust me, it does. I actually bought a Rosie the Riveter doll to add to my daughter’s shrine for those days when I thought I couldn’t do it. Rosie really helped me.

Remember, we are moms with miraculous milk producing breasts, we can do it!

Before pregnancy, before babies, before breastfeeding, my breasts were just there. Sure, I knew they were there, they were played with, I felt them, checked them for lumps. They were always smooshie, soft, squishy breasts. I often mused that they were just smooshie flesh. Who knew there was 15-20 nodes of milk producing alveoli and ducts?!?! Not me! I couldn’t feel them…until I was breastfeeding.

Once the milk began to flow and fill up those alveoli, then I felt something more than smooshie - I felt my functional breasts. Actually, I was constantly aware of my breasts - they had taken on a life of their own, how could I not be aware! Gone were the days when they were smooshie wine goblets ready at a moment’s notice to look pretty in my polka dot bra. I was now, every second, aware of my functional breasts which produced, stored and delivered bresh milk to my infant daughter.

In so many ways, taking care of my daughter involved taking care of my breasts. Always aware, to the point of not being aware when I was checking them and where I was when I was checking them. I was reminded again today when I was at the mall with my daughter. How can you tell a breastfeeding mom? She is the one who squeezes her breast to check for fullness, out in public, without batting an eyelash.