Breastfeeding and going back to work?

Talk to your employer. They by law have to provide adequate break times ( for a 8 hour shift, pumping at least 2x). Invest in a good double electric pump that way you can pump both breast at once and be done quicker. Dump the milk into storage bags and keep them either in a refrigerator or in a lunch cooler box w/ ice packs. Breastmilk is ok at room temp for a few hours but not all day.

Once you get home you can freeze the milk in those storage bags. In a traditional freezer they are good for about 3 months, in a deep freeze 6 months or so. Put the date on the bags and always use the oldest milk first. Once milk is thawed its good for about 24 hours.

If you come home and put it straight into your refrigerator its good for about 6 days before it needs to be used, frozen or thrown out.

Your doing a great thing! Good luck!!!

Bring a cooler bag with ice packs and store the milk you pump in breast milk storage bags - I like Lasinoh bags the best. This is what I've been doing since I returned to work three weeks ago. And yes, you can freeze breast milk for later use.

Will you have access to a freezer at work? If so, then you can freeze some of it if you feel there is extra. Otherwise, refrigerate it. It will stay good for a few days. Transport home in a cooler/insulated lunch bag with ice packs.

I don't know what country you are in, but if you are in the US by law they have to provide you with pumping breaks, a clean place to pump that is NOT a bathroom, and a place to store pumped milk. You are allowed by law to pump whenever you feel the need to.

good for you for breastfeeding!!!

Pump when u would normally feed the baby and freeze the milk to use later.