Expressing milk and/or returning to work

Returning to work soon? Or just want to be prepared for any eventuality? Below is a basic guide to getting prepared.

Before returning to work:

• Start expressing about 4 weeks before you return to work. This way you can build up a store of frozen milk.
• Express once in the morning when building up a store. This is when you’ll have the most milk. Offer your baby one breast and express the other breast at the same time or just after. This way by the time baby is hungry again both breasts should be enough to provide a full feed.
• Pumping at the same time you feed your baby actually brings down milk faster – the baby suckling on one breast brings down milk in both.
• If the milk isn’t coming down or isn’t fast enough, try using hot packs.
• Leave your child with a carer for a day or two and let your breasts fill up. This way you can discover how long the maximum is between expressing as well as how much you get during the day.