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Preparing for Returning to Work After Baby: Tips for Maintaining Your Milk Supply

                                                                                                                                                                     Photography by Wren Meinberg  

Hey, mamas! Wow, I can't believe how fast this year is flying by. October was full of so much wonderful – making more memories with my family, leading breastfeeding circles, expanding my network of providers and birth-workers, and starting a new per diem school nurse position, which has been anything but boring and crazy fulfilling!
I was also blessed with the opportunity to be a guest on my first podcast episode, which was more than I hoped for – soothing for the soul, even. We dove into a topic that I'm very passionate about: how to protect your milk supply when returning to work. I had the chance to discuss it on the Postpartum Plan Podcast with its wonderful host, Madison Fuger. Madison is a wealth of valuable information and compassion for women navigating the 'fourth trimester.'
If you’re preparing to return to work and feeling unsure about balancing pumping with your schedule, or you’re just curious about maintaining milk supply, this post is for you! Here are a few key points we covered:

  • The first few weeks after birth are so important for establishing a good latch and bonding with your baby before introducing pumping.
  • Consider starting to pump around 3 weeks from when you will return to work to build a small stash (one pumping session a day should be sufficient).
  • The hours between midnight and 6:00 AM are ideal for boosting milk supply due to higher prolactin levels (a milk-making hormone).
  • When away from your baby, it’s important to remove milk as often as your baby would normally feed to maintain your supply.
I truly enjoyed sharing these tips, and I’m grateful to Madison for having me on her podcast! If you haven’t already, check out the full episode here for more tips on protecting your milk supply as you transition back into the workforce. You deserve to feel confident and supported during this journey!
For personalized expert support during your back-to-work journey, I offer 1:1 virtual sessions. You can find my coaching link here for support at $1.25 a minute through the I Help Moms platform.


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