Returning to Work After Baby

Returning to work can be a huge transition & often brings up a lot of questions, a lot of uncertainty & likely some anxiety about how it will go! In this post I am going to walk through some key things to think about & some tips for easing into this transition!

Continuing to Breastfeed

Breastfeeding does not have to be all or nothing, so depending on what your goals are & what you feel like is going to be manageable with your transition to work, you can choose a breastfeeding/pumping routine that works for you. Many moms will choose to breastfeed in the morning or at bedtime only and continue to do this for several months. Some moms decide they want to continue pumping & keep their usual routine while they are at work. The biggest thing is that you will want to ensure you are pumping for any feedings you will be missing while you are at work to preserve your supply. I would bring out your pump at least a few weeks before returning to work to make sure you are comfortable with the settings & that it is going to work efficiently for you! You may need to adjust your flange sizing, replace parts or experiment with different settings. You don't want to wait until you return to work to do this.

Sending Breastmilk to Daycare

How much milk do I need to have stored?

The reality is that you only NEED enough milk for your baby's first day. The idea is that each day you would then pump whatever you have sent to replace it for the next day. Some moms prefer to have a little extra stored in the freezer "just in case" & that's fine! But you do not need a huge "freezer stash" full of milk in order to send your baby to daycare! Keep in mind that if you are exclusively breastfeeding and don't normally pump, you likely will only get a small amount (0.5-1oz) of milk per pumping session. This is normal! You may need to pump several times in order to build up enough for that first day.

How much should I send?

Most babies won't take more than 4-5oz per feeding for breastmilk so you can use this as a guide to for the first few days. For example, if they're going to be away for 3 feedings, I would suggest sending about 15oz. After your little one has been going to daycare for a bit you'll have a better idea of how much they are taking & how much you should send each day.

How to Send Your Breastmilk

Label the bottle or breastmilk bag with your baby's name on it & place them in a small cooler bag, making sure it is packed well with ice packs. When you bring it in, make sure the daycare provider puts the milk in the fridge right away. Ask them to keep any leftover milk & send it back so you know what your baby is actually taking & can use that leftover milk for milk baths!

Pumping at Work

Ideally you want to aim to pump around the times your baby would be feeding but this isn't always possible. Here are a few tips for pumping while at work:

• Schedule pumping breaks into your day (set alarms as a reminder!)

• Discuss with your employer an appropriate space for pumping (this should NOT be a bathroom, you have the right to a clean, private space)

• Get familiar with your rights for pumping while at work

• Bring your good breast pump but also throw in a hand pump if you anticipate you may not always have time to do a full pump session. Something is better than nothing!

• Consider pumping to & from work if you can (especially if you find it hard to make the time to pump during your work day)

Packing Your Pumping Bag

Packing your pumping bag to make sure you have everything on hand will make your experience pumping away from your baby SO much easier

Here is a list of things I would highly recommend including in your pumping bag:

• Wash basin/cleaning supplies

• Breast pump wipes

• Your pump

• Spare pump parts (extra valves, backflow protectors, etc.)

• Charging cord

• A ziplock bag or container to store your pump after use

• Cooler bag with ice packs

• Storage bottles and/or milk bags

• Your baby’s sleeper or blanket (something that smells like them) to help inc pump output

• An extra shirt (you never know when you may need it!)

• Breast pads (if you get caught up with work, you may find yourself leaking)

• Snacks & a water bottle

Lidded mason jar ~ I loved this for pooling my milk together & distributing into bottles for the next day

Pumping bag (for wearable pumps)

Pumping bag (for electric pumps)

Pump parts bag (perfect for storing your pieces & having a clean place to assemble)

Dapple breast pump wipes

Bottle brush cleaning kit

Ceres chill - breastmilk chiller (perfect for storing your milk to stay cold when you don't have access to a fridge)

Daycare Transition

Easing into the Transition

If you have the option, I would highly recommend trying to make this transition slowly over the course of a few weeks. I often find starting with a "social visit" where you go with your little one to the daycare for an hour or so can help them to feel comfortable exploring, meeting the other kids, their teachers, etc. and familiarize themselves with the new environment can be really helpful. Then slowly dropping them off for longer and longer amounts of time. So for example, this could look like the first week bringing then twice for 2-3 hours, then the next week bringing them 3 days for 4-5 hours, etc. Working your way up to full days or full weeks. This isn't possible for everyone but if you have the flexibility, this can really help ease the transition.

Drop Off

Prepare for drop off to be hard. Your little one will likely be very upset, they're nervous, scared, all the things! The best way to approach drop offs is to make them quick, stay positive & try to hold yourself together until you leave. I know I cried after every drop off for the first few weeks! It can be really hard, but you want to show your little one that they are safe. Have a "goodbye ritual" where you can give them a hug/kiss, hand them off, say "I can't wait to see you soon" or "I will be back so soon", say goodbye & leave. The more you draw it out and linger, the more anxious your little one will become anticipating you leaving. Drop offs will get easier over time!

The Post-Daycare Release

Expect that when you go to pick up your little one, they may begin to cry or have a big emotional release. This does not mean they aren't happy to see you! Some little one's will be super excited & happy you are there and others will see you & finally feel "safe" to release any emotions they may have held no to throughout the day. Many toddlers and preschoolers will also have a lot more meltdowns, behaviours, tantrums, etc. in the evening after returning home for the same reasons. Your little one may be more clingy & want to be held. This is all normal & to be expected!

Packing Your Daycare Bag

Your daycare may have provided you with a list of items they would like you to send, but if not I hope this is helpful!

• Diapers (your daycare may ask you to bring a whole sleeve of diapers or to just pack enough for each day)

• Wipes (a full pack labeled with their name on it)

• Sunscreen

• Diaper cream

• 2-3 changes of clothes

• Sleep sack for nap time

• A teething ring (our daycare policy is to wash any mouthed items after use so they requested we send a teethed if needed)

• Water bottle (your daycare may provide one but if not make sure you pack one)

• Appropriate outdoor wear

Some other things you may want to send:

• A lovey (check your daycare’s policy on personal toys)

• Pacifier if your baby takes one

• Pictures of your family for your little one to look at

Always check with your daycare to find out what they will be providing & what they want you to send!

What to Expect for Sleep

Naps at Daycare

Many parents often worry about how their little one will nap & if they need to do anything to prepare then for daycare. The truth is that most little ones sleep so well at daycare! They adjust easily & can often settle with much less support than they do at home. So if you are currently rocking, feeding, holding to sleep, you don't need to stop this just so they can sleep better at daycare. I would connect with your daycare ahead of time to discuss your little one's naps & find out what nap routine they require (some daycares have set nap schedules or have limited availability for offering support, so work with them to determine a plan to help ease your child into naps).

Night Time Expectations

Anticipate a regression in sleep overnight as your little one transitions to daycare. I often recommend adding in more connection time before bed to help but many kiddos will wake a bit more looking for more comfort from you. They aren't used to being away from you for so long & this will take some time for them to get used to!

Managing (Your) Emotions

Some moms are excited for this transition & feel so ready, while other moms feel the opposite. They maybe don't feel ready or don't want to go back to work but they have to for a multitude of reasons. Feelings of doubt, guilt and anxiety may be creeping in too. All are very normal during this time!

Ask your daycare provider to send you regular updates, pictures, etc. to help you stay connected during the day.

Talk with other working moms & have them share their experience, tips & feelings with you too. Surround yourself with families who are in a similar situation & support each other. Do a social media audit and remove any accounts that make you feel negatively (I sometimes find the SAHM influencer accounts difficult to watch as a working mom!). Take time towards the end of your maternity leave to really be present & do something special with your little one. While this may feel like an "end" it's also a really exciting beginning!