How much milk should I have stored when I go back to work?

Going back to work after having a baby can be an emotional transition. As a breastfeeding mom, you may worry about having enough pumped milk stored to feed your baby while you’re away. Proper planning and preparation can help ensure your baby’s nutritional needs are met.

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Quick Answers

Here are some quick answers to common questions about storing milk for going back to work:

Aim to have at least enough milk stored for the first week back at work as a minimum.

Pump at least once in the morning, once during your work day, and once in the evening to maintain supply.
Store milk in 2-4 ounce portions to avoid waste.
Invest in a quality breast pump and milk storage bags.

Label all milk with the date pumped and freeze immediately.

How Much Milk Will Your Baby Need?

The amount of milk you’ll need to have stored depends on:

Your baby’s age and daily milk consumption

The number of bottles your caregiver will give per day
The number of hours you work outside the home

Here are some guidelines based on your baby’s age:

Baby’s Age	Average Daily Milk Intake
0-1 months	2-3 ounces per feeding
2-3 months	4-5 ounces per feeding
4-5 months	5-6 ounces per feeding
6-8 months	6-8 ounces per feeding

Your caregiver may give a bottle every 2-3 hours. So on a typical 8 hour work day, your baby may take 3-4 bottles requiring 9-32 ounces or more depending on age.

How Much Milk Should You Aim To Store?

As a general rule, aim to have at least enough milk stored for the first week back at work as a minimum. This allows you to build up an emergency stash if needed. After that first week, you’ll hopefully have established a good pumping routine to continually replenish your supply.

To determine how much milk you’ll need for one week:

Calculate your baby’s average daily milk intake
Multiply this by the number of bottles given per day
Multiply the daily total by the number of days you work outside the home

For example, if your 4 month old takes 5 ounces per bottle, gets 4 bottles during your 9 hour work day, and you work 5 days a week, you’ll need at least 80 ounces stored for the first week back.

Tips For Storing Up Milk

Here are some tips to help you stockpile enough milk before returning to work:

Start early: Begin pumping and storing excess milk 4-6 weeks before your return date.

Double up: Try pumping once on one side while baby nurses on the other to collect extra milk.
Pump after feedings: Take advantage of letdowns after nursing by pumping for 5-10 minutes.
Add a session: Slowly add in a pumping session, like before you go to bed.

Power pump: Try power pumping 1-2 times per day by pumping for 10 minutes, resting 10 minutes, pumping 10 more minutes, resting 10 minutes, then pumping a final 10 minutes.

How Should You Store Your Milk?

Properly storing your pumped milk will help it maintain nutrients and freshness. Follow these tips:

Store milk in 2-4 ounce portions to avoid waste from pouring out unused milk.

Use milk storage bags or sterilized containers made for breastmilk.
Label all bags or bottles with the date pumped and quantity.
Freeze milk immediately after pumping for optimal quality.

Store frozen milk towards the back of the freezer where temperature is most consistent.
Do not store in door of freezer or in self-defrosting freezer.
Use oldest frozen milk first to avoid waste.

Milk can be stored at room temperature for up to 4 hours, in the refrigerator for up to 4 days, and in the freezer for up to 6 months.

What Equipment Do You Need?

Having the right gear makes pumping and storing breastmilk much easier. Here are some must-haves:

Quality breast pump: Invest in a double electric pump to express milk quickly and efficiently during work. Make sure it’s portable if pumping on-the-go.

Milk storage bags: Have a large supply on hand. Opt for ones designed not to leak.
Cooler pack: Use to transport milk home and to daycare while keeping it cold.
Extra bottles or reusable storage containers: You’ll need these to actually feed the milk to your baby.

Breastmilk labels: Use to keep bags organized by date in freezer.
Nipple cream: Breast pumping can cause soreness so have some on hand for relief.

Tips For Pumping At Work

Once you return to your job, you’ll need to incorporate pumping sessions throughout the day. Here are some tips to make it go smoothly:

Speak with your employer beforehand to arrange accommodations for pumping.
Aim to pump every 2-3 hours if away from baby for 8+ hours.
Try to pump at least once in the morning, once during work, and once in evening.

Find a private space like an office or conference room to pump.
Put up a sign to avoid interruptions during pumping sessions.
Store milk in a cooler pack with ice packs or a refrigerator.

Practice good hygiene by washing equipment and hands thoroughly.
Relax during sessions by looking at photos of your baby, massage breasts, or listen to calming music.

Maintaining Milk Supply When Working

It takes commitment and consistency to maintain milk supply when returning to work. Here are some key strategies:

Aim for at least 3 pumping sessions per work day, preferably every 2-3 hours.
Try to pump first thing in the morning to take advantage of higher volumes.
Pump right before leaving work then again when you get home for continuity.

Wake up once at night to pump and maintain production.
Pump at least 8 times per day including sessions at work and home.
Massage breasts while pumping and power pump to increase milk ejection.

Stay hydrated and eat well to support milk production.

Keep in mind your supply may dip initially when you return to work but should rebound within a few weeks as your body adjusts. Stay consistent with pumping and nursing when with baby to signal your body to keep producing plenty of milk.

Troubleshooting Milk Supply Issues

If you find your milk supply dropping substantially when you return to work, don’t panic. There are things you can try to boost it back up:

Nurse baby more when you are together, including at night.
Power pump 1-2 times per day.
Add an extra daily pumping session.

Ensure pump parts fit correctly and replace membranes every 3 months.
Massage breasts during pumping.
Look at photos of baby and relax as much as possible when pumping.

Stay hydrated and eat foods that support milk production.
Consider lactation supplements like fenugreek, milk thistle, or brewer’s yeast.
Get extra sleep and rest as much as possible.

If supply issues persist even after trying the above tactics, talk to a lactation consultant. They can assess possible medical causes and create a customized plan to get your production back on track. Don’t throw in the towel – with patience and consistency, many moms are able to build their supply back up.

Conclusion

Returning to work after maternity leave can be challenging for breastfeeding mothers. Proper planning, consistent pumping, and awareness of common hurdles will help you provide your baby with the nourishing milk they need in your absence. Arm yourself with knowledge and don’t hesitate to ask for support. With commitment to your pumping and feeding routine, you can successfully continue breastfeeding while back on the job.