Returning to work as a new mom is never easy, especially not for Black women. You’re already fighting hard for respect and privilege in the workplace, so you might worry about how needing to care for your child will affect your image. It’s an unfortunate truth. Even if your employer offers months of maternity leave, breastfeeding can be necessary for up to two years. Therefore, if you choose breastfeeding for your child, you’ll have to continue after returning to work. Here are some useful tips to make that transition easier for you and your baby.

You Have Rights—Know Them

Federal law, under the PUMP Act, requires employers to provide reasonable break time and a private space (not a bathroom) for you to express milk. Some states offer extra protections, but this is the bare minimum you are entitled to.

If your employer doesn’t currently have a program for nursing mothers in place, don’t go straight to your lawyer. It’s possible they haven’t had to create one yet, so you can bring up the need with HR.

Prepare To Pump at Work

You probably won’t have your child with you at work, which means you’ll have to express and store your breast milk for later use. You can do that with a pumping machine.

However, this device can take some getting used to, so we recommend practicing with it at home before returning to the office.

You’ll also want to set yourself up with a pumping bag. You can double your work bag as pumping supplies storage if it has the practical features every work bag should have, such as plenty of space and pockets. Include a quality pump, a comfortable hands-free bra, and wipes for quick cleanups.

Also, keep a cooler bag ready to store milk during the workday. This makes sure you get it home to freeze it before it spoils.

Freeze Your Milk

Let’s discuss freezing your breast milk in more detail. Freshly expressed breast milk remains fresh in the fridge for up to four days, but it stays good in the freezer for six months. That’s a huge advantage!

Use breast milk storage bags and label them with dates. Also, get into the habit of rotating your stash to use the oldest milk first.

Prepare Your Baby To Bottle-Feed

Since you won’t be home to breastfeed, your baby will have to drink your milk through a bottle. However, this can be a strange transition for your little one. Therefore, introduce your baby to a bottle a few weeks before returning to work. Allow your partner or a loved one to feed your baby to get them comfortable with the bottle and a different person feeding them.

Returning to work doesn’t mean ending your breastfeeding journey. Try these useful tips to help the transition go smoothly for you and baby.