𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤, 𝐋𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐈𝐭 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤!

Breastfeeding benefits mothers, babies and business

Meena delivered normally a healthy female baby few months back. First 3 months went easily and then was the time for Meena to join back her work. She was upset about the management of breast feeding to her little one. Meena is not only a single mother but like lots of mothers who are planning to join work full time but are worried about the feeding timings of their babies. But no worries they also can manage the breastfeeding of their babies in absence of themselves. For this mother can take out the breast milk by expressing or pumping it and storing it at maintained temperature in refrigerator.

Mother can express her milk by hands or breast pump for storage.

After pumping or expressing the breast milk, it can be stored in a storage container which may be bottle, bottle liner or plastic storage bag. Approximately 2-4 ounces of milk in a single bag can be stored. Small amount can be thawed and warmed up quickly and the baby can take at least this quantity at feeding time. Before storing the milk, always remember to label the date and time on the container so that the person who is going to feed the baby can get the duration of safe consumption. Use the oldest milk first.

Also Read, Bottle Feeding Tips for your Baby

If you are feeding the baby on same day after expressing it then it can be kept at room temperature for maximum of 10hrs. The breast milk can be stored in the refrigerator for at least 8 days. If the milk is frozen within 24 hours of pumping, it can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months.

So now the busy or working mothers don’t need to worry about the feeding of their babies in the busy schedule as they are able to feed their babies on demand after storing the breast milk. Always remember few things about reusing the milk that once taken out from the freezer for use, don’t re-freeze the milk again. Before feeding the baby, let the milk come to room temperature or that of baby’s body temperature. To make it warm, just put the storage bag in the container of warm water or under the running water. Don’t use a microwave to heat baby’s milk.

It has been seen that mothers who feed with formulas are absent to take care of their sick children more than twice as many days than mothers who breastfeed.

World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated every year from 1 to 7 August in more than 170 countries to encourage breastfeeding and improve the health of babies around the world. PAHO/WHO actively promotes breastfeeding as the best source of nourishment for infants and young children.