For many families with a newborn, it seems like time flies in the first few weeks and months. Suddenly, it is time to go back to work. We recognize and honor the fact that this can be scary, exciting, heartbreaking, freeing, and a total roller coaster of emotions. Not to mention the logistics of it all…
In other words, there are many things to consider and navigate as you and/or your partner make the transition back to work. These are some of our top tips to help you along the way.
5 Tips for Transitioning Back to Work
Figure out baby care.
As much as possible, try to come up with a plan early. Options range from creating a schedule with your partner or family members to daycare. Keep in mind that many daycares have waitlists. Other options include in-home nannies, a nanny share with friends or neighbors, live-in help, such as an Aupair, or partnering with a trusted family member. Many families create a care schedule that integrates multiple of the above options, varying day to day.
Create rituals for hellos and goodbyes.
In other words, consider how you will say hello and goodbye to your baby. This doesn’t mean anything fancy, but it does mean being intentional. Babies pick up on stress, so the time you take to pause, smile, look into their eyes, and kiss them before handing them off to their caregiver will be meaningful and helpful to everyone. The same thing goes for reuniting after the day away.
Plan for feeding needs.
If you’re breastfeeding and pumping, you’ll need to consider how much milk you need. Typically, we recommend having 3 days (or ~12 bottles) worth of pumped milk at the ready. Each day while you work, you will pump approximately every 4 hours, which is essentially when the baby is scheduled to eat. This milk will go into the freezer when you get home, and you’ll then pull out the oldest milk for tomorrow. This means you are always replenishing your supply! (Note: Social media has us convinced that we need a freezer full of milk, when really we just need a few day’s worth.) If this is the feeding route your family will be taking, we recommend initiating pumping and storing milk around three weeks so that your body and baby develop a good pattern. Additionally, we recommend introducing bottles 4-6 weeks, as some babies won’t take one after this time.
Prioritize your comfort for pumping.
Being away from baby can be difficult! Many parents use recordings and pictures of baby to generate oxytocin or bonding while pumping. You might like to use a baby blanket to cover yourself so that you feel closer to baby, and you can eliminate the desire to constantly monitor how much milk you are producing. Some parents find that using coconut oil on the flanges can help with the seal, which supports suction. Plan to pump for about 20-30 minutes, and while this is certainly whole body work, it can be helpful to use some of this time to nourish yourself with water and/or a snack. While breastfeeding, you need to drink more than you think. If you need support with pumping, reach out! Lactation consultants can help check flange fit and offer suggestions for your feeding journey.
Prepare supplies.
The number of bottles you need will depend on your childcare situation. Daycares don’t wash bottles, but family members or nannies usually do. This means you’ll need about 4 bottles per day for daycare, and you’ll probably like to have 2 day’s worth so you’re not stressing to get them washed each night. For in-home childcare, you’ll need about 3-4 bottles total.
ABG is Here for You
Your postpartum experience and return to work matter deeply to us at Austin Baby Guru. We are here to support you in planning for and navigating your transition back to work. Please reach out if you’d like to explore these ideas more deeply in a consultation.
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