Maintaining a career while breastfeeding

Women can maintain a career and breastfeed, but it is very important that the breastfeeding is well established before the introduction of the bottle, if that has become the mother’s choice for getting back to work. A bottle should not be introduced before six weeks, but if possible, waiting until eight to ten weeks is even better. The reason for this is that most babies take a minimum of six weeks to learn how to master and become a professional on the breast. The mistake women make is they are afraid that if they do not introduce a bottle in the first few weeks of life, their baby will not take a bottle. The truth is, conversely, that a baby who is nursing well and truly being satisfied on the breast, will be able to figure out and learn how to take a bottle in the mothers absence. However, when the time is right for the bottle to be introduced, it is better for someone other than the mother to introduce the bottle so that the baby identifies the bottle only with another caregiver and not with the mother. The problem of bottle verses breast occurs when a baby is struggling on the breast, not getting the amount of milk he needs, and then is given a bottle as a supplement or substitute. When this happens, the baby will often reject the breast thinking, “Wow I was struggling on the breast and this bottle is so much easier. Now if I throw a tantrum when my mother offers the breast, I will get that ‘easy’ bottle instead”. Breastfeeding is a learned art and some babies learn the skill faster than others. If the baby does not seem satisfied after breastfeeding, get help from a professional as soon as possible. After the baby gets a few corrections and is given the time to practice, most babies will master the breast and then be able to transfer back and forth from bottle to breast.

• It is very important that the breastfeeding is well established before the introduction of the bottle, if that has become the mother’s choice for getting back to work.
• A bottle should not be introduced before six weeks, but if possible, waiting until eight to ten weeks is even better. Most babies take a minimum of six weeks to learn how to master and become a professional on the breast.
• A baby, who is nursing well and truly being satisfied on the breast, will be able to figure out and learn how to take a bottle in the mother’s absence.
• It is better for someone other than the mother to introduce the bottle so that the baby identifies the bottle only with another caregiver and not with the mother.
• Breastfeeding is a learned art and some babies learn the skill faster than others. If the baby does not seem satisfied after breastfeeding, get help from a professional as soon as possible.

After the baby gets a few corrections and is given the time to practice, most babies will master the breast and then be able to transfer back and forth from bottle to breast.