Breastfeeding and Your Career: It's Possible!
Nona D. Andaya-Castillo
International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (2004-2024)
Balancing Career, Motherhood, and Breastfeeding: Insights from Successful Mothers
Marites Sobeng, a life insurance agent, Pam Magallon, an event organizer, and Joanna Llabres, a flight stewardess, are just a few of the many mothers who manage to balance their careers, motherhood, and breastfeeding. Despite the demands of their jobs, which often take them away from home for 2 to 5 days at a time, these women have successfully breastfed their babies exclusively and continued breastfeeding beyond three years.
The World Health Organization (WHO) and many medical organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, recommend exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of a baby's life, with continued breastfeeding up to two years and beyond. Exclusive breastfeeding means the baby receives nothing but breast milk during this period. I also suggest to my patients with family histories of allergies to extend exclusive breastfeeding up to seven months if the baby is gaining weight properly. Many of them have successfully done so.
In 1986, amid the aggressive marketing of formula milk, the WHO declared that follow-up milks were unnecessary. Instead, once a baby is ready for solids at six months, mothers are encouraged to prepare homemade baby foods using indigenous vegetables, whole grains, and fruits.
With these recommendations in mind, both social and family support become critical in meeting the demands of career and motherhood. After all, mothers have the right to work, and workers have the right to motherhood. A father's role is pivotal in ensuring his wife can successfully breastfeed. He and other household members can either undermine her determination or boost her morale. Innocent comments like "Maybe the baby isn't getting enough milk," "Are you sure you have milk?" or "Do you already have milk?" can severely damage a woman's confidence and lead to breastfeeding struggles.
Workplace Rights and Support for Breastfeeding Mothers
At the workplace, a mother has the right to breastfeeding breaks. International standards now recommend 14 weeks of paid maternity leave and the provision of daycare so mothers can bring their babies to work. Ideally, mothers can unite to lobby for these international standards to be incorporated into national laws.
Understanding Breastmilk Production
On a personal level, it's essential to understand the intricate ways our bodies produce breast milk, what triggers or stifles its production, and how to use this knowledge to our advantage. Breastmilk production starts in the brain, where the pituitary gland produces prolactin and oxytocin—two hormones responsible for milk production and let-down. That's why relaxation is crucial during milk expression.
I often explain to my patients how our bodies respond to stimuli similarly to how we react to the aroma of food. Imagine you're in a room, and someone is sautéing garlic, onions, and tomatoes in the kitchen. When the smells reach you, when you hear the sizzling, or when you visualize the dish, your body naturally salivates, and your stomach grumbles in hunger. This response mirrors how our body responds during breastfeeding. I call these stimuli the "6 S's": Suckling, Sight, Scent, Skin, Sound of the baby, all of which can trigger milk production.
I recall a moment when I was breastfeeding and heard another baby crying on the bus. Immediately, I felt my breasts throb and experienced a letdown.
The 6th S is spirituality: If we believe in our body’s immense capacity to nurture, heal, and regenerate—perfectly designed by God—we can trust in His promise of abundance and know that no one will go hungry. This belief can help us produce all the milk our babies need.
Practical Tips for Expressing Milk at Work
To help stimulate milk production while at work, here are some tips:
Proper Breastmilk Storage
The Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine (ABM), an international organization of doctors who advocate for breastfeeding, developed the following guidelines for the proper storage of breast milk:
Storage Containers:
General Guidelines:
Milk Storage Guidelines:
Thawing or Warming Milk:
Maximizing the Use of Excess Breastmilk
Even a single drop of breast milk is precious!
Here are some ideas for using excess milk:
Breastfeeding while balancing a career is achievable, as demonstrated by many dedicated mothers. With the right support from family, the workplace, and personal knowledge of breastfeeding and milk production, mothers can successfully breastfeed and provide the best nutrition for their babies.
Nona D. Andaya-Castillo
International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (2004-2024)
Balancing Career, Motherhood, and Breastfeeding: Insights from Successful Mothers
Marites Sobeng, a life insurance agent, Pam Magallon, an event organizer, and Joanna Llabres, a flight stewardess, are just a few of the many mothers who manage to balance their careers, motherhood, and breastfeeding. Despite the demands of their jobs, which often take them away from home for 2 to 5 days at a time, these women have successfully breastfed their babies exclusively and continued breastfeeding beyond three years.
The World Health Organization (WHO) and many medical organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, recommend exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of a baby's life, with continued breastfeeding up to two years and beyond. Exclusive breastfeeding means the baby receives nothing but breast milk during this period. I also suggest to my patients with family histories of allergies to extend exclusive breastfeeding up to seven months if the baby is gaining weight properly. Many of them have successfully done so.
In 1986, amid the aggressive marketing of formula milk, the WHO declared that follow-up milks were unnecessary. Instead, once a baby is ready for solids at six months, mothers are encouraged to prepare homemade baby foods using indigenous vegetables, whole grains, and fruits.
With these recommendations in mind, both social and family support become critical in meeting the demands of career and motherhood. After all, mothers have the right to work, and workers have the right to motherhood. A father's role is pivotal in ensuring his wife can successfully breastfeed. He and other household members can either undermine her determination or boost her morale. Innocent comments like "Maybe the baby isn't getting enough milk," "Are you sure you have milk?" or "Do you already have milk?" can severely damage a woman's confidence and lead to breastfeeding struggles.
Workplace Rights and Support for Breastfeeding Mothers
At the workplace, a mother has the right to breastfeeding breaks. International standards now recommend 14 weeks of paid maternity leave and the provision of daycare so mothers can bring their babies to work. Ideally, mothers can unite to lobby for these international standards to be incorporated into national laws.
Understanding Breastmilk Production
On a personal level, it's essential to understand the intricate ways our bodies produce breast milk, what triggers or stifles its production, and how to use this knowledge to our advantage. Breastmilk production starts in the brain, where the pituitary gland produces prolactin and oxytocin—two hormones responsible for milk production and let-down. That's why relaxation is crucial during milk expression.
I often explain to my patients how our bodies respond to stimuli similarly to how we react to the aroma of food. Imagine you're in a room, and someone is sautéing garlic, onions, and tomatoes in the kitchen. When the smells reach you, when you hear the sizzling, or when you visualize the dish, your body naturally salivates, and your stomach grumbles in hunger. This response mirrors how our body responds during breastfeeding. I call these stimuli the "6 S's": Suckling, Sight, Scent, Skin, Sound of the baby, all of which can trigger milk production.
I recall a moment when I was breastfeeding and heard another baby crying on the bus. Immediately, I felt my breasts throb and experienced a letdown.
The 6th S is spirituality: If we believe in our body’s immense capacity to nurture, heal, and regenerate—perfectly designed by God—we can trust in His promise of abundance and know that no one will go hungry. This belief can help us produce all the milk our babies need.
Practical Tips for Expressing Milk at Work
To help stimulate milk production while at work, here are some tips:
- Bring your baby's used shirt and smell it.
- Record your baby’s sounds and play them.
- Look at a picture of your baby.
- Imagine your breasts as two waterfalls, with your baby and husband swimming calmly in the milk. If you have older children, let them join in the imagery.
- Say a prayer of thanks for your baby and your milk. I recommend Psalm 23: "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall have everything I need."
- Practice deep breathing: Inhale deeply for six counts, pause for one count, exhale for six counts, and pause for one count. During exhalation, release any stale air accumulated in your lungs due to stress, and fill your lungs to full capacity during inhalation.
Proper Breastmilk Storage
The Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine (ABM), an international organization of doctors who advocate for breastfeeding, developed the following guidelines for the proper storage of breast milk:
Storage Containers:
- Use hard-sided containers, such as glass or hard plastic, for long-term milk storage. These containers should have an airtight seal.
- Plastic bags designed for human milk storage can be used for short-term (less than 72 hours) storage but are not recommended for long-term use, as they may leak, spill, or become contaminated.
General Guidelines:
- Wash hands before expressing or pumping milk.
- Ensure containers and pumping equipment are washed with hot, soapy water and thoroughly rinsed. Using a dishwasher, if available, can improve cleanliness.
- Store milk in small portions to minimize waste. Most breastfed babies take 2-4 ounces (60-120 ml) per feeding.
- Chill newly expressed milk for at least 1 hour before adding it to previously chilled milk from the same day.
- Never add warm milk to frozen milk, as it can partially thaw the frozen milk.
- Label containers clearly with waterproof labels and ink.
- The color of milk may vary depending on your diet, and frozen milk may smell different from fresh milk. There’s no reason not to use milk that your baby accepts, even if it looks or smells different.
Milk Storage Guidelines:
- Milk may be kept at room temperature (up to 77°F or 25°C) for 6-8 hours.
- Store milk in an insulated cooler bag with ice packs for up to 24 hours.
- Milk can be safely refrigerated at 39°F (4°C) for up to 5 days.
- For freezing:
- Inside a refrigerator freezer (5°F or -15°C): 2 weeks
- Refrigerator/freezer with separate doors (0°F or -18°C): 3 to 6 months
- Chest or upright manual defrost deep freezers (-4°F or -20°C): 6 to 12 months
Thawing or Warming Milk:
- Use the oldest milk first.
- Milk can be consumed cool, at room temperature, or warmed.
- Thaw milk in the refrigerator or under warm running water. Never use a microwave or stovetop to heat milk.
- Swirl the container to mix the cream back in, but avoid shaking the milk.
- Do not re-freeze breastmilk once it’s been thawed or partially thawed.
Maximizing the Use of Excess Breastmilk
Even a single drop of breast milk is precious!
Here are some ideas for using excess milk:
- Give it to older children.
- Donate it to orphanages.
- Use it for your skin—it can tighten and revitalize your skin.
- Consider donating it to cancer patients. In Sweden, breast milk is being explored for its potential to help cancer cells die off when they come into contact with it.
Breastfeeding while balancing a career is achievable, as demonstrated by many dedicated mothers. With the right support from family, the workplace, and personal knowledge of breastfeeding and milk production, mothers can successfully breastfeed and provide the best nutrition for their babies.
