Making It Work at Work
The first thing you'll need is a good breast pump. Electronic pumps are available for rent or purchase. Pumps and all breastfeeding supplies are tax-deductible, thanks to a new IRS ruling. For working moms who are paid hourly, work outdoors or have limited flexibility, pumping may be difficult. Fortunately, there are new laws to protect working women. In workplaces with more than 50 workers, employers are required to provide a private area and adequate breaks for nursing moms. If these laws don't apply to your workplace, get creative and be your own advocate. You may need to think of ways to reorganize your work to allow you to visit baby at noon for a lunch-break feeding, cut back your hours, suggest a different schedule or talk to your boss. (You may want to tell your boss that because breastfed babies have lower incidences of illnesses, you may use fewer sick days!) Some working mothers choose not to pump but to continue breastfeeding in the mornings and evenings — just know that this could affect your milk supply.
Plus:
15 Products That Make Breastfeeding Easier
Celebrity Moms Who Breastfed
Real Mom Breastfeeding Stories
