World Breastfeeding Week News: The natural process of breastfeeding creates a special bond between the mother and the baby. Breast milk is the ideal food for your baby as it contains all the nutrition that he needs in the first six months.
Due to several unpredictable circumstances, working mothers may not have time to express their milk. According to experts, this may cause the milk to accumulate, thus causing a hard and painful breast.
“Returning to work for mothers while they continue to breastfeed may seem a little challenging but with proper actions and support, it’s entirely achievable. It’s crucial to begin pumping and storing milk a few weeks prior to resuming work. This helps establish a consistent milk supply and allows for a gradual transition,” Dr. Sushil Kumar Singla, Consulting Paediatrician for Hans Paediatric Program with The Hans Foundation told Financial Express.com.
Staying hydrated is one of the most crucial factors for milk production. According to Dr. Singla, regular pumping sessions, mimicking your baby’s feeding schedule, are essential.
“Techniques like power pumping (short, frequent pumping sessions) can be beneficial if a mother’s milk supply is low. If you are a working mom then a reliable pump is an investment worth making for you. However, one needs to ensure consistency. You must try to pump around the same times your baby would normally feed. Expressing milk from both breasts simultaneously is often more effective,” he told Financial Express.com.
He also emphasised that proper storage of breast milk is essential to maintain its nutritional value.
“Each container should be labeled with the date and time it was pumped. Breast milk can be refrigerated for up to four days or frozen for up to six months. As breast milk offers ample benefits, we highly recommend breastfeeding infants up to the age of 6 months at least,” he added.