Returning to work is a challenge for many moms, whether it is their first child, or third. In addition to the difficulties in finding a qualified day care provider that will love your newborn as much as you do, there are other, very important decisions that need to be made.

One of those decisions is whether or not to continue breastfeeding.

With the balance of juggling job and family, many think it is too much to throw nursing into the mix. However, it doesn’t need to be that way, says Lena Ostroff, chairperson of La Leche League in Bermuda.

“Although returning to work poses new challenges to the working mother, juggling a career, parenthood and breastfeeding is completely possible,” she says. “Many women have found that with a few adjustments, it is simple and greatly rewarding to provide milk when they are separated from their babies.”

One of the biggest reasons to persevere with nursing, according to Ms Ostroff, is that breastfed babies tend to be sick less often and, in turn, that means mothers miss less days off work looking after sick children.<$z$>“Happy, healthy babies make for happy, productive employees,” Ms Ostroff explains. “Leaving a sick child at home makes returning to work all the more difficult.

“Working mothers consider breastfeeding less difficult than bottle feeding.

“At home, there are no bottles to prepare, disruption to sleep can be minimised and the one-on-one attention babies need is guaranteed,” she concedes.

Which is why La Leche League strongly encourages companies to be nursing-friendly: “Creating a quiet, private space to express milk would make the work place much more attractive for a large number of employed women. A chair and an outlet are about all that is needed.

“Companies provide appealing benefit packages and realise the importance of perks like exercise rooms, on-site child care, wellness programmes and adequate medical insurance. Offering a room for expressing milk is cost effective, simple and an important benefit for working women,” Ms Ostroff adds.

While making the decision to continue nursing after returning to work does require a small financial investment in the purchase of an appropriate pump, very little else is needed.

Ms Ostroff feels a double electric pump is the best choice: “However, some women do fine with single pumps and a few women can even learn manual expressing.

“Most double electric pumps come in an easy to carry shoulder bag that contains all one needs to express: pump, battery pack, bottles, cold packs and storage. Double electric pumps can take as little as 10 to 15 minutes, so generally, a mother can find two times a day to express.”

Although not ideal, women can use a bathroom and an extension cord or battery pack when expressing, she suggests.

“This can easily be done during a lunch or coffee break,” Ms Ostroff says. “It takes less time than employees who leave the building for cigarette breaks and the results a<\h>re only positive.”

For additional support, Ms Ostroff suggests mothers contact La Leche League at 236-1120 or email islandgirl@northrock.bm.