Last Reviewed: September 2009
Weaning Your Baby
Returning to work or school
I am returning to work/school, can I keep breastfeeding?
Some mothers worry that they have to stop breastfeeding when they return to work or school. With some planning, you can continue to breastfeed for as long as you and your child want.
Know your Rights
When you return to work or school your right to breastfeed is protected under law. Women should not be discriminated against in any way because they have chosen to breastfeed. A supportive environment can be created with minimal disruption.
Ontario Human Rights Code and Breastfeeding in Public
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- Find a caregiver or child care provider who supports your decision to continue breastfeeding.
- Talk to your employer about options like working part-time, job-sharing, or working from home part of the time.
- Find out if your workplace has a workplace breastfeeding policy, a room where you could express and store your breast milk or where you can breastfeed your child.
- Talk to your employer about the benefits to the employer: Breastfeeding employees miss less work time with sick children and breastfeeding employees have fewer costs to family drug benefit plans.
Tips to continue breastfeeding once you return to work or school:
- Breastfeed before you leave for work or school and when you return home.
- Plan your day at work or school to include time to express or pump your breast milk.
- Usually 10 to 15 minutes is all that is needed once or twice during the time you are at work or school to maintain your milk supply. Some employee benefit plans cover the cost of a pump.
- You can store the milk you express in a cooler bag or refrigerator.
Storing Breast Milk(
PDF file, 182KB)
Expressing your breast milk
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