Increase physical activity - primarily through walking and bicycling - throughout the State of Minnesota.
BEFORE RETURNING TO WORK
- Discuss your pumping needs with your employer including break times.
- Discuss a location for you to pump while at work ensuring privacy, a comfy chair, and an electrical outlet.
- Purchase or receive a free pump through your insurance
- Make a pumping schedule
- Give your childcare provider a feeding schedule
- 3 weeks before: begin building your milk supply. Don't be discouraged if the first few sessions go slow, as it takes your body time to adjust.
- 2 weeks before: start combining breastfeeding and bottle feeding to get your baby comfortable with the bottle.
- 1 week before: run a trial day to make sure things run smoothly for you and the baby.
MAKING A SCHEDULE
- Try to pump at work around similar times to when your baby normally feeds, as to avoid leaking and engorgement.
- Investing in breast pads can help absorb any leaks between pumping sessions.
- Pumping at the same time every day will keep your milk production up too!
SAMPLE PUMPING SCHEDULE
6:00 am: breastfeed baby
9:00 am: pump during break
12:00 pm: pump during lunch
3:00 pm: pump during break
5:00 pm: pump final time at work or when picking up baby from childcare
- Many babies take to the bottle immediately and can switch between bottle and breast without nipple confusion.
- Have a partner or caregiver start the baby on the bottle. This helps lessen confusion with the new meal delivery
Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) requires employers to provide a safe and comfortable space for breastfeeding employees to pump that isn't a bathroom. It also requires giving reasonable break time for pumping for up to 12 months after giving birth. U.S. Department of Labor (2023)
Breastfeeding Resources - Kandiyohi County
Kandiyohi County Public Health (320) 231-7800, Press 3
Kandiyohi County Breastfeeding Coalition (320) 231-7800, Press 3
Heart Strings Birth Services heartstringsbirthservices@gmail.com
Rice Hospital Women and Children's Unit (320) 231-4420
Breastfeeding Supplies/Pumps - Kandiyohi County
Corner Home Medical - Willmar Monday-Friday: 8:30am-5:00pm (320) 235-8434
Milk Moms (763) 413-0129 www.milkmoms.com
Internet Resources
American Academy of Pediatrics www.healthy children.org
Breastfeeding Online www.breastfeedingonline.com
Center for Disease Control and Prevention www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding
Kelly Mom www.kellymom.com
La Leche League International www.llli.org
Minnesota Breastfeeding Coalition www.mnbreastfeedingcoalition.org
Minnesota Department of Health www.health.state.mn.us/wic/bf
Telephone Resources
Breastfeeding Helpline (800) 994-9662 National Women's Health Information Center provides support for nursing mothers.
Infant Risk Center (806) 352-2519 www.infantrisk.com Evidence based information on the use of medications during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Monday-Friday: 8:00am-5:00pm
Milk Donations
Minnesota Milk Bank for Babies www.mnmilkbank.org (763) 546-8051
CentraCare Milk Depot- St. Cloud (320) 251-2700, Ext. 51990
Human Milk Banking Association of North America www.hmbana.org
Apps
CentraCare Baby- to help build your confidence related to pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding, and adjusting to parenting.
LactMed- database of drugs and dietary supplements that may affect breastfeeding.
Lansinoh-Simplifies tracking pumping sessions, breastfeeding, diaper changes, and more.
MyMedela- offers personalized content, proactive guidance and tips for breastfeeding.
YoMingo Pregnancy App- Evidence-based education on prenatal care, labor and birth, postpartum, breastfeeding and newborn care including many videos.
Chiropractors
Check with local chiropractors to see if they have services specializing in prenatal and postpartum care.
Books
The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding by La Leche League
The Nursing Mother’s Companion by Kathleen Huggins
The Breastfeeding Answer Book by La Leche League International
What to Expect When You’re Expecting by Eisenberg, Murkoff, and Hathoway
For more information, contact your healthcare provider or visit www.quitpartnermn.org to learn about quitting tobacco. They also provide a free pregnancy program for tobacco cessation.
Creating opportunities in partnership with communities to crease equitable, healthy and positive conditions that promote well-being and resilience for all Minnesotans.
2200 23rd Street Northeast | Willmar, MN 56201
Kandiyohi-Renville SHIP operates at the community level through the use of local partnerships. SHIP recognizes that local organizations know best how to positively impact health in their communities. SHIP’s work is directed by local community leadership teams that bring to the table expertise, strong relationships and connections in a variety of fields. SHIP works in multiple settings including non-profits; city and county leadership; schools; workplaces; and local health care organizations. SHIP supports sustainable efforts to make systemic changes in policy, systems and environments.