Many mums worry that going back to work means they will have to give up breastfeeding before they're ready, but this isn't necessarily the case.

In fact, there is no reason why mums should stop breastfeeding when they return to work - and at a time when many other things are changing you may just want to keep that close contact with your baby.

Breastfeeding and work

If you do wish to continue breastfeeding at work, there are three main options:

1. Arrange for childcare near to your work, so you can breastfeed during breaks.
2. Express milk so that someone can feed your baby while you are at work.
3. Ask your employer for flexible working hours, arranged around feeding times.

You should tell your employer in writing as early as possible if you are planning to breastfeed when you return to work.

The law does not yet give you the right to paid breastfeeding breaks although it does give you some protection.

Risk assessment

Once you have notified your employer in writing they must carry out a specific risk assessment to identify risks to you as a breastfeeding mother or to your baby. This means that if there are risks to the breast milk itself (eg. of contamination or it drying up), or your working conditions are stopping you from breastfeeding and your baby's health is at risk, they should remove those risks. This could include temporarily changing your working conditions, hours or giving you breaks to express milk.

They are also required to provide somewhere for pregnant and breastfeeding mothers to rest.

EG guidelines

European Commission guidelines (2000) recommend that breastfeeding workers should have:

• access to a private room in which to express milk.
• use of secure, clean refrigerators for storing expressed milk and facilities for washing, sterilising and storing receptacles and
• time off (without loss of pay or benefits, and without fear of penalty) to express milk or breastfeed.

For more information about your rights at work and about making a request to change your working hours, go to workingfamilies.org.uk.

Express delivery

If you are planning to express your milk at work, here are a few tips to get you started.

1. You can express by hand or by using an electric or hand pump. Whichever method you use, wash your hands thoroughly before you start and ensure containers and every bit of equipment used has been washed in hot soapy water, rinsed in clean water, then sterilised.
2. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) recommends that employers provide a private, healthy and safe environment for nursing mothers to express and store milk, however this is not a legal requirement. It is not suitable to use toilets for this purpose.
3. Milk should be stored in a fridge and carried home in a cool bag. It can be stored in the fridge for up to 24 hours between 4-6ºC. Store it in the back or bottom of the fridge, not the door.
4. It can also be kept in an upright freezer in sterile containers for up to three months, or for six months in a chest freezer. Label and date the container, then pour the milk straight into it. If the fat in the breast milk separates when it's thawed, just give the milk a good shake.
5. You can thaw milk quickly be standing the container in hot water - use milk thawed this way immediately. Milk defrosted in the fridge will keep for 24 hours.
6. Do not defrost frozen breast milk in a microwave as this can leave hot spots which could burn your baby's mouth. It is not safe to re-freeze breast milk once it's thawed.