9 Tips for Returning to Veterinary Practice as a Breastfeeding Mum
Dr Emma Rogers-Smith BSc(Hons) BA VetMB CertAVP MRCVS
Returning to veterinary practice after maternity leave can be a daunting business. What with leaving your tiny human, the anxiety that comes with not having used your clinical brain for a while, juggling childcare and mum guilt in general, it can feel like a lot. Add breastfeeding to the mix, and speaking from experience, returning to work has the potential to feel somewhat overwhelming.
In this article, we have compiled advice from the “Vet Mums” community, garnered from their experiences returning to practice whilst still breastfeeding. We hope this will reassure you that you can return to clinical work while feeding if you choose to do so!
1. Know Your Rights
In the UK, as a breastfeeding parent, you are protected by some workplace laws. Workplace regulations require employers to provide suitable facilities for pregnant and breastfeeding mums to rest, and this area should be private and hygienic to allow employees to express or feed as needed. UK law does not mandate employers to provide a place specific for you to breastfeed or express. The HSE, however, recommends that it is good practice to offer a private, healthy, and safe environment for breastfeeding mums to express and store milk. Toilets are not deemed suitable for this need.
Although the law does not mandate protected feeding time, the Equality Act protects women from discrimination. As such, employers have legal obligations to provide flexible working hours and protection from indirect sex discrimination. Additionally, there is a risk of mastitis from not being able to express or feed, as well as potential health risks for your baby. If your working conditions do not accommodate being able to express, there is a risk to your health and safety in the workplace. Therefore, your employer must take measures to mitigate this risk. So, while the legislation is not as directly protective regarding breastfeeding rights in the UK as in other countries, you still are legally protected. This can be difficult to navigate, but there is further advice on the law regarding breastfeeding at Maternity Action.
Depending on where you practice, other countries will have different laws and accommodations for new and breastfeeding mums. For example, in Germany, breastfeeding mums are not allowed to work on Sundays or after 8 pm. It is worth familiarising yourself with the legal side of things in your locality to ensure your rights are not infringed upon your return to work.
2. Boundaries
Try to feel comfortable holding boundaries with your employer. While it shouldn’t be the case, it is easy for clinical work to infringe on breaks, and protected feeding or expressing time can be no different. If holding boundaries is challenging (I am particularly bad at it!), consider asking for more than you need from the start. Ask for an extra pumping slot (or two) so that when the inevitable emergency comes in, you still get time to meet your needs.
3. One Size DOESN’T Fit All
As a new mum, you will be all too aware that everyone has advice or opinions about the best way to approach every single facet of parenting. Returning to work whilst still breastfeeding is no different. Every person’s experience and needs differ. As a result, it helps not to have a rigid plan of exactly how your return to work and feeding journey will look based on friends and family recommendations. Instead, try remaining flexible, as you may need to work through several iterations to find what suits you both best.
4. Trust Your Body (& Your Baby!)
Your body is incredibly adaptive, and your milk supply is no different. Providing you continue to feed or express your milk supply will adjust to your new routine. If baby takes less milk throughout the day, they adapt their feeding schedule to meet their intake needs. Although it may mean less sleep if they decide every night is a cluster-feeding frenzy, relax knowing your little one is getting what they need.
5. Don’t Panic About the Stash
One of the key pieces of advice echoed by many in our community was not to get too hung up on having a huge freezer stash of expressed milk when you return to work. Only some people can pump large volumes of milk, so you shouldn’t worry if you can’t. And not to alarm, but some babies will even reject frozen milk, so it’s worth experimenting before you commit to pumping a freezer full!
Once you’re back at work, you can establish a rhythm by using the milk you express each day for the following day’s feeds. That said, plenty of mums recommended having a little more (enough for a couple of extra feeds) in case a bottle gets dropped or you miss a pumping session due to work pressures).
Handy Tip: Some mums have higher amounts of lipase in their milk, which can cause a soapy taste after freezing. Scalding milk before freezing can stop this soapy taste, making your frozen milk more palatable for your baby.
6. Hands-Free Pumping
Hands-free pumping can be hugely helpful, both for vets out on the road and those in brick-and-mortar practices. While you are entitled to dedicated time to express, the nature of our work means this time risks encroachment. A hands-free device that tucks into a sports bra (they hold the pumps in place more securely!) can allow for results to be reported or repeat prescriptions to be sorted while getting in an extra pump – providing you are comfortable doing this. (Hold your boundary if not!) We should also say that, while not expressly illegal to use a hands-free pump when driving, this may not be advisable as slippage or leakage are both possibilities which can be distracting and may result in an accident.
There are many hands-free pumps on the market, and the pump you choose doesn’t need a hefty price tag to be effective! If you are on the road, ensuring a portable fridge in your vehicle to store any expressed milk will mean it isn’t wasted.
7. Direct Feeds
While it won’t be an option for everyone because of childcare and distances from home to work, you may consider asking your employer to accommodate time to allow a direct feeding session with your baby in the middle of the day. This might involve you leaving the practice over your lunch break, or you might be able to get someone to bring baby to you.
8. Combination Feeding
For many reasons, expressing milk at work is not the right fit for everyone. Combination feeding with both formula and breastmilk works well for many mums. I found this worked especially well for myself with both of my children, but it’s not always talked about as an option! Your supply will adjust to your baby’s needs depending on the number of feeds/pumps you have; make sure to take the time to gradually reduce your feeds before returning to work to avoid mastitis.
9. The Stress Factor
The nature of our work is, at times, stressful. Cortisol will impact your milk letdown, so you may not express massive amounts at work. Looking at videos or photos of your tiny humans can help with milk letdown, thanks to the oxytocin release. Also, inform your colleagues not to disturb you during your dedicated expressing time.
Doing CPD When Breastfeeding
We want you to feel supported and able to continue your career while being a mum. We offer a wide range of online CPD courses and even remote veterinary certificates, allowing you to fit your CPD obligations around mum life. Catching up on a recorded CPD on the sofa while feeding is very doable! Our in-person courses are also breastfeeding-friendly, with dedicated facilities for mums to feed or express as required.
Final Thoughts
Your feeding journey is unique to you and your baby. There is (unfortunately) no one-size-fits-all advice for making this transition but rest assured that your body is a miraculous thing. Your supply and baby’s feeding behaviour will adapt to this new normal. The “Vet Mums” community on Facebook is a tremendous, friendly, peer-to-peer resource for expectant and new mums who need support making the transitions back to practice.
Don’t forget, Improve Veterinary Education has a range of breastfeeding-friendly CPD options, and we’ll happily support tired vet mums to achieve their goals, whether that’s just ticking off their annual CPD requirements or achieving a veterinary qualification. That’s one thing ticked off the mental list, at least!
