Breastfeeding and returning to work

If you're returning to work, education, or training after having a baby, you might wonder whether you can continue breastfeeding your baby.

The answer is yes, it's completely possible and many women do it.

Make breastfeeding at work as easy as possible

Before you return to work, follow our advice and tips.

Let your employer know you're breastfeeding

Tell your employer that you're breastfeeding before your first day back. If you have a HR department, they can help you plan for your return.

Try to find childcare close to work

If you're able to have your baby close to you in the daytime, you can breastfeed in your breaks.

Negotiate a flexible working pattern

See if there's an option for you to work flexibly. This could include working part time, working from home, breaking up the working week, having shorter workdays, or working fewer but longer days.

Experiment with partial breastfeeding

Partial breastfeeding involves breastfeeding when you're at home and expressing milk while you're at work. This means that your baby can drink your breast milk the next day, even when they're away from you.

Talk to other mums

Chat to other mums about how they managed breastfeeding and going back to work – you could do this at a local mum-and-baby group or on online forums like the mumsnet breast and bottle feeding forum.

Top tip

Do a few trial runs of your new breastfeeding routine before you return to work. It'll give you both time to adjust.

How do I express at work?

Your employer is legally required to provide a place for you to rest if you're breastfeeding. But they're not required to provide a space to breastfeed.

You can ask if they can organise a private space for you to express or breastfeed. You could ask about using a:

mother and baby room
first aid room
spare office
private room

You should not express in a toilet. You wouldn't prepare your own food in a public toilet, so you shouldn't have to prepare your baby's there either.

How often will I need to express?

You might need to express at least every 3 hours when you're first away from your baby.

Being relaxed and comfortable is key. You should practise before you go back to work.

Read our guide on expressing breast milk.

Your legal rights

Let your employer know in writing that you'll still be breastfeeding when you return. They're required to provide somewhere for you to rest during the day, including somewhere for you to lie down.

For more information on your rights when you return to work, including examples of best practice, read the ACAS returning to work guide.