Breastfeeding strategies for mothers returning to work

Returning to work after maternity leave presents challenges for mothers wishing to continue breastfeeding. Experts suggest that with proper planning, mothers can maintain milk production and adapt their routines to include milk expression and scheduled feedings during periods of separation.

Dr. Carolina Curci, a gynecologist and obstetrician, emphasizes that returning to professional activities does not have to result in weaning. She advises that instead of focusing on building a massive milk stockpile, mothers should develop a sustainable daily strategy. Preparation can begin before the return to work by testing expression techniques to understand milk volume and determining how many hours the baby will be without the mother.

In Brazil, the importance of this topic is highlighted by data from the Food and Nutrition Surveillance System (Sisvan), which indicated that 59% of babies up to six months old monitored by the SUS Primary Care system were exclusively breastfed in a 2026 partial survey.