Breastfeeding and returning to work in the UK: a mum & peer supporter’s guide
Returning to (paid) work while breastfeeding in the UK can feel like a juggling act. It can be full of choices, emotions, and sometimes grief.
I’m Sam, an executive coach, coach supervisor, mum of two, and a trained breastfeeding peer supporter. I have been there: leaking in office meetings, pumping in odd corners, navigating toddler naps around work, and figuring out how to make breastfeeding fit alongside my career.
If you are facing this too, I want you to know you are not alone. There is no single “right” way to do it, and you can make a work and breastfeeding plan that works for you.
Breastfeeding on the train while returning to work in the UK — real life for many mums balancing feeding, travel and career.
You are welcome here — whatever your breastfeeding story
Not every breastfeeding journey is straightforward. Some are full of connection and joy. Others are marked by challenges, grief or trauma.
Perhaps you had to stop earlier than you hoped. Perhaps health issues, lack of support, or work pressures made feeding harder than you ever imagined. Those feelings are valid. They matter.
This post is here for every mum — whether you are feeding happily (breastmilk or formula), combi-feeding, pumping, still processing a difficult experience, or ready to stop.
What I wish more mums knew about breastfeeding and returning to work
1. You don’t have to stop breastfeeding to return to work
Many mums in the UK return to paid work around nine to twelve months. By this stage, your baby may be feeding less often, which means you might not need to express milk at work unless you want to. Your feeding pattern will adapt and you can make a plan that suits you and your baby. Of course your plan will be unique to you, your baby and your work - if you’re working from home with baby close by your plan will look different to the needs of someone travelling and away overnight.
2. You do not need to “train” your baby for other caregivers
Some mums feel pressure to get their baby sleeping or settling without breast milk before going back to work. In reality, other caregivers often find their own way of comforting your child.
3. Pumping at work is possible (although not always well supported)
In the UK, there is no specific legal right to pump at work. Many workplaces are flexible, but it is worth talking to your employer early and making a plan. Breastfeeding is protected, and your workplace shouldn’t put you in a position where you risk stopping when you don’t want to, or risking mastitis if you can’t express when you need to.
4. Support is not just for the newborn phase
Peer support groups, the National Breastfeeding Helpline (open 24/7 on 0300 100 0212 and on social media), and lactation consultants can all help you through big changes like returning to work, reducing feeds, or stopping altogether.
My journey: feeding, working, and finding what works - in the office and in self-employment
It’s now more than seven years since I breastfed my eldest for the first time. Seeing other mums feed confidently helped me do the same as I started going to baby groups and seeing friends.
With my second, I returned to work when he was four months old. That meant pumping at work, bottle feeding for him, and working out our rhythm. Now, with a toddler still breastfeeding, I still rely on it for comfort, naps on the go, and, yes, occasional tantrum defusing.
How coaching can help
Through my coaching programme, Rooted and ReBloom, I help mums navigate big life and work transitions, including the return to (paid) work while breastfeeding.
I am not a lactation consultant. I will not tell you what you “should” do or give advice. But I will listen deeply, ask the right questions, and help you make your own feeding and work plan that is realistic, sustainable, and right for your family. A big part of this will be referring you to the right professional support, and sharing from my huge toolbox of helpful guides and information.
You are not alone
Whether you are confident and content, still figuring it out, or feeling the weight of a difficult feeding journey, your experience matters.
If you would like to explore how to make breastfeeding and work fit together for you, I would love to help.
→ Book a free 30-minute connection call here thefloat.space/book
Helpful resources:
National Breastfeeding Helpline(24/7): 0300 100 0212
Emma Pickett IBCLC: @emmapickettibclc (she’s a particular expert on feeding toddlers and older children, and on stopping)
