Going Back to Work While Breastfeeding: What You Actually Need (From a Mum Who’s Done It)

Going back to work after maternity leave can feel… a lot.

You’re thinking about the logistics - routines, childcare, transport and then it hits you

“I want to continue breastfeeding through expressing. How am I going to manage pumping and storing breastmilk at work?”

If you’re feeling unsure, you’re not alone. Here is a simple guide to help.

What do I need to prepare to go back to work while breastfeeding?

Let’s strip it back to the essentials that will make your day easier.

A reliable breast pump
Breast pump wipes/cleaner
Milk storage containers or bags
A way to keep breastmilk cold throughout the day
A comfortable, private space to pump
A simple routine that works with your work schedule

But here’s the part most people don’t talk about: Storage is the thing that causes the most stress.

Because it’s not just about expressing, it’s:

Where do I store it?
Will it stay cold enough?
What if I don’t have access to a fridge?
What if I have to travel a lot for work?

How do you store breastmilk at work?

This depends on your workplace setup, but most mums fall into one of these situations:

1. You have access to a fridge

Great, this is the easiest option.

Store milk in clean, sealed containers
Place it towards the back of the fridge (coldest area)
Label with date/time

2. You have limited or shared fridge space

This is very common.

Use a dedicated insulated container
Keep milk separate from shared items
Avoid frequent opening to maintain temperature

3. You don’t have fridge access (or don’t trust it)

This is where most mums feel anxious. Some shared fridges have questionable hygiene, and you also feel uncomfortable storing your expressed milk there (or did not want to make your colleagues feel uncomfortable).

You’ll need a reliable cool storage solution
Ice packs + cooler bags are the usual go-to
But they don’t always stay cold long enough (especially in warmer season)

How do you store breastmilk at work?

According to the Australian Breastfeeding Association, freshly expressed milk can be stored:

in room temp (below 26 C) for 6 to 8 hours, and to store in refrigerator if available
in refrigerator (below 4 C), no more than 72 hours

For transport, they recommend:

Using an insulated cooler bag with ice bricks
Keeping milk cold
Moving it to a fridge as soon as you can

👉 The reality?

Ice packs warm up
Bags get opened
Temperatures fluctuate

Which means a lot of mums spend the day quietly worried whether their expressed milk are kept cold enough

A simpler way to store breastmilk at work

This is where Ceres Chill Breastmilk Chiller come in and help alleviate mums worry.

Instead of relying on shared fridges and multiple ice packs and unreliable also bulky cooler bag.

You have a dual chamber system that has been tested to:

keeps milk cold for up to 20 hours
doesn’t require a fridge
lets you pump directly into it
topping ice cube if required is easy. You can ask ice cubes from cafes, restaurants, flight attendance. Refreezing ice packs, not so much!
Not having to juggle a million things (and forgetting something). Juggling multiple parts: ice packs, storage container, cooler bag on top of other things is not fun. Ceres Chill is a system that store and keeps expressed milk cold

What a typical workday might look like

Establishing routine, especially not in your own home may take trial and error until you find one that suits you best. Here is a suggestion of what worked for me:

Morning

Feed baby before leaving
Pump once at work (mid-morning)

Midday

Pump again during lunch break

Afternoon

Optional third pump depending on how late I worked

Having a simple reliable system to pump and store reduces mental load more than anything

And most importantlythe less I had to think about logistics, the more manageable it feels

If you’re preparing to go back to work…

Start here:

Think about your pumping schedule
Plan your storage setup
Do a trial run :)

Trial run helps determine what you need and what you don't need.

Final thought

Going back to work isn’t just about logistics, it’s emotional too (so emotional!).

Having a reliable, simple system to store and express milk makes it so much easier.

Check out our Reusable Breast Pads pack too. It has all that you need to keep dry when out and about: 3 pairs of reusable breast pads, wet bag to store used breast pads, drawstring bag to store clean breast pads and washing net so that your pads don't get lost in the wash.