The good ole days are gone when women left their employment to raise their children when they found out they were pregnant. Sad but unfortunately true. In today's socio-economic climate, it is almost always a necessity that women return to the workplace once their maternity leave is over. Of course at this point one of the problems new moms face is how to continue to breast-feed their newborn baby. Many Moms will find that breast-feeding then becomes a luxury that many nursing mothers are not able to manage due to the problems associated with both working and being able to breastfeed their new babies.

If you have to go back to work after having your baby it doesn't automatically mean you have to give up breast-feeding. Normally with a little contemplation and ingenuity, it can work out quite nicely.

You may find that many of today's firms and/or employers are becoming increasingly aware of the problems new mothers face when it comes to breast-feeding, and to be fair to their employees, the firm/employer will furnish the facilities needed for the working mother to express her milk via a pump which she can then fed to her baby. Unfortunately these types of employers are still way too few and far between, and the reality is that majority of nursing mothers will give in to defeat and start their baby on formula milk. Be diligent and pursue!

If you are lucky enough to be able to express your milk while you're at work, you will want to give prudent thought to how you are going to do it successfully.

Here are a few suggestions you may want to consider when shopping for supplies and/or equipment needed for expressing your milk at your place of work.

* A breast pump is clearly a necessity. This is your most significant piece of equipment. Don't be afraid to spend some money on this! Make certain you buy an electric pump, (this is highly recommended) and you are confident of how it works.

* You will require a cooler bag or tote to place the milk in after it's been expressed.

* Have lots of baby bottles (important... don't forget the lids). You will of course need to be sure they have been sterilized to ensure your baby doesn't get an upset tummy.

* It's also an excellent idea to have a hand breast pump just in case of any emergencies that may arise.

* Use a marker to put the date on your feeding bottles.

* Try to wear the appropriate clothing for breastfeeding. This will make the task so much easier for you.

* Have a supply of disposable pads so you don't have to worry about leakage.

You may be a high profile businesswoman, or you may be working in a factory, it really doesn't matter. What does matter is that your clothing is appropriate for both work and pumping your breast milk. The last thing you want is to go into a meeting after expressing your milk with stains on your clothes be sure you are wearing a top that is buttoned down the front; it's also a great idea to keep a napkin or tissue accessible in case you have some spillages.

Another important piece of clothing... a good maternity bra. Maternity bras open very conveniently in the front and are perfect for breast-feeding. Don't forget those breast pads in case of leakage.

All your efforts to breast-feed your baby while working will pay off in the long run. Breast milk is the most wonderful thing you can give your newborn!