Remote Workers/Fly in Fly out Employees: Information Sheet

Remote Workers/Fly In Fly Out Employees: Information Sheet

Introduction:

The World Health Organisation recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of a baby’s life, and then continued breastfeeding for two years and beyond in combination with the introduction of family foods. Many women choose to return to work at some point and the continuation of breastfeeding may or may not be a consideration when timing the return to work. For women whose work requires them to be absent from their infants for prolonged periods (even days at a time) maintaining breastfeeding can be challenging. However with the right support and information from your workplace, family and your child’s caregivers, the continuation of breastfeeding is possible.

Your return to work needn’t mean the end of breastfeeding. Some women state that maintaining breastfeeding assisted them with the emotional transition of returning to work. These guidelines will help you, by providing you with information that will assist you in understanding what is required to maintain breastfeeding, even when separated from your child. The nature of “Fly In Fly Out” work means that you will be separated from your family for a number of days at a time. This presents some unique challenges for breastfeeding mothers – we shall try to address some of these challenges in this information sheet.

[insert company name] supports employees decisions to maintain breastfeeding whilst returning to work, and has put in place a Breastfeeding Policy in an effort to demonstrate best practice.

Your Breastfeeding Objectives:

For breastfeeding to be maintained, a mother would need to continue to feed her infant on a regular basis. At various ages and stages the number of breastfeeds given in any 24 hour period will vary from one mother to another. When you work remotely from your infant, it will be necessary to express your breastmilk for one or more of the following reasons:

· To ensure the breast is emptied and avoid engorgement that could lead to mastitis

· To stimulate milk production, thus maintaining an ongoing milk supply for your infant

· To obtain a supply of expressed breastmilk (EBM) that can be used to feed your infant while you are working

Understanding Your Needs:

What are your breastfeeding needs? Are you wishing to collect expressed breastmilk (EBM) to enable your baby to be exclusively fed breastmilk, or maybe you wish to express to relieve engorgement and maintain your milk supply so that you can breastfeed when you are with your baby but not collect the EBM. As you maybe absent from your infant for many days at a time, you will need to make adequate preparations for maintaining your milk supply while you are absent. Your individual circumstances and the age of your baby will determine how frequently you will need to express while you are away. You will also need to consider if you intend to transport your expressed milk with you when you return to your infant at the end of your shift.

What are your work circumstances? How many days will you be absent from your baby? What are the transportation arrangements for getting to and from work? Will your trip be short enough to allow for milk to be kept refrigerated for the duration and frozen on your return home? Are measures in place for the freezing and storing of your breastmilk?

The answers to these questions will vary from one employee to the next, and will determine your needs.

Making it Happen:

Your needs at the workplace will be in part, similar to those of other women:

· Lockable door and window coverings for your privacy

· Comfortable chair

· Table on which to place expressing equipment

· Access to a power point for expressing equipment

· Hot/Cold running water with soap and paper towel

· Antimicrobial wipes/lotion

· Support materials relating to breastfeeding/parenting

· Further information about [insert name of organisation] policies

· Fridge for storing expressed breastmilk

The needs of employees who wish to transport their EBM back to their home will have additional requirements. These provisions may not be available in all work locations and specific arrangements should be discussed with the appropriate workplace contact.

· Luggage allowances on inbound and outbound flights or transportation to accommodate the additional items that are required by these employees. A list of additional items may include:

o A breast pump

o A cooler bag/small esky

o Freezable blocks

o Milk collection containers/bags

· Access to appropriate storage for EBM. This might include a fridge with adequate space for the amount of milk being collected. Employees may also require access to a freezer for the dual purpose of freezing EBM and freezing cooler blocks for the transportation of EBM.

· With the above considerations in mind you will need to pack sufficient milk collection supplies as well as a cool pack and freezable blocks for the return transportation home.

· Most Australian airlines allow EBM to be taken as carry-on luggage with no volume limit but be sure to check with your airline prior to the trip

Measures in place at [insert company name]

Detail any specific provisions in place at workplace/s

Some Technical Information:

Employees may find some of the following information helpful in planning how to manage return to work and breastfeeding in remote working scenarios.

Breastmilk / Room Temperature / Refrigerator / Freezer
Freshly expressed into a closed container / 6–8 hrs (26ºC or lower). If refrigeration is available store milk there / No more than 72 hours. Store in back, where it is coldest / 2 weeks in freezer compartment inside refrigerator (-15°C)
3 months in freezer section of refrigerator with separate door (–18°C)
6–12 months in deep freeze (–20°C**)
Previously frozen— thawed in refrigerator but not warmed / 4 hours or less
(ie the next feeding) / Store in refrigerator
24 hours / Do not refreeze
Thawed outside refrigerator in warm water / For completion of feeding / Hold for 4 hours or until next feeding / Do not refreeze
Infant has begun feeding / Only for completion of feeding, then discard / Discard / Discard

**Chest or upright manual defrost deep freezer that is opened infrequently and maintains ideal temperature

*Reproduced with permission from National Health and Medical Research Council 2012, Infant Feeding Guidelines. NHMRC, Canberra p59.

When thinking about the amount of milk a mother may express and subsequently need to store and transport, women can gain assistance from the information sources listed below. The following are illustrative examples only.

Example A:

A mother exclusively feeding her 6 month old infant an average of 800ml in 24 hours. If storing EBM in 100ml quantities, this results in 8 bags/bottles per 24 hours. If working a 5 day shift, an employee may need to transport 40 containers of milk at the conclusion of her shift.

Example B:

A mother of an 18 month infant would like to express only for comfort and to maintain her

milk supply so that on her days off she can breastfeed her child. Her work based requirements are facilities and time to express, she has no requirements for the transportation of EBM, as she is not collecting this milk.

Changes over time:

As your infant grows his/her needs will change. This will alter you needs at your workplace, with the general being of needing less time to express and/or collect EBM for your infant.

Where to go for help:

· Before returning to work, speak to your company contact about your specific needs and research the provisions being made available to you

· The Australian Breastfeeding Association has trained Breastfeeding Counsellors who are available to assist women with their breastfeeding concerns, and questions about how to combine breastfeeding and returning to work. They can be contacted on the toll-free number: 1800 68 62 68

· Research breastfeeding and return to work. The Australian Breastfeeding Association publishes two helpful booklets on the subject “Breastfeeding: Women & Work” and “Breastfeeding: Expressing and Storing Breastmilk” that are available online from www.mothersdirect.com.au

· Discuss with your infants carer your intentions for continued breastfeeding

· Role play your plans and formulate strategies for when things don’t go to plan

BFW Remote Workers/Fly In Fly Out Workers Guidelines Template V1 1004