The day a nursing mom returns from maternity leave, she finds herself in a nonstop cycle of feeding, pumping, and bottle washing - all while balancing her workload. Curious what that might look like? Below you'll find a snapshot of a nursing mom's weekday schedule. For simplicity, this example assumes the mom has limited support from a partner and no other children.

Pumping typically takes around 30 minutes but every mom and situation is different. It can take much longer depending on room availability, her expression flow, clean up time, etc.

If all goes smoothly, it's a relatively manageable schedule. With such small margins for error though, the slightest deviation from the routine can send this mom's day spiraling out of control. Something as simple as returning home to grab forgotten diapers can make her late for work, impact the timing of her pumping windows, cause her to stay late at work, and ultimately have a major impact on her mental wellbeing. With that in mind, it's important for employers and managers to remember that nursing moms are in desperate need of grace and flexibility in the first year.

Looking for ways to better support women as they return from maternity leave? Check out our Tips for Managers.