Breastfeeding at work?

[jonah75]

Hi can anyone help? i need some good advice! I have to return to work soon and am still breastfeeding my dd,she is 6mths but still refuses to take EBM from a bottle or cup. I am lucky that i live very close to my work so i have been looking into the possibility of breastfeeding at work, getting my hubby to bring her in. It sounds great in theory but has anyone done it? i wanted to be a bit clearer on the pros and cons before approaching management about it!
Any help would be much appreciated (or a magic bottle to get her feeding from!)

[TheOldestCat]

Hi Jonah

Can't help on the bringing the baby into work thing as I express when I'm in the office. But I can offer some advice on the refusing bottle and cup thing, if you do decide to go down that route - a doidy cup worked for us when all other bottles/cups failed. might be worth a try?

Good luck with whatever you decide.

Hopefully someone who's fed their baby at work will be along shortly.

[Scoobi6]

I was in a similar situation when I returned to work when DD was 6 months old, she wouldn't take a bottle and had full days at nursery. Does your dd take any food yet? If so I'm sure she'll be fine on food and sips of water until you return, mine was. The nursery staff kept offering her bottles, with no pressure on her to take them, and she gradually accepted them over a few weeks. We found Tommy tippee closer to nature were good, they are large like the breast so baby has to open her mouth wide to latch on iyswim

If feeding at work isn't practical and you feel your dd really needs milk during the day, could you pop home during lunch break or something?

Try not to worry, it will work out fine

[callmeovercautious]

Be aware that there is no specific rule that says they have to give you the time to BF and there may even be H&S reasons why DD may not be allowed into your workplace.
Having said that many reasonable employers might consider the request if you give your request some thought. Make sure you could answer any worries they might have. eg how often (prob once a day at around Lunchtime should see her through), what extra time will you need off (you will do it in your Lunch hour) where will you feed? (the car? or an office?).

If you don't get the answers you are looking for here post on Employment Issues.

HTH

[jonah75]

Hello!! Sorry for the late response, finally putting my feet up

Thank you all for your sound advice, it's really helpfull. really wish i wasn't having to go back to work at all, but needs must.

i will get a good plan together and approach it like that, otherwise DD will have to learn to take milk from DH! And he'll have to cope

[oops]

Message withdrawn

[jonah75]

Thanks oops, just want to be able to go to work without worrying about her.
its good to know that i'm not the only one and it will hopefully come right in the end.
we'll have to keep persevering with feeding alternatives!
Any advice on the whole separation situation as eventually she'll be going to a nursery, she doesn't like to go far from me and DH and will only spend short periods with other carers. she gets very distraught, and cries and cries.