gps attitude to returning to work and bfing - bit upset!

[smileyhappymummy]

Just went to see my GP to talk about combining returning to work and breastfeeding (determined to succeed in this and exclusively breastfeed till 6 months). I'm going back to work when dd is 5 months old but my employer (large NHS organisation) is being clueless about arranging risk assessment etc. I'm concerned because we have some 24 hour shifts to do (some of the time spent sleeping but would still be away from dd for 24 hours)... explained this to GP and she said "Well, if it's going to be difficult why don't you just give her formula?"!! Now, I've no problem with people choosing to ff, I know babies can thrive on it,but I've struggled hard to get to this point exclusively bfing and don't want to stop now! Felt like I'd been slapped in the face, so much for support from my GP... going to phone HV tomorrow (who's been lovely) and talk to her about it again, if only to warn her that she shouldn't advise bfing mums who want support to see this dr!

right, feel better now I've had my rant..

[policywonk]

Why not write a letter about it to the practice manager? It sounds like this GP might need a polite reminder about when to keep her gob shut.

[harpsicorpsecarrier]

yes, I would write to the practice manager.
how very very unprofessional of her.

[harpsicorpsecarrier]

oh and good for you for wanting to carry on bf.
would you like some advice about it?maybe you could start another thread.

[tissy]

I work for NHS, and never got a risk assessment, but there should be a breastfeeding coordinator somewhere nearby (try local maternity unit first). You are entitled to time off for expressing (which will be necessary on a 24 shift) IN ADDITION TO lunch/ coffee breaks. You are also entitled to privacy to express, and suitable facilities (not a toilet), and a suitable placed to store expressed milk. Your trust should also have a breastfeeding policy, and if they don't they should have a family friendly policy, which could apply.

The Maternity Alliance used to be really good at advising on bf and work, but think they no longer exist. Don't know if any other organisation has taken over their role.

NCT may be able to advise, or LLL, maybe.

Good luck- I went back to work fulltime when dd was 4 mths, and expressed till she was 1 year old.

[smileyhappymummy]

think I will write a letter to practice manager, but will probably wait a few days so that I can simmer down a bit and write a considered letter rather than the rant that would come out right now!
Trouble is, I probably need my GP's support because all the breaks etc need a "registered medical practitioner" to say that I need them.... hopefully the health visitor can have a quiet word. Will try and track down the BF co-ordinator, that's a very good idea!
Have to say, both from my own experience and from reading other people's experience I have been depressed by how poorly informed GPs can often be. I take a bit of a personal interest in this as in another 18 months I will be a fully qualified GP - so am determined to be a bit more use to BFing mums!
right, will go and start another thread on suggestions for BFing and work..

[mamadoc]

This might interest you smileyhappymummy: I saw in last weeks BMA news a little article on how a breastfeeding mum was excused from on calls on health grounds and not docked any pay. She argued that when on call she might not get to express at set times and would therefore get engorged and risk mastitis. The trust were obliged to do a risk assessment excuse her from on calls and give her additional breaks to express.
You are entitled to a risk assessment and could ask to see occupational health if your own GP is not supportive. It is hard to stick your neck out on stuff like this and colleagues who made different choices may see you as lazy or a troublemaker (bitter personal experience) but worth it to know you're doing the best for your child.

[smileyhappymummy]

Yes, I saw that too. Interestingly, when I first contacted the BMA they said I had no right to a risk assessment! I then emailed them copies of THEIR OWN GUIDANCE including that article and they are now discussing it amongst themselves as to whether or not they will actually support me - they were meant to get back to me yesterday, but didn't, we'll see what happens today!
Feel like I'm banging my head against a brick wall, this isn't how I wanted to spend the last 3 weeks of maternity leave!
if you don't mind me asking mamadoc, what was your experience like (I'm guessing you too have been in a similar situation)?

[mamadoc]

at BMA wtf do we pay them so much money for!

I'm still on mat leave DD will be 9 months when I go back part time so hoping she might perhaps manage on morning and evening feeds. I can see that on call will be a big problem though if you are really busy and can't express?

I had a bad time trying to get signed off on calls when pregnant. GP just said 'what for, you are not ill you know'. The trust sent me a form to fill in to do my own risk assessment with no guidance at all. I didn't want to upset bosses and colleagues asking for special consideration so I carried on to 37 weeks even though I was shattered. My baby was IUGR and I blame myself so from now on she comes first and if I have to be awkward and unpopular so be it.

[smileyhappymummy]

mamadoc, that's terrible, don't think you should blame yourself though, I know what it's like to be in that situation where everyone thinks you're being lazy and skiving (tbh, think that's what my gp thinks about me and the bfing issues) and there's so much pressure to work even harder. I was lucky during pregnancy - went to occy health first so sorted things out with them but had a friend who had bad hyperemesis, and was pressured into carrying on with working (on calls and all) despite being ketotic and having had her GP sign her off!!!
Today, I hate the NHS, and I hate the BMA (particularly ironic that all they had to do to find the correct answer to their own question was type "breastfeeding" into the search engine on their own website!!).
Hoping that on call will not be too busy so expressing will be possible - never done this job before though, so I don't know... hmm could this be a use for a risk assessment?!!

[nooka]

Why don't you try going back to OH as well? Some GPs just don't like to get sucked into the sick certificate line of work, and OH should at least know all the procedures for your employer. Could you consider returning part time to start with, and avoid the shifts completely for a little while? It might be a simpler solution (although obviously not so well paid, and could affect your training programme). Otherwise your trust should have a childcare co-ordinator, who again should know all the rules and possibilities for you.

[smileyhappymummy]

unfortunately part time not an option... no funding available for flexible working and would still involve shift work!