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Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Infant feeding

Expressing at work

21 replies

peacemakeruk · 05/11/2007 15:55

Hi,
Has anyone else had problems with this? I returned to work 3 weeks ago and have only actually been here for a week in total because my company can?t get its act together enough to provide me with a decent room for expressing in. This is a company with 500 people working for them but I?m apparently the first woman who?s wanted to carry on breastfeeding on return to work. The first room they gave me wasn?t even in the same building that I?m in ? I had to cross a busy road 3 times a day to get to it. Then the final straw, someone walked in on me despite my being assured that everyone had been told not to use the room. I immediately went home and was really upset. I was off work for 4 days (paid) because they couldn?t provide me with an adequate room. I?ve now been given another room in the building I work in but its on the ground floor which is currently being refurbished. The room was only finished at the weekend and stinks of paint. I can hear workman walking up and down outside which I?m finding a bit offputting to be honest with you. I know the Health & Safety Exec state that a room should be clean and private but what does private mean exactly?

My husband is totally behind me doing all this for our daughter (she?s 6 months old) but my MIL who we live with is telling him I should give up breastfeeding because of the hassle I?m giving work.

Please people, give me some encouragement here. This is all tough enough as it is and I feel I?ve got an uphill battle on my hands  I?m really starting to get stressed about this now which isn?t helping when I?m expressing, its taking ages.

OP posts:

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freakypenguin · 05/11/2007 16:02

Would just like to say I am really sorry that you are having a rubbish time from your work and well done you for insisting on your rights.

I don't have any real advice other than I think you're right to insist on a room and somewhere appropriate to store your EBM as well.

I hope it gets sorted for you.

2Happy · 05/11/2007 16:06

What the penguin said.

Good for you, standing up for yourself. Good for your dh, too. I don't have answers, but buckets of encouragement. And who knows, if you stick to your guns and get a company big enough to employ 500 people to sort their act out, maybe more women who work there will feel encouraged to continue to bfeed when they return to work.

Good luck

freakypenguin · 05/11/2007 16:08

I wouldn't be surprised if you are the first woman to insist on this. Most people would crumple and reach for the formula.

You are a glorious trailblazer. Hang in there.

(Am trying to keep this bumped until someone with legal knowledge comes along...)

peacemakeruk · 05/11/2007 16:12

Thanks guys. I really don't want to give up but its all such hard work. I want whats best for my daughter and don't want to be browbeaten into giving up.

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moondog · 05/11/2007 16:14

Peace,poor you.
Sounds hideous.
I would get onto the Assoc. for Breastfeeding Mothers about clarifying your rights.
Will link (or ring them on 08444 122 949)

moondog · 05/11/2007 16:15

ABM

Also what about the Breastfeeding Network?

moondog · 05/11/2007 16:16

Breastfeeding Network

GooseyLoosey · 05/11/2007 16:16

I expressed at work for several months. I did it in the loos as would never have dared to ask for a room. Good luck to you!

moondog · 05/11/2007 16:20

More useful information on your rights

Goosy,that is appalling. We must speak up!!

peacemakeruk · 05/11/2007 16:31

I'll check those links out when I get home. My pump is electric so I couldn't/wouldn't do it in the loos. I just wish the bloody thing wasn't so noisy. The fact that there are workmen walking up and down and chatting outside the room probably wouldn't bother me if I had a totally silent pump and they didn't know/weren't wondering what I'm doing in there, especially as I said the floor is empty at present.

OP posts:

peacemakeruk · 05/11/2007 20:35

Is there no one else who have had any problems with expressing on return to work????

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cmotdibbler · 05/11/2007 20:47

I expressed at work for 8 1/2 months, 5 days a week - first woman to request this. Actually I didn't really request, so much as tell them that I was going to be using the first aid room 3 times a day for a while. I made my own sign for the door after a couple of people ignored the normal one, and did discover that being paged on the intercom did nothing for my letdown.
The Ameda Lactaline is really quiet, and very fast - might be worth looking into. I got mine on ebay. It can also run on batteries which is handy, as I have expressed in the showers when the first aid room was in use or in the car when I was off site. In our place the ladies shower or the disabled loo was actually quite salubrious as they were never used.
Can you identify anywhere close to your work area that might work, and ask for that ?

pipsi100 · 05/11/2007 20:57

Well done you - I am in awe. I am still b/f my 10 month old, but have opted for the mix and match method of 1 bottle of formula a day as I didn't see how I could make it work with expressing at work - all our offices have glass walls!! Good luck with your efforts.

MrsHarry · 05/11/2007 22:18

I am also worried about returning to work as I'm a primary teacher, and even if I was entitled to extra time/breaks to express I really don't see how, given the nature of the job, this would be possible, certainly not on a regular day-to-day basis.
I had thought about doing it at lunch time but I know this is unfeasible as I quite often don't even have time to eat my lunch cos of having a 101 things to do before afternoon lessons start.
Until recently I'd just thought I'd give up BF when I go back to work as DD will be 7 months, but things are going so well now after a very difficult start that I want to keep going as long as poss.
I'm worried that if I just don't express in the day I will get very engorged or it will affect my supply.
Does anyone know if I have a right to ask for 'expressing' breaks?

moondog · 05/11/2007 22:49

MrsHarry, look at my links.
Remember also that in a short while they can manage all day without a breastfeed. Mine did at 8 months (having only juice or water in the day) and we carried on breastfeeding on demand am and pm and at w/ends. It worked very well-we carried on for 30 months.

mistlethrush · 05/11/2007 22:58

I used loos at work - and lunch break - not ideal, but OK most of the time - worst occasion was when 'cleaning' team came (Male for a change) and I realised that I'd have to come out whether I'd finished or not as they were waiting outside (audibly) for me to get out of there before coming in to clean. Not ideal, but managed to supply exclusively ebm for about 9 months, then mainly ebm. Carried on bf until 22 months - ended up as just 1st thing in the morning and last thing at night. Stopped through personal choice, no probs. Very glad I carried on until then though - good luck!

Mrs Harry - I'm sure that you must be allowed breaks for this - find out your rights so that you can continue - good for both of you

Best of luck

tiktok · 06/11/2007 00:02

Good links from moondog.

Also, big companies often have an occupational nurse who might help.

Unions and professional organisations are worth contacting.

Your company needs a policy, peacemaker. This is not a struggle that one individual mother trying to express should be waging on her own.

And where is your MIL at? What is important to her - her granddaughter's and daughter-in-law's health, or a small inconvenience to an employer???

tiktok · 06/11/2007 00:03

No one should have to use the toilets for expressing.

Ugh.

peacemakeruk · 06/11/2007 08:54

I wouldn't be able to relax enough to use the toilets at work. That happened to me yesterday after the upset at them not having the room ready despite them knowing since last Tuesday it had to be done for yesterday. It took about 20 minutes for my let down to kick in. I ended up being quite sore.

I'll have a look at that pump cmotdibbler. I would definately feel me comfortable if it didn't make so much noise.

When I got home yesterday tiktok my husband said he was quite shocked at her vehenement his mum had been about me giving up BF

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cmotdibbler · 06/11/2007 08:57

MrsHarry - if you have a double electric pump you can pump hands free, which allows you to eat lunch /mark books/write whilst expressing. I think as a wohm its important to make sure you have a bit of a sit down break during the day, otherwise you can quickly get run down. I found it helped me prioritise that time, and when I stopped expressing I quite missed having a reason to take a break.

EffiePerine · 06/11/2007 09:14

Expressing breaks are v useful when you first go back so you can get a bit of rest - you're likely to feel pretty tired at first. I asked to use the first aid room and had a sign so people knew to knock before coming in. Also, I used the Avent hand pump which is v quiet, but I have a v fast let down so didn't need a double pump to get a reasonable amount of milk in 20 mins or so. Agree that there should be a policy - can you talk to HR? Also, you might not be the first to ask, just the first to make a fuss!

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