Nurse, still breast feeding, going back to work. Do you have a right to ask...

[WhatDidHeSay123]

Not to do nights or shifts back to back for the first few weeks/months?

I ask because I'm a student nurse in my last few months before I qualify, about to start my final placement.

But for the next 6 weeks I'm on a contract and being paid (weird covid thing) and I wondered if I had any hope in hell asking not to do nights or shifts back to back?

My milk will dry up pretty quickly even with pumping.

That will happen because it reduces hugely just him going to the CM for 3 days a week during the day.

If I did shifts back to back, I'd say good bye to him at 6pm Monday night, leave before he's awake, get back when he's asleep X2 and not see him until Thursday morning.

I get that this will be a common nurse problem and people will ask why I'm going into this vocation but I'm just asking if I had any chance in requesting this or be told to eff off.

For clarity, he's a 1 year old, not a 6 month old.

You will need to chat to them. I would think they might be more willing to accommodate no back to back shifts but less keen on no nights, but will depend on how they do the rota I guess.

Thanks.

Are you a nurse?
I also don't think I appreciated how hard it would be to be away from him that long.
That's come as bit of a shock.

Most nurses I know, go back part time to start with. Now I know why.

What makes you think your milk will dry up? I breastfed both of mine post 12 months and worked shifts and went to nursery 3-4 days per week so they went through days and then some nights without milk. Didn't affect my supply at all (and I didn't pump).

You can always ask. If they say no you won't be any worse off than had you not asked. Will you be able to pump on your "breaks"?
I'm a nurse but not in UK. After my last mat leave I did no nights for the first 4 weeks and then reduced nights for the next two months but our mat leave isn't as long as in the UK. I pumped on my breaks which as you can imagine are few and far between

We don't allow just night shifts or back to back shifts. We only allow 2 shifts together because we are a fast paced ward.
We let staff pump whenever they need to. My colleague has a cubicle designated each shift and pumps when she needs to.

If you are a student then you need to be doing the full range of night, day and weekend shifts.

If you are a student then you need to be doing the full range of night, day and weekend shifts.

Which I have done, for nearly 3 years.
You made it sound like I haven't pulled my weight until this point.
I absolutely have.

Just general bf advice sorry if already aware.

With shifts, keeping your fluid intake up might be an issue re supply. Eating well also a factor. Oats massively helps my supply. Some people swear by fenugreek.

Actually fenugreek worked with my other kids, I will try that - thank you.

I'm not a nurse myself but am a different NHS HCP with paid students starting tomorrow. In my role we do 7.5 hour days so not as tricky for breastfeeding. Although at least for my nursing friends doing 12hr shifts they have more days off.

Could you have a more general conversation about how they will support you with breastfeeding? You could ask about the shifts alongside options to pump etc. Are the nights particularly worse for breastfeeding? I would assume you would miss the same number of feeds?

I never said you haven't pulled your weight. Our students have to do the full range of shifts as that is what we and the university expect. You will be aware that wards work differently on night and weekends and it's important to do these shifts on your final placement so that we can assess whether or not you are safe to be signed off.

You can ask.
Definitely YANBU to ask not to do back to back shifts.
Would it be possible to split your night shifts- eg do something like Monday/Thursday/Saturday instead of Mon/Tues/Weds if that works better for you? That might be a back up option if they say no to not doing nights.

If they say no , you can talk to your university and see if you can change your placement to one more suitable to your hours ie a day unit. I had to change my final placement (10 years ago but i'm sure it's still the same!) due to it being unsuitable for other reasons. As long as you already have/ can sign off everything you need you'll be fine.

It is definitely worth asking. Unfortunately I don't think they have to accommodate you legally but you may have a ward manager who sees sense. RCN may be able to help if you're a member?

Does your little one sleep through?

I went back to long days when my first was one and found she cluster fed a lot in the night to make up.

Agree with previous poster, really important you keep up your fluids whilst on shift. I didn't pump on shift as found it too much faff but it is absolutely your right to. They must designate you a safe, private space (not a toilet!!) and a fridge for storage.

Not a nurse so can't help from that perspective; but I BF my daughter until she self-weaned at about 2 & half.

For the last 6 months or so she didn't necessarily feed everyday, but supply seemed to match her demand ok. It might not be as bad as you think.

Have you read the ACAS guide, there are some examples of different jobs and adaptations in there which might help you think about the best way to approach the topic. You can definitely ask, but it's always going to depend on a lot of factors as to what's possible.

FWIW, I found my supply was pretty robust after the first few months. Haveing a few days with less feeding didn't have a huge impact. I did need to Express though, or risk ending up rock hard and sore.

Sorry, link seems huge <a class="break-all" href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=archive.acas.org.uk/media/3924/Accommodating-breastfeeding-employees-in-the-workplace/pdf/Acas-guide-on-accommodating-breastfeeding-in-the-workplace.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwjSn9i8_YHqAhWeSBUIHQrLD8YQFjACegQIBBAC&usg=AOvVaw2dAbcbHDubresTeJs2FQcj" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=archive.acas.org.uk/media/3924/Accommodating-breastfeeding-employees-in-the-workplace/pdf/Acas-guide-on-accommodating-breastfeeding-in-the-workplace.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwjSn9i8_YHqAhWeSBUIHQrLD8YQFjACegQIBBAC&usg=AOvVaw2dAbcbHDubresTeJs2FQcj

You can ask, giving breast feeding as a reason, but your employer doesn't have to agree (although they are meant to have reason for not agreeing).

You are, however, entitled to move breaks about to facilitate expressing milk. And every Trust I have worked for had a policy to provide a suitable place to express and storage facilities.