BFing while working for NHS?

[Tiggytigert]

To ask if anyone here, works for the NHS, breastfed and continued or knew their policies around this?

Im real anxious to ask! I've not got a start date and it's not directly at the hospital but, does anyone know roughly a policy regarding this?

My daughter will eventually be able to be relatively close to me at work, im not expecting to go and be able to feed her, but regarding pumping and keeping up supply?

I'll be doing 8 hrs with only 30 minutes of a break so I'm really concerned I won't be able to keep up my supply if i only have one opportunity to pump!

Especially during Covid id love to be able to continue with EBF (obviously eating solids now too but never touched formula which I'm quite proud of)

Thank you everyone! Can I ask, those of you that said you just regulated and didn't pump - what did you give to childcare to feed baby?

I don't have enough of a stash to have enough for us to keep ontop of so I was going to pump at work and at home to get a stash/feed for next day.

Did you supplement? Have a stash built already? Or just simply not provide any and only solids/water? My concern is she's only going to be 7 months and mainly needs milk

what did you give to childcare to feed baby?

Nothing. They had food and water provided by nursery. Both caught up on anything they needed milk-wise when they came home, evenings and weekends. It gave both of them really good appetites for food and they've always been good eaters since.

@maxdash do you mind me asking how old your DC was? She will most definitely still need a bottle or two in an 8 hour period at 7 months so I'm not overly comfortable about that option x

9 months. Neither ever took a bottle though so I didn't really have a choice!

@maxdash she's the complete opposite - loves anything she can eat! Whether it be finger foods, purees, bottle of expressed milk or direct from the source!

Sorry Tiggy I wrongly assumed that it was a job you were already at. In your case I would ring your manager for a conversation about breastfeeding and ask for a copy of the policy to be emailed.

Re milk supplies - I pumped while on mat leave to build up a stash, but I also stored my pumped milk from work to use. The stash was useful as there were days when I forgot to pump or was too busy, and it saved me from worrying.

Remember to bring plenty of breast pads to work too - I remember being really self-consious about leaking when I went back.