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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Breastfeeding rights at work - please clarify for me please! I start in 3 days!

243 replies

carrie3003 · 14/10/2025 20:42

Returning to work part time after 10.5 months mat leave. Breastfeeding.

It is a new job (bank hours so 0 hour contract I can work when I like). Not worked there before.

First shift and induction is on Friday morning for 6 hours - a 20 minute break.

I have emailed and said my baby will be brought to me around 10/11am for a feed. (I read online that you need to tell your employer in writing you’re breastfeeding so that’s why I emailed)

They have just emailed back:

“That’s fine, we can look to work your break around that time if that’s ok with you”

I don’t have to use my break for this do I?
Surely as a breastfeeding mother I am entitled to my full break for me and a 10 minute breastfeeding “break” for my baby?
They can’t make me use my break to breastfeed can they?

What do I reply? It’s really shocked me as I thought she would just reply saying “yeah that’s fine”

Please tell me I’m not mad. AIBU? I need clarification on my rights and what to say back.

Not keen on returning to work as it is and now this has pushed me even more to just not go!

Thank you in advance lovely ladies xx

OP posts:
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8
daisychain01 · 14/10/2025 20:46

They've shown you who they are, right there. It should be no skin off their nose to let you bf your baby but instead they decided to be mean and unsupportive.

Honestly, if that's how they treat you now, it's not going to get any better.

SENlife · 14/10/2025 20:47

They aren't legally obligated to give you a paid break to feed.

tripleginandtonic · 14/10/2025 20:47

Aren't they on solids?

Original poster
carrie3003 · 14/10/2025 20:48

tripleginandtonic · 14/10/2025 20:47

Aren't they on solids?

Yeah of course but still has milk

OP posts:
MumChp · 14/10/2025 20:49

Why should you be entitled to extra time unless you pay for it? What does your contract say?
I have 3 children. None of them were bf during office hours. I have never seen this arrangement at my work.

Mathsdebator · 14/10/2025 20:49

daisychain01 · 14/10/2025 20:46

They've shown you who they are, right there. It should be no skin off their nose to let you bf your baby but instead they decided to be mean and unsupportive.

Honestly, if that's how they treat you now, it's not going to get any better.

What if it's a job such as childcare where there are strict ratios? It's skin off their nose if someone needs to step in for additional breaks

minipie · 14/10/2025 20:49

They are obliged to give you a private space to breastfeed or rest. They aren’t obliged to pay you while you breastfeed, AFAIK.

Holdonforsummer · 14/10/2025 20:50

What country are you in? And have you actually asked your new employer if they have a breastfeeding policy? You say the baby could be brought in around 10/11am, I don’t know any employers who could work with such vague parameters. And how long are you expecting to need off? I have heard of people pumping at work but never getting paid breaks to breastfeed their actual child. I’m not saying it’s wrong, I have just genuinely never come across it before.

ZenNudist · 14/10/2025 20:50

Are you in the US? Is the baby still under 6mo?

Alexahelp · 14/10/2025 20:52

minipie · 14/10/2025 20:49

They are obliged to give you a private space to breastfeed or rest. They aren’t obliged to pay you while you breastfeed, AFAIK.

Yes this. They aren’t obliged to give you a break to feed specifically, they must give you your legal breaks and those can be scheduled to ensure you can feed then instead. It sounds like a sensible route especially as you’re probably only a few weeks from the baby not needed to feed during the day (they’ll just make it up at night if they want to!!)

Pyjamatimenow · 14/10/2025 20:52

Seems mad to expect this to me. I mean you don’t expect employers to pay for your childcare why would they pay you to sit and breastfeed your baby?

Everythingthatmatters · 14/10/2025 20:53

I’m a bit confused. You are entitled to a space to feed or pump but that’s done in your own time. If you’re working a 6 hour shift your 11 months old can go that long without milk. I successfully fed until 18 months old, returning to work at 8 months. I only had to pump briefly for the first month or so as I worked 12 hour days. My supply adapted after that

didntlikeanyofthesuggestions · 14/10/2025 20:53

daisychain01 · 14/10/2025 20:46

They've shown you who they are, right there. It should be no skin off their nose to let you bf your baby but instead they decided to be mean and unsupportive.

Honestly, if that's how they treat you now, it's not going to get any better.

"They've shown you who they are"

It sounds like they're someone who are flexible with breaks and working arrangements despite fairly short notice and will work with you to enable breastfeeding. I'm not sure what else was expected.

Cosyblankets · 14/10/2025 20:54

I've never heard of this but tbh it sounds quite entitled. Who is doing your job while you're feeding?

Jellybunny56 · 14/10/2025 20:55

YABU OP, you have no legal right whatsoever to an extra break to breastfeed.

Original poster
carrie3003 · 14/10/2025 20:55

Alexahelp · 14/10/2025 20:52

Yes this. They aren’t obliged to give you a break to feed specifically, they must give you your legal breaks and those can be scheduled to ensure you can feed then instead. It sounds like a sensible route especially as you’re probably only a few weeks from the baby not needed to feed during the day (they’ll just make it up at night if they want to!!)

Show quote history

Thank you for this reply! Yes it definitely won’t be for long! And baby may not even need the breastmilk while on shift so may not even be an issue. I just am very surprised at the reply I thought I would be entitled to leave for 5 minutes to feed in the car park - much like someone would have a toilet break!

also to answer others - I am in the UK.

my workplace is on the next street from where I live so why pump? When baby is 4 minute walk from my work.

also I do not expect the breaks to be paid? I can make up the time if they need. I am just very surprised she has said I must do it in my break time and want to know if this is such an unreasonable request as I didn’t think it was at all?

OP posts:
Thisisbetweenyoumeandtheinternet · 14/10/2025 20:56

Can’t you express milk rather than baby be brought to you? Makes sense.
I worked in the NHS and used to take an extra break to express and leave in fridge so I guess this would be the same as you taking a break to feed baby. This was paid. Read the policy or contact HR.

AffableApple · 14/10/2025 20:57

The rights you have stem from you needing to pump/breastfeed for your own health. Provisions made are not about your baby at all, the employer has no obligation to work to a baby's feeding time or take care of your baby in any way. Time comes out of your breaks unless your employer is unusually generous. Yours sounds more than fair, I'm afraid.

Addictedtomushroompate · 14/10/2025 20:57

If you are UK based, they are acting within the law and indeed being flexible. They should do a risk assessment and provide somewhere suitable for you to express/feed but this can be in your scheduled breaks. I think it's fairly good they seem to be flexible about the timing. You can eat whilst baby eats. What job are you doing?

TutTutTutSigh · 14/10/2025 20:57

I've never heard of this. I'd be surprised if any uk employer would agree to essentially unlimited paid breaks. Especially during a 6 hour shift.

Jellybunny56 · 14/10/2025 20:58

You’re unreasonable to expect extra breaks, yes. And no legal right to this whatsoever.

Blessedbethefruitz · 14/10/2025 20:59

I only breastfed my second, but returned at 7 months, baby in full time nursery. She wouldn't take the pumped milk and made up for it all evening and night instead. I just got hands free pumps like elvies and carried on working - but im laptop and remote based so it affected no one.

Like pp, the vast majority of employers are not going to pay you to feed your baby on top of your legally required breaks. It would be nice, but they're willing to move break times for you. Its a horrific work world at the moment though.

theillustratedmum12 · 14/10/2025 21:01

It's things like this that make it difficult for women to be taken seriously when they return to work from maternity leave. It's very entitled to think that you'd be paid to breast feed your baby. Your baby is on solid food now and isn't dependent on your breast milk.

Rachie1973 · 14/10/2025 21:01

daisychain01 · 14/10/2025 20:46

They've shown you who they are, right there. It should be no skin off their nose to let you bf your baby but instead they decided to be mean and unsupportive.

Honestly, if that's how they treat you now, it's not going to get any better.

I think they’ve been fairly flexible to be fair. 10-11 is quite a broad time frame.

Original poster
carrie3003 · 14/10/2025 21:03

Wow Thank you for the replies.
Seems me thinking I could breastfeed my baby in work toilet/car park for 5/10 minutes during a 6 hour shift was too much to ask for! I thought I’d be able to with no issue but clearly not - may have to rethink

OP posts: