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Infant feeding

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

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Original poster

unable to express at work

16 replies

veget8ed · 28/02/2011 20:51

Just having a moan really, had far too busy a day at work, had one drink all day, no lunch had to work late til 18.45 started at 08.30, been in back to back meetings and had a chotic workload, not able to have a loo break or to take time out to express milk, thankfully home now and fed my DD (9 months old) Does any one have similar experiences and what did you do?

OP posts:

Meglet · 28/02/2011 21:08

bumping for you. Don't they have to provide some time for you to express?

Original poster

veget8ed · 28/02/2011 21:13

Thanks Meglet, yes they do but I'm not sure what to say or who to talk to at work. I guess I just feel very private about it so don't want to make an issue or draw attention really, but I know I really want to carry on BFing.

OP posts:

Meglet · 28/02/2011 21:21

You could get in touch with a local bf counsellor who might have some suggestions about how to make it more straightforward?

RJandA · 01/03/2011 10:13

Hi Veget8ed, first well done for going back to work and carrying on bfing.

I guess it depends on the size of your company, if it was me I would approach the HR department, discuss with them, and then ask to have a meeting with HR and your manager to make sure everyone is clear about your rights and their responsibilities.

Print off this NHS leaflet to show your HR department, although they should be up on this already.

Unfortunately, it will still be down to you to say, right, it's time to express now so I'll see you all in 20 minutes, which can be difficult when you're really busy at work. It'll also be down to you to say that you can't do back to back meetings and you need a break at some point to express. But if people are being difficult about this then I'd go back to HR and ask them to have a word with the people involved to make sure they are aware that you are entitled to the breaks.

I know it's hard if you don't want to be the poster girl for breastfeeding, but good luck.

mousymouse · 01/03/2011 10:15

your work should have done a risk assessment for you. did they do that?

CMOTdibbler · 01/03/2011 10:17

I always said 'right, I need to go and do something for 30 minutes', grabbed food and a drink and went and expressed while I ate. No one blinked an eye at this, even on the busiest days - you just have to be firm.

I did have to tell a customer i had to express once (was on site with them) - and they couldn't have been lovlier about it

TallulahDoesTheHula · 01/03/2011 10:18

Do you have an electronic diary that people use to book meetings with you at work?
Presumably you do have something so that if person A says we need a meeting at 9am tomorrow, you can say 'sorry already booked in ameeting but 10am will be fine' etc
Book yourself a half hour/45 min meeting every day and put it in your diary. Call it whatever you fancy and use that meeting time to express and eat a sandwich/grab a drink. Then other meetings should be booked around it iyswim without you having to explain to everyone that you need to nip off to express

TallulahDoesTheHula · 01/03/2011 10:19

even call it 'meeting with HR' or a person you know works in HR and explain to HR you are doing this and why so that they are in the know if anyone asks about it

RJandA · 01/03/2011 10:20

You should inform your work in writing that you are bfing though. I would address it to the HR department and take it to them myself, at the same time have a word and say that you would like it kept as private as possible.

PoledrathePissedOffFairy · 01/03/2011 10:20

Would second talking to HR or what about Occupational Health? I know it's really an Occy health issue, but it's the sort of thing our on-site nurse would be happy to help with at my work.

PoledrathePissedOffFairy · 01/03/2011 10:21

..............not really an Occy health issue.......

WincyEtNightie · 01/03/2011 10:23

Haven't expressed at work but if I were you I'd look at the whole picture. You didn't have time to express, but you didn't have time to eat or wee either. These are equally important needs & rights.

How can you best build that kind of break into your day? As CMOT says, you can eat & express on the same break. When you've worked that out, then use some of the advice above if you need some kind of "official" sanction to support that. But often it's about having the confidence to grab that time. I know what it can be like in a busy job but there has to be some way to make sure you get some kind of break, regardless of the reason for it- otherwise you will burn out.

Good luck. (I'm back to work next month with a 10 month old. Dreading it and looking forward in equal measures ATM)

Zoonose · 01/03/2011 10:23

Agree with suggestion about marking time out in your diary, also can you drink water in meetings or fill up a 1l bottle from the water dispenser in the morning and keep it on your desk?

flowery · 01/03/2011 10:24

Have you actually told your manager and HR that you are breastfeeding and need time to express?

Cosmosis · 01/03/2011 10:44

Yes I agree with others, you need to speak to HR if you have an HR dept. I'm organising going back to work at the mo and I just asked them for a room to use, and they were fine about it.

jaggythistle · 01/03/2011 15:06

Occupational health dept sorted it all out for me actually so that might be the place to ask. My boss asked them for me while I was on Mat leave.

I took sandwiches/rolls for the first while to eat while expressing, but if I did have a busy day I just had to do some expressing in the evening.

good luck :)

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