Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Infant feeding

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

Original poster

Back to work in 2 weeks and just been told there is nowhere suitable for me to express

22 replies

BelinaTheTurkey · 12/12/2011 19:05

Going back to night shifts two weeks today and just got an email saying the room I used last time to express in is now someone's bedroom, so I can't use it (I'm on nightshifts, probably would be a bit rude!).

The options I've been given are to use a room off the lounge that has no door, just a very wide arch, and you have to walk through the room to get to the kitchen and past it to get to the bathroom, so I would have no privacy from the other member of staff or any clients that get up in the night (work with adults with special needs).

Other option is the toilet, which has no room for a chair, so would have to sit on the toilet lid, no plug socket, and obviously is not the most hygenic place to express.

No idea how to handle this! I'm not really comfortable with either option. What should I say to work?

Tia

OP posts:
tiktok · 12/12/2011 19:42

They're breaking the law, Belina. You can contact your HR, and point this out. Or if they still make it difficult, your professional organisation or trades union may be able to help and support you.

It's unsafe, unhygienic, uncomfortable and illegal to make you use the toilet.

The NHS have a useful leaflet which is intended for employees and employers - you can get a PDF of it if you google breastfeeding at work.

happywheezer · 12/12/2011 19:45

They have to find you a suitable room

LovesBloominChristmas · 12/12/2011 19:46

Sorry I can't link but tge directgov website should give you the easy version of their legal requirements.

blackoutthexmaslights · 12/12/2011 19:48

in that case they have 2 weeks to find you somewhere

are you in a union?

CountBapula · 12/12/2011 20:03

I'm afraid they aren't breaking the law. This from directgov:

"Although there is no legal requirement, employers are encouraged to provide a private, healthy and safe environment for nursing mothers to express and store milk."

redwallday · 12/12/2011 20:09

Only thing you can do is express in the room off the lounge and use a nursing cover, at least noone will see anything then but depends how comfy you are doin this?

Original poster
BelinaTheTurkey · 12/12/2011 20:41

Hi thanks for the responses. I'm not in the union, but I work for the states of jersey (effectively the same as working for the government) so they have to be seen to be pr

OP posts:
TimeWasting · 12/12/2011 20:42

Is there not an office?

Original poster
BelinaTheTurkey · 12/12/2011 20:44

Promoting Breastfeeding (especially as we have very low rates in Jersey). I could use a cover, that would probably be the best option, just think I'll end up feeling so uncomfortable I'll just be expressing enough to not explode, and won't be able to get enough out to actually feed DS.

Just feeling really down about returning to work now, DS is a really clingy baby and comfort feeds a lot, so the idea of potentially not being able to keep up with the feeding makes me very sad

OP posts:
lilham · 12/12/2011 20:46

I think the nursing cover would be a good compromise too. They are very discreet. And a pump is less wriggly than a baby.

Original poster
BelinaTheTurkey · 12/12/2011 20:47

No office, it's just a cupboard with paperwork in and we use the dining table. It's a really open plan house because it is designed for wheelchair users, hence the wide doorways

OP posts:
Original poster
BelinaTheTurkey · 12/12/2011 20:49

Probably will have to use the cover and just suck it up! Doesn't help that my first shift back is on with the only male member of staff who I'm pretty sure finds the whole breastfeeing process pretty unpleasant

OP posts:
Yawner247 · 12/12/2011 20:58

Can you send him off to do the cleaning/restocking whilst you express? Grin

tiktok · 12/12/2011 21:05

It is effectively against the law to make a mother express in a toilet - because this would not pass any risk assessment.

It (sadly) is not illegal not to supply somewhere clean and private, just good practice to do so.

If you are in the public sector you could check out European legislation for govt. depts.

Original poster
BelinaTheTurkey · 12/12/2011 21:13

Yawner I think he'll probably scurry off into the farthest corner in terror!

It's been a while since I was in the building, but there used to be sliding doors on the kitchen but I'm not sure if they've been replaced after they got broken, so I could maybe see if they could put the doors back on and use the kitchen.

OP posts:
Original poster
BelinaTheTurkey · 12/12/2011 21:16

tiktok would the channel island laws be on there? I've no idea where to look! I don't think we have any laws protecting breastfeeding mothers, I think you're allowed to ask them to move on (although the public backlash would make this a VERY bad plan)

OP posts:
tiktok · 12/12/2011 21:28

Sorry, no idea, Belina - try asking your MP or equivalent???

This might be something worth taking to your MP anyway.

Yawner247 · 12/12/2011 21:37

belina I use a cover up with my wriggly 7month old and my sisters 25yr old boyfriend still can't sit in the same room!!! Grin

Albrecht · 12/12/2011 21:39

Have just googled and there is a Jersey Baby Cafe and NCT in Jersey. Hopefully they might be able to clarify the law there for you.

MavisG · 12/12/2011 21:45

That's so shit. Can you use relaxation techniques, e.g. Hypnobirthing-type music on headphones, plus photos of your baby, to help you express more? Can you explain to colleague that you'd appreciate privacy and could he sit on the bog with a book for a bit?

Mampig · 12/12/2011 21:47

Hi op. I work for govt too, altho maybe different policy to you. I'm back tomorrowSad!!. Policy here is if it is impossible for me to continue to bf or express, bearing mind that I have to be allowed time to express, I will be allowed paid time off to bf. I am meeting with manager tomorrow to sort it all out. Manager tho has no children and is 'of a certain' age, so I'm hoping I have no problems getting somewhere and time to express. But I have the policy to fall back on if need be. Have you checked your policy on bf mothers in your workplace?

Original poster
BelinaTheTurkey · 12/12/2011 22:18

Mampig as far as I know there is no specific policy on bfing mothers, but I know that they decinitel want to be seen to be doing everything. I am lucky enough to have very sympathetic managers, most of them have families and my line manager is currently pregnant, so she is doing her best to sort things out, but despite there having been loads of babies born to staff in the service, so far I am the only one to breastfeed, so have nothing to go on. Good luck fo tomorrow

Albrecht I hadnt thought of the baby cafe, good thinking, there is one near me tomorrow so will ty and get up there

Mavis I plan to have loads of photos of DS on my phone and have downloaded some chilled out music, so hopefully will get a decent amount out. I just remember from when I was feeding DS1 that I barely got anything out, but he had started solids when I went back, so my supply would have already started dropping

Thanks for all the advice, feeling a bit better about it all now

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page