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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

Can you be signed off work to breastfeed a baby under 6 months?

33 replies

emmam25 · 14/05/2012 18:19

I have already given my return to work date but little one won't take a bottle at all. I have been told that if my little one won't take a bottle and are under 6 months the doctor could sign me off work to enable me to continue to breastfeed. Does anyone know if this is true?

OP posts:
MoaningMinnieRisesAgain · 14/05/2012 18:21

I think it is very unlikely. You can change your mind about your return to work date though, as long as you give them 8 weeks notice I think.

How old is the baby now and when are you planning to return to work?

AThingInYourLife · 14/05/2012 18:25

I'd be amazed if you can do this, and absolutely astounded if you can do this and not piss your employer off more than could ever be worth it.

SauvignonBlanche · 14/05/2012 18:27

I don't understand, surely GPs can only sign people off if they're sick?

DonInKillerHeels · 14/05/2012 18:30

No, a GP can't sign you off for this reason. You can extend your maternity leave if you wish to. Or get your baby to drink from a bottle; s/he will if there is no other option. Experiment with lots of different types; my DS would only take Medela.

scarlettsmummy2 · 14/05/2012 18:30

Have you tried a cup?

rubyslippers · 14/05/2012 18:31

At 6 months, you can feed in the morning and evening

In conjunction with weaning, cups and expressing your LO should be ok

Are you near enough to your child to feed at lunch for example or get your childcare to bring them to you

In answer to the question, I think the answer would be no

You aren't sick

You could speak to your employer about a slightly later return to work date or some more flexibility in the early stages of your return to make things easier

HateBeingCantDoUpMyJeans · 14/05/2012 18:33

Have you tried different bottles? Ds wouldn't take one but I tried one more and he does. It a cheaply one but has a very small teat, think of tge sort you see them feeding lamb with.

BalloonSlayer · 14/05/2012 18:33

Just out of interest - what if the baby had cows' milk protein allergy and had to have breast milk?

NickNacks · 14/05/2012 18:35

Then you would express.

rubyslippers · 14/05/2012 18:35

Re the allergies, you can and should be allowed to express at work so you could express the milk

thisisyesterday · 14/05/2012 18:36

erm, no not as far as i'm aware

have you tried cupfeeding?
is it plausible for someone to bring baby to you during the day?

if your baby had a cmp allergy you would express and give it, or use a prescription formula. or not go back to work yet

PavlovtheCat · 14/05/2012 18:37

my dd would not take a bottle, so i fed morning, evening, and went to her nursery in my lunch break for lunch feed.

AThingInYourLife · 14/05/2012 18:38

It's not just that they have to allow you to express, they need to provide a suitable place (private) for you to do it and give you the time.

Northernlurker · 14/05/2012 18:39

Your GP can only sign you off for conditions that you have. So if you were say suffereing from post natal depression then yes they could sign you off. Your baby's feeding needs doesn't come under that unless it in turn causes you ill-health.

Original poster
emmam25 · 14/05/2012 18:53

Thanks everyone. He is 19 weeks now, returning to work at end of the month. He won't take any bottle/teat that we have tried, he never has done. He did take some from a cup but very little and is now refusing that too. It's very stressful situation but a friend told me that you could be signed off if the baby is not 6 months. I guess she is mistaken though or Docs thought it could lead to PND. Thank you for your advice.
PS my job is full time and would not allow enough time for enough breaks to express or to feed so that limits my options. :(

OP posts:
Squeegle · 14/05/2012 18:59

My baby wouldn't take a bottle at all, I was getting v stressed when I knew I had to go back to work. The health visitor suggested adding milkshake (crusha) to the bottle and lots of it!

I was a bit shocked- but guess what, it worked a treat, and then I just had to gradually reduce the amount of milkshake per feed. Would thoroughly recommend- I used banana flavour!

Mibby · 14/05/2012 19:00

Post in legal to be sure but i think they have to allow you time to express

Figgygal · 14/05/2012 19:05

Yep your friend is mistaken and your employers are obligated to support you in bf but that won't extend to your lo's individual issues with a bottle. Keep trying am sure someone can suggest ways to get him to take to a bottle.

UnderwaterBasketWeaving · 14/05/2012 19:08

Your employer is legally obliged to give you time to pump.

Try different bottles, DS eventually took a breast flow bottle, but it was about 6 weeks till he took to it properly.

Till then, my wonderful cm gave him milk by spoon or open cup. And I fed every 2 hours through the night for most of that time too!

He eventually got it. Thanks to the incredible patience of our cm!

thisisyesterday · 14/05/2012 19:08

your work are obliged, by law i believe, to give you a place to express and time to do it.

Northernlurker · 14/05/2012 19:09

Yes they legally have to facilitiate your breastfeeding and should do you a risk assessment which takes in to account your status as a nursing mother. I don't know anybody who's had the latter by the way so don't hold your breath.

UnderwaterBasketWeaving · 14/05/2012 19:09

Oh, and he never took a bottle from me. He would rather get it direct from source.

Northernlurker · 14/05/2012 19:10

Sorry that should read 'to facilitiate your breastfeeding by ensuring you have time and space to express'

Ambrosius · 14/05/2012 19:11

Squeegle Shock

keepmumshesnotsodumb · 14/05/2012 19:11

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.