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Infant feeding

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

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Original poster

So, would you BF at a meeting with your boss?

82 replies

welliemum · 09/10/2006 21:34

I have a meeting with my boss tomorrow, and will have 3 month old dd2 with me.

I'm worrying that she might get hungry during the meeting. Am I being a wuss? I have no qualms about bfeeding anywhere else.

I feel embarrassed about feeling embarrassed IYKWIM!

OP posts:

amijee · 10/10/2006 02:30

no - i didn't get the job custy!

And it has nothing to do with money or class - I would behave the same in any situation - not because I can afford to have principles but because my self esteem is intact enough to allow me to have principles.

I'm sure taking a young baby into a job interview had a lot to do with not getting the job..would it stop me again...no!

None of us are destitute in the developed world ( you only have to look at the number of quinnies and bugaboos people own) but it's inverted snobbery to assume that I can afford to let a job go because of my beliefs.

Tortington · 10/10/2006 14:08

"None of us are destitute in the developed world ( you only have to look at the number of quinnies and bugaboos people own)"

again may i please reiterate - i said it had nothing to do with how muchmoney you have.

there is snobbery here alright - its going hand in hand with blindness as far as i can tell on this thread!

Greengirlforever · 10/10/2006 15:19

How about this - I'm middle class, but obviously not middle class enough to even dream of breastfeeding at a meeting with my boss, unless said boss happened to be a very close friend as well. (Also not middle class enough to afford an insanity like a Bugaboo btw! ).

And indeed we all should know full well that there are many many people in the developed world who are destitute, or near destitute and I think it is true to say that those of us who tend to post on mumsnet are often the lucky few at the higher end of the social scale and an argument with the subject of this thread would be seen as absolutely ridculous and irrelevant in the "real world" out there.....

Sorry guys.... Hi, btw!

adath · 10/10/2006 15:27

I probably would because if you are ok to bring baby along for the reason you are breastfeeding I would imagine he is fully expecting you to have to feed DD while you are there.

northerner · 10/10/2006 15:34

I would not personally Breast feed my child in a meeting with my boss. Can't tell you why really, just don't think its appropriate.

Blu · 10/10/2006 15:40

I fed DS during our AGM.

I wouldn't in an appraisal, because I think that demands a 100% 'workplace' focus, and I wouldn't want my eye off the ball for one mini-nano-second. Crying, gurgling, burping, would all go against that.
I have had lots of experience being Mummy and a professional at the same time - in an appraisal I would want to be 100% work focussed.

And should an appraisal be during your maternity leave?

Once I had to attend a very important meeting when DS was 2 months old, DP looked after him in the reception area for the duration of the meeting, then I came out and fed him.

moonstone1201 · 10/10/2006 16:56

I think it depends on the workplace - if they're happy enough for you to bring your baby, surely they can't object to you bfing. However it really depends on what you're comfortable with. I would do it, but my boss is also a mother and I know her quite well. I can think of loads of situations where I wouldn't dream of it. I never bfed in front of my in laws, for example. I know it seems absurd, but I don't see them that often and it just never seemed right.

Sorry, I found this thread pretty late on, so you've probably already had your meeting... Hope it went well!

cocopopshater · 10/10/2006 17:13

tbh, I would arrange for someone else to look after the baby, so that you can concentrate on meeting your boss, without any distractions from a more important person.

I went back to work shortly after having 2 of my babies, so had to face this kind of situation. It is not a big deal if your lo has a bottle, or even goes hungry for an hour. Really.

MadamePlatypus · 10/10/2006 17:28

Depends on your job and the kind of meeting. If I wanted to be confrontational about something I probably wouldn't, but if it was that kind of meeting I don't think I would be able to go in to the meeting with a baby as it would be too distracting. With a sympathetic male boss,for an appraisal, and if you are a confident breastfeeder, I would say yes, particularly if the alternatives are cancel the meeting or have meeting with screaming baby. You will probably find that the baby sleeps through the entire meeting - this is what happened to me whenever I was trying to make this kind of decision in advance.

cocopopshater · 10/10/2006 17:33

It could easily go tits up though (sorry!) What if something unexpected turns out to be on the agenda, and welliemum gets distracted by her baby?
your boss may be a dad, but he hasnt brought his kids along, has he?

VeniVidiVickiQV · 10/10/2006 17:36

cocopopshater, im sorry to say this, but everytime i read your name i read it cocopop-shatter. No capital letters are confusing me

mears · 10/10/2006 17:38

I personally would 'tank up baby' and leave her at home. For a performance appraisal there should be no distractions and shouldn't last longer than an hour. As you all know i am a breastfeeding supporter but in this situation I think the baby should be laft at home or outside the room if someone can babysit her.

IdrisTheDragon · 10/10/2006 17:39

I hope the meeting went well (was it today?)

I am probably unusual but can't see why it being a male or female boss makes that much difference (apart from the fact that a woman would have breasts of her own).

Surely a female boss could have just as much of a problem with someone breastfeeding as a male boss.

When I was on maternity leave and was in the office for one reason or another (trying to negociate new working hours being one) and had to take DS with me, I did my best to make sure that he wouldn't need feeding. I did feed him (and later on DD) during lunches with people during maternity leave.

mears · 10/10/2006 17:39

Just realised the meeting will have taken place already - what did you decide to do?

cocopopshater · 10/10/2006 17:45

lol VVVQV i have plenty of caps under another nickname...

dizzybint · 10/10/2006 17:45

i wouldn't. i wouldn't even take my baby. i just wouldn't be able to concentrate. at 4 months as she is now, she needs continual jigging about etc, as well as the feeding. she's not one of these sit on your lap being sweet and angelic while dozing kind of babies. but then, if your boss is expecting you to take your baby, and your boss is aware you are looking after your baby while working from home then i think it's fine. you must be able to concentrate enough at home with the baby so must be fine in the meeting. i'd leave dd with someone, she can go 3 hours between feeds, and in a dire emergency she could be cup or spoon fed ebm.

VeniVidiVickiQV · 10/10/2006 17:46

And what nickname would that be exactly???

cocopopshater · 10/10/2006 17:52

take your pick. Ive got loads. Im a serial nickname changer.
(do have a serious reason though)

cocopopshater · 10/10/2006 17:52

like sb

VeniVidiVickiQV · 10/10/2006 18:02

So am i

But I always leave a clue...

sb isnt ringing any bells atm.....

Wordsmith · 10/10/2006 18:13

Agree with Mears. Obviously having a baby and b/fing makes no difference to your performance as a worker but if I were your boss and it was a 'formal' meeting like an appraisal then tbh I would want your full attention and not to have the baby in there at all. Plus if it is a sandals and hippies type place anyway, presumambly they won't mind you leaving the baby in the main office for them to coo over, if you can't leave her anywhere else.

Of course the obvious solution would be to raise it as a possibility beforehand and ask if they would object?

VeniVidiVickiQV · 10/10/2006 18:55

oh FGS! The penny drops

VeniVidiVickiQV · 10/10/2006 19:35

Although seemingly in the wrong slot......i still dont know who you are.....

essbee · 10/10/2006 19:38

Message withdrawn

essbee · 10/10/2006 19:38

Message withdrawn

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