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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

breastfeeding and work

20 replies

charliegal · 10/05/2007 15:01

I am going back to work in a couple of months when ds will be 8 months old. It's only 2 days a week and he will be with my partner, all great.
But, I do so much want to continue breastfeeding for one year + and I know for one of the days I will be out of the house for 10 hours.
How will I manage? I am freelance so it is not MY place of work I will be in. Is it possible to express in the toilet cubicle? (Stupid question). I really don't know what will happen. Of course I will build up a supply of EBM, but I am more worried about whether my boobs will blow up in the course of the day.
Has anyone got any practical experience/advice?

OP posts:
hairymclary · 10/05/2007 15:14

I think you probably will want to express while you're at work, and your place of law has to give you somewhere private to express (think it's the law). don't feel you have to use the loo- has someone got an office or something you can use?

Original poster
charliegal · 10/05/2007 15:20

This is the problem, am going into someone else's place of work as a freelancer. I can't start asking for private places to express or I might not get any work.

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hairymclary · 10/05/2007 15:22

yeah you can. when you go for your lunch just say "oh, do you have somewhere I can use to express?" as if it's the absolutely most normal request in the world. they can't say no!

ok, ok I would feel shit-scared of saying it myself, but I am sure you're braver than me

Original poster
charliegal · 10/05/2007 15:24

unfortunately, due to my work, I can't do that. any other ideas?

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woodworm · 10/05/2007 15:28

If you are planning to give the milk to yuor baby you need somewhere more hygenic than a toilet. My experience was that it took me a while so I had to explain why I kept diappearing off. Once I got over the fear of telling people they were universally supportive, even the lads, be prepared for a few questions about whether you are planning to breast feed till adolescence etc, and the occasional technical query! I was able to use an on call room as I work in a hospital, but a store room or office for 15 mins twice a day is not much to ask.

hairymclary · 10/05/2007 15:28

nope. i think you'll get pretty uncomfortable not doing anything for 10 hrs so it's either ask for a room to use, use the loo, or do nothing and hope for the best

woodworm · 10/05/2007 15:30

Do you always work in the same place?

Original poster
charliegal · 10/05/2007 17:29

Nope, am working in different places all the time. Think it will have to be the toilet!

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hana · 10/05/2007 17:33

I went back to work full time when my first child was 6 months old - I expressed at break and lunchtimes (in a medical room so marginally better than a toilet!) for a few weeks but it just took so long, lots of effort for little result. She ended up just not having much milk during the day - I'd feed her in the car just before I handed her over to the childminder, and was first thing I did when I picked her up. I b/fed her until she was 15 months, so my milk supply just sorted itself out despite not expressing during the day when I was working
your boobs won't blow up, but might take a few days to find what they want to do ( lots of breast pads in your handbags maybe?!)

iamasurvivor · 10/05/2007 17:40

how about expressing in your car? make sure you have a good cool bag to store your milk in. even though you will be working in different places they should still provide you with somewhere to express. if they dont they are discriminating against you and that would be grounds for a complaint. do you work within a reasonable distance from home? would hubby be able to bring baby to you for feed?

Original poster
charliegal · 10/05/2007 17:53

Thanks for the suggestions. It is just this particular long day that I am worried about. I'll be using public transport and it's too far to meet up for lunch time feed.
Hana, thanks for your reply, it's good to know that you managed to carry on up to 15 months. Hope I can do the same.
I understand about the law, but without going into details about my job, it just wouldn't be acceptable for me to ask for a private room in someone else's work place. I know it's crap, but I can't fight the reality of the situation. I need the work, if you know what I mean!

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motherinferior · 10/05/2007 17:56

The accessible loos for disabled people - if your workplaces have those - are probably the best bet. I do sympathise.

Original poster
charliegal · 10/05/2007 18:01

good thinking. wish it were easier!

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Tartanmam · 10/05/2007 19:13

I went back to work 2 days a week when ds was nine months and have been expressing in the disabled loo, i know its not ideal but i can't be fussed making a big deal out of it and there is nowhere else in the building where i could go (i already struggle to express when i'm stressed out, feeling self-concious would not help matters).

Since ds was eating more solids by then he actually drinks very little milk during the day, i'm away for ten and a half hours and only leave 3-4oz (he would take more if there was more but i am rubbish at expressing - and i just leave extra fruit etc for snacks). Its not been a problem, and i don't get engorged anymore - first week was a bit uncomfortable by half five as i hadn't had any time to express but since then i've been ok. I did however wear black tops for the first few weeks as i was really paranoid about leakages but thats never been a problem either.

Tartanmam · 10/05/2007 19:14

forgot to say he still feeds normally the days when i'm not working, just does without a bit more when i'm not.

kiskidee · 10/05/2007 19:22

if you want to express in your car, you can buy a lead that plugs into the electricals of the car. here is the adaptor for the ameda lactaline which is a v. good pump.

Original poster
charliegal · 11/05/2007 13:46

Tartanmum, thanks so much for that, it is so reassuring. Your working week sounds similar to what mine will be. Thank goodness I will not have to stop- I was getting very tearful thinking about it- nowhere near ready.
By the way, yesterday I rang the Association of Breastfeeding Mothers with the same question and got a similar response to yours )Tartanmum). They were really helpful, so it's a good resource for other people, as I always find the NCT line is really busy!

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Original poster
charliegal · 11/05/2007 13:46

How did you you feel when you went back to work? It must have been hard with such a long day.

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fennel · 11/05/2007 13:55

I used to use the disabled loos, 2 or 3 days a week, for all 3 babies. It seemed easier than officially requesting a room to express in. Especially as people at work used to freak at the idea of anyone expressing. I got quite fond of the disabled loo in the end, every time I used it for years it reminded me of when my babies were little

The worst was when going away overnight and having to express in all sorts of horrible places, like the loos at Euston station. that was quite unpleasant.

Original poster
charliegal · 11/05/2007 20:21

I know what you mean about people at work freaking out about expressing. I remember, years ago, when I was a waitress, the owner's wife had frozen milk in the kitchen freezer and we used to peek at it and make gagging sounds

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