Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Infant feeding

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

Flip

Original poster

expressing at work, do i have a right to do this?

18 replies

spottyzebra · 15/01/2008 22:25

going back to work soon and dd will be 8 months old, ive asked if ill be able to express? and ive been told your only allowed breaks to express for 6month old babies and under

are they right?

OP posts:

Pixiefish · 15/01/2008 22:27

don't know but I only used to express at lunchtime- dd was 7 months when I returned to work as a teacher so fed her in the morning about 7.30. Expressed at work at lunchtime and then fed her when I got home at 4

MargoWishesYouAHappyNooNooYear · 15/01/2008 22:28

I think they may be right. Although you have to fill out a risk assessment regularly if you are working and b/fing. (In my work anyway)

fingerwoman · 15/01/2008 22:28

hmm I've never heard of a 6 month rule. I thought as long as you were breastfeeding you had to be given breaks and a suitable place to express.
but could be wrong

pedilia · 15/01/2008 22:29

you do have a right to express milk at work, when i returned my daughter would not take from a bottle so i used to go the childminders and feed her.

1dilemma · 15/01/2008 22:31

No not that I'm aware off check recent guidelines very carefully though it might have changed now mat leave is 9 months.

1dilemma · 15/01/2008 22:32

I don't think you're allowed unlimited breaks though, like to express for a 4 yr old!

Original poster

spottyzebra · 15/01/2008 23:30

they told me theres no need after 6 months

OP posts:

bookwormmum · 15/01/2008 23:35

Where I work 'expression breaks' for bf-ers are unpaid but they can take them as well as have somewhere suitable to take them and somewhere suitable to store the EBM in. They also have to consider general fatigue of new mothers on their return and possibly re-arrange their actual work for a while. I don't think that's there's anything about how long a woman is expected to express for so in theory they could go on forever and the company would have to respect it.

purpleduck · 15/01/2008 23:53

lol at express breaks

mental images of the lady at the waitrose checkout pulling a nork out...

My brain is fried due to too much course work

cmotdibbler · 16/01/2008 09:18

I expressed at work till DS was 13 months or so, but no one told me there was a limit. However, I did take them about in line with the statutory breaks, and I don't think anyone could complain about what you do on you breaks.
I used the first aid room and the canteen fridge, so no special accomodations were made.
Who have you spoken to ? HR or Occupational health are the best people ime.

IwansMam · 16/01/2008 15:11

Some information within this document, scroll down to the breastfeeding section. 6 months thing is rubbish.

I've not looked any further into the rules since I've also found the info to line managers at my place of work and it seems that I should be able to express ok.

IwansMam · 16/01/2008 15:11

Some information within this document, scroll down to the breastfeeding section. 6 months thing is rubbish.

I've not looked any further into the rules since I've also found the info to line managers at my place of work and it seems that I should be able to express ok.

IwansMam · 16/01/2008 15:12

Whoops!

Original poster

spottyzebra · 16/01/2008 18:12

thanks iwans mum just wgat i need

OP posts:

evenhope · 16/01/2008 18:29

I didn't ask if I was allowed to, just told them I needed a room to express

They bought me a dear little fridge that is just about big enough for one bottle, and I pop off to the First Aid room twice a day.

My DD has just turned 10 months.

maxbear · 16/01/2008 20:08

Am due to return to work soon (as a midwife!) interesting to read the link as am currently still bf. If I decide to continue will need to express as am going to be doing twelve hour shifts and some night shifts. Not personally fussed about expressing in a private room as I'd get bored on my own, but can just imagine the look on the face of a new mum if she saw the midwife expressing

moocowme · 16/01/2008 20:45

maxbear i think that is something a lot of mums would like to see from a practical view point.

cmotdibbler · 17/01/2008 13:48

Maxbear- how fab would that be to see that the mw really knew what she was going on about.
When DS was in SCBU, the best expressing support I had was from one of the nurses who had triplets and so had expressed for them. Much, much better advice than others who only knew about expressing in theory.
My colleagues got used to the concept that I'd be popping off to exprss every so often eventually, but its very common in other countries - have even seen special expressing rooms for staff in US hospitals.

Flip