Kit days and pumping

[Ilovetea42]

Hi, so my work offers a number of keeping in touch days which are optional while staff are off on maternity.

I have said I'd like to use mine for the last three months of my mat leave when I've no income, but they've contacted me two months earlier saying they want me to use them to provide cover because our office is extremely short staffed.

I personally love my job so I'm happy to help them out, the only issue is I don't feel there is anywhere suitable for me to pump since they moved to a new (tiny) office and baby is ebf. He's only just started one solids meal a day this week so I'm still his main food source.

I work with vulnerable young people and the only two non open plan spaces are the toilet (my pump is electric and there's no plug and I don't feel its sanitary) or the kitchen which has no lock on the door and is the through way to the fire exit where young people go to smoke. It would be horrific if one of them walked in on me pumping by mistake and not all speak English so may not understand a sign. Most have experienced sa so I'd worry about making them feel unsafe.

So I basically am worried about how I'd manage pumping during working hours. Ds has just had a tt cut so his weight has only just started to go up so I wouldn't want to not replace feeds if possible because he's just working up from 9th centile. Because I've been feeding so much i haven't pumped in months so i get a lot less when I do pump which is also worrying me although my supply is good when feeding directly. Has anyone any advice/ worked through this themselves or has any suggestions?

KIt days aren't to provide cover.

they have to provide somewhere suitable for you to pump, whether it is an office with a lockable door and blinds, but if they cant due to the constraints of the building then it won't work.

Can I express milk for my baby at work?You should be able to express milk at your workplace if you wish. You can request that your employer provides you with a suitable private space where you can do this.
Guidelines recommend that you have access to a private, clean and comfortable room with a lockable door - not a toilet - in which to express. However, there is no legal obligation for your employer to provide this space
It's also recommended that you have use of a fridge to store your breast milk.

You can try using a wearable pump. There are plenty on the market, apparently Momcozy is the best value for money. I have a Medela freestyle handsfree and it's great, though expensive and not too discreet.