EMB storage at work?

8 replies

pingviner · 27/02/2009 13:58

Some advice please on what to do...
Am currently BF baby at 4 months but planning to return to work when hes about 8 months. Ive invested in a pump and introduced him to take a bottle of EBM at 12 weeks- he seems fine with this and its made no difference to his latch etc. His prospective nursery are very pro bf and happy to store and give frozen EBM. Am planning major pump and storage binge before returning

So the last bit in the puzzle is work: apparently i have to return full time I would be able to express at work during my natural breaks though may try and negociate set times - would have to be quite flexible but cant see much of a problem with this. Apparently theres a room at work for expressing/nursing - going to check this out next week and make sure its not a toilet
how about storage of ebm- how long does the averge cooler bag reliably keep things cool or do i need access to a fridge? I can be working up to 12 hr shifts so this may be a problem
anyone know the rules/laws etc on this? am in scotland btw. I dont want to stop bf or mix feed because of work- its working well for us both and I feel Ds will have enough changes to cope with when I return to work...

OP posts:

Seona1973 · 27/02/2009 14:19

Breastfeeding and returning to work. This is a leaflet by NHS Scotland which may help. It is a PDF file btw

cmotdibbler · 27/02/2009 16:38

You need a fridge really. I kept my EBM in the canteen fridge, but if you have an expressing/nursing room at work, I would think it would have a fridge. And if it doesn't, then ask for one.

I found that by being very positive about expressing at work, HR just sort of got on with it (never dealt with it before).

I did try and express at set times (more as I don't get set breaks I needed a prompt), but it doesn't really matter.

Hope you've got a good pump - it really does make a huge difference

Bakester · 27/02/2009 19:46

I am not sure about the law/work thing but you might find this of interest.

We live abroad and travel a lot so I often express in the car while travelling back to the UK or take milk with me. Medela make a storage bag for expressing 'on the move' which has an insulated bag and a shaped cool cell that fits rounds bottles. It has kept milk cold for me for 12 hours. It has space to put your pump (medela pump)in also and a sleeve for a photo of your small person to help let down start.

It might be useful if you don't get access to a fridge

Good Luck

BoffinMum · 27/02/2009 19:56

I wrote to HR and asked for a small fridge to be made available to me for exclusive use for this purpose. Now they are about £50, this is not the maddest request. They were more than happy to oblige. Apart from anything else, we have a slightly bonkers emeritus professor who comes in, and I was genuinely worried he would start quaffing the stuff in his tea ...

chipmonkey · 27/02/2009 20:14

I find the milk stays cool all day in a cooler bag with ice packs and you don't need to buy a Medela one particularly, a Thermos one will do just as well and is cheaper. But for my 12 hour days in work I got a mini fridge from Argos which also plugged into the car cigarette lighter as well

Grendle · 27/02/2009 21:51

Does your workplace have a first aid room? sometimes there's a fridge in there. that's what I used when I expressed at work. If you happen to work in the public sector then you have great protection/rights due to EU law. For everyone else it's H&S law that covers these issues. Good luck .

Academicmum · 27/02/2009 23:41

My employers just offered to buy a small fridge for my use since they didn't think it was appropriate to stick it in the tea room fridge (in the end not needed since I didn't go back for even close to full time yet). Not sure what the law is though and if this is a right rather than just my being lucky enough to have understanding employers.

BoffinMum · 27/02/2009 23:46

It's actually a right but judicious to appear grateful for it. This is still early days in the gender war!

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