Bringing a newborn to university lectures

[Nimnuan]

I'm on a part-time university course (apprenticeship) and expecting a baby in the next few weeks. I'm not intending to take a break as any break would mean a year's delay. All classes this year my baby will be under 26 weeks old and breastfeeding.
I want to bring her to lectures with me because arranging childcare and expressing breastmilk will be much more difficult at such a young age and given the university's atrocious arrangements for expressing. Obviously if she cries or is disruptive I'll have to step out into the hallway.
I've just been told that I'm not allowed to bring my newborn to lectures because it would be a "contravention of rules and regulations". I've asked to be told which rules and regulations but haven't heard back yet.
Can you give me any advice about how to argue my case?

It's a full day. This trimester it's 0900-1600 (I said 1530 previously, that was not correct, got mixed up because we left a little early last week) with an hour break for lunch. Next trimester I believe it's 0900-1900 with two breaks of one hour each.

The pp was explaining a device that works without you needing to go into another room to pump, it goes under your clothing, you could be pump whilst in lectures and then just empty it whenever you have a break.

I'm not being "ridiculous". I for one would find it highly distracting.

I remember when studying for my master's one of the lecturers brought in his dog each week and that was bloody irritating!

I have had 2 children, and went to university.

small children need near constant attention and are unpredictable. Sitting in a car seat for more than 30 Minutes is very bad for infants , it squashes their abdomen and can affect breathing .

What the OP is proposing is paying not the slightest attention to what the baby needs. And is a big fuck you to every to every one else on the course.

I am out

I also had a woman with a newborn in lectures. It was fine.

I work at a university and this wouldn’t be allowed. We aren’t even meant to have children in the buildings as our insurance doesn’t cover it.

Has your employer agreed to this use of KIT days? Do they know you’re not intending to use childcare for those days?
https://maternityaction.org.uk/advice/maternity-and-parental-rights-for-apprentices/

Is this your first child. If so, i'm afraid you have no idea what if will be like with a newborn! I couldn't imagine taking mine to a lecture and actually being able to concentrate!

Thank you

There's not really any case to argue.

An H&S assessment would be needed in advance. Given the wide range of settings in which lectures etc take place, only a specific H&S assessment could answer that question.

The institution should already have policies & resources in place to support new parents, eg, Bath seems to allow babies into lectures in some cases, though this page suggests this may be limited to last-minute care problems rather than full, year-round attendance: https://www.bath.ac.uk/guides/getting-advice-if-you-are-pregnant-or-adopting-while-studying/

The OP would probably get best advice from the Student Union, at this stage. No doubt some academics and some students, on some courses, would be fine with a baby joining the class. But the OP's student contract is with the institution, and the institution will have to consider the potential impact and risk on the broader learning environment. The Student Union is usually a good first point of contact in urgent and potentially complex matters like this.

There is no good argument for bringing a baby into lectures.

You are proposing having a baby on your lap/in a car seat for TEN hours bar an occasional feed?

I'm using keeping in touch days to cover university attendance. You get ten while on maternity leave, I won't need any more than that.

it’s not allowed at my university anymore. Our insurance doesn’t cover it.

I think this will be great for a newborn! Nothing like a lecture hall full of coughing and sneezing students to build the immune system. Also if they are ill you can still drag them into the college, it will be character building. Make sure to add those to your list of bulletin points OP. Things like that may be side issues but it all shows you’ve thought it through and made plans.

I took my newborn to lectures when I was in uni. Literally newborn. It was near the end of the final year of my degree and I couldn’t bear to do the year again. He slept really well and I just had him on my breast constantly. I was very lucky that it worked. Speak to your personal tutor to try and get some support and argue your case. You must have one?

Why not organise childcare for the duration of the lecture? Could you pay someone to look after your baby on campus for the hour or whatever it is? I pay £15ph for a babysitter at the moment if I need to be on am important call, for instance, even if I'm in the house.

I'm very pro women's rights, and have been there myself with expressing at work, plus did a PhD and presented at a conference with a newborn... but even I think you are being unreasonable here.

You mentioned you had to express in a toilet - well there's a battle you can legitimately fight. Argue the case for an appropriate room for expressing in!

I know you said it would push your studies back a year, but that might be the best option.

My course is much more flexible - ACCA - but when I had my baby last August I planned to just take one exam session off. I ended up not sitting another exam until this June, so went back studying around March. I am still on track to sit my last exam this December.

It was my 2nd baby and having a toddler to care for along side a new born was a completely and utterly different situation!

I am really glad I didn't try to pull myself in another direction and spent the time with baby and my 1st son. I also ended up with sever PND which did put a bit of a stick in things!

This! Childcare could be the answer though, especially if you can arrange for it to be on campus so you can feed between lectures.

Out?

Small children are unpredictable, yes. Newborns are about as predictable as a potato. They can't move. They eat, poop, sleep and occasionally cry. The baby will most likely sleep or breastfeed. If they need changing, mum can go out to change them.
It's a whole different conversation on if this is good for OPs studies but only op knows that. The hours seem very long, so I'd be inclined to say no, but i wouldn't mind a baby at my small group lecture. I've had loads of students bring a baby to a supervision/tutor meeting.

You have no idea if you think this will be remotely possible.

OP is talking about a baby up to six months old! Not a tiny newborn.

Certainly a lot more sanitary than the baby classes people take babies to

There is a room. It’s not convenient for her.