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?

What childcare is an option if your request is rejected?

Odds of success aren't great, given every time I've asked for remote attendance as an accommodation I've just been told to defer.
The earliest weeks are the hardest and I'll only need to go in 8-9 times to finish this trimester. If she is a quiet baby, I might've managed one or two before anything was said, and it might never have been brought up at all. If she's not a quiet baby I wouldn't be able to bring her anyway.

Last time I wrote one trimester's worth of final assessments in the second week postpartum so it can't be as bad as that!

How long has this apprenticeship been going on for?

given every time I've asked for remote attendance as an accommodation I've just been told to defer.

why have you been asking so often before now?

So many times? I asked more than once last time I had a newborn. Two or three times, because I asked a couple of different people.

Op…. You said “every time I have asked”

I merely asked how many

It'll be six years by the time I've finished, would've been five but I started in a January. Just unlucky timing, interviewed/hired too late for the September start by about two weeks.

You said "why have you been asking so often?" Emphasis mine.

What is your childcare option if they reject?

Oh sorry

“every time” I read as often

clearly not in this case

Oh sure, okay. Two or three times asking but only one previous occasion.

Not a subject I'm interested in discussing, and not something I need help with. If I have to use it, I know what I'll be doing.
I want help with not being separated from my newborn for the first few weeks.

Ok, sorry!

what childcare option is there if you are rejected?

Op you’re a bit naive here you don’t know how your journey will go eg will breastfeeding go smoothly how you will recover from the birth. Especially if c section.
are your lectures streamed online?that would make so much more sense

Many of us have repeatedly brought up the online angle and OP still hasn't got her answer from the university...I think she's waiting. Its by far the easiest option.

Attending online would definitely be the best option. It's been refused before, but I have asked again. Fingers crossed.
Of course anything could happen and I might need to change plans, but honestly odds are good that I'll be in better shape physically/mentally than with my first. The timings are actually a bit better from a final assignment perspective than last time, second births tend to be easier (obviously not always), I've got better support for the birth and afterwards for a variety of reasons. No point getting too much into the details but it's not naivety, it's cautious optimism.

@Nimnuan what happens with the actual work side of the apprenticeship whilst on maternity leave? Are there a certain number of months you have to complete?

Sorry I don't really want to get into the details but the work side is fine. I'm not taking a very long maternity leave so I have enough KIT days for the lectures I need to attend.

You mention you’ll sort childcare if you can’t attend with your newborn.

Wouldn’t childcare not be your preference anyway? If you really want to take in the lectures that day?

Presumably at least six months given you’re planning to breastfeed?
or are you going to be diving into a cupboard to express 4-6 times a day?

Work is giving me a slightly better option than a cupboard 😂
Should be back at about four months.

You mention childcare if the uni says no to your suggestion.

I can’t understand why you aren’t seeing that option as the one to channel your efforts in to arranging.

Surely to get the most out of this one full day of lectures per week in the closing stage of your apprenticeship - you would be better off not having your newborn in your arms the entire day, feeding, getting up and down for nappy changes etc?

For your sake!!

I don't want to be separated from my newborn baby. For my sake and hers.

for the entire 26 week period?

You think the best thing for a new born baby is 4 hours of travelling (as you said you would take a break) and 10 hours most of which is spent in a sling with no stimulation as mummy is busy.

It is about you not her.