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?

I agree, baby needs to play in a play gym, have a lie on a carpet and kick their legs, have a sing song to some nursery rhymes etc. baby doesn't need to be stuck in a car for hours and then stuck in a lecture theatre all day!

Yeah, tiny babies just hate being carried and cuddled and breastfed. Why would they want to be warm and secure and listening to their mother's heartbeat? That's why they're so quiet when they're being held - sulking about not being left alone on the carpet.

defer the course then - or use childcare (like other working/studying parents have to) you can’t have everything.

you can’t give baby your full attention if you’re giving the lecturer your full attention

A held baby can still cry or fuss or want all sorts of attention 🙄

I agree with other posters that you should either look for a childcare option or defer your place.
Your baby deserves better in the first months of her life. Yes, she’ll enjoy the cuddles, but what about interaction and play and seeing the world? Her development in the first months is vital.
You also have an older child to consider. The family dynamic of having just one baby and then an older child and a baby is very different.

I also think, and this is probably controversial, that a university lecture hall is no place for a baby. It’s not fair on the baby or the other students who are trying to study.
You won’t want to miss lecture time if the baby fusses and other students won’t want to have their lectures ruined by a baby fussing so what would you do?

I'm not suggesting you leave the baby having a kick on the carpet for hours on end, I'm suggesting that being confined/held all day and being frightened to make any noise isn't the way to go!

I can’t believe people think it’s sticking it to the patriarchy for a woman to drag her baby everywhere including their place of work and study.

If anything this is exactly what the patriarchy want!

It’s this particular interpretation of women “having it all” that has led to the sorry situation where working women are still doing majority of childcare and housework.

They are not having it all, they are doing it all!

Completely agree.

Of course they like being cuddled but they also need space to stretch and move.
Your plan is not to hold the baby because the baby wants to be cuddled but because that is best for you.

My original comment was a reply saying this was best for the baby. I don’t think it is.

Cripes I hadn’t realised it involved a four hour round trip?? Presumably with a newborn you’ll be stopping a couple of times

It's 1-1.5hrs one way depending on traffic, so yes I'll need to stop on the way but probably only once most days.

How old is your older child?

and the plan. Is for this arrangement to be for 26 weeks?

No, ideally for the first three months or so, but the first 8-10 weeks is when I think it's most important.

Just under three

Why will you need to stop on the way?

And then what will happen post 3 months?

@pinkyredrose a newborn shouldn’t be in a car seat for too long

Actually, thinking about it, if I can being her to class I'll probably take the train. That would be better than driving.

You should have thought of that when registering for Uni and asked about the rules on bringing babies or kids or in fact anyone. If you and her need to be together all the time, you shouldn't be in University but at home. Imagine if every mother brought her offspring!!!!

Childcare and expressing. It's a lot easier to be separated at a few months than a few weeks.

Sorry I missed.,, and all this would be from when your baby was 3 weeks old?

What childcare? Same childcare you’d use if the uni says no to request?

Not sure how many newborn babies you think my classmates have between them but I doubt the lecture hall would be overrun. I'm sure plenty would prefer to defer.

Yes

I was very chilled but woah…. What you describe sounds hideous.