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Original poster

back to work 7 hours after birth

77 replies

MummyElk · 08/02/2010 12:44

here
any thoughts? there's prob stuff in AIBU too about this but at work so being quick!!
i'm a bit and ??
i wouldn't have trusted me to do ANYTHING with any degree of responsbility (apart from look after DD of course) at 7 hrs post birth?!

OP posts:
AvrilHeytch · 08/02/2010 12:47

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belgo · 08/02/2010 12:48

How many jobs allow you to take a newborn baby into work every day?

Marne · 08/02/2010 12:49

I couldn't even walk 7 hours after having dd1, i could have done it with dd2 (take her to work) as she was so laid back, i could of kept her in the top draw .

I think its a bit odd to actually want to work after giving birth .

TheArmadillo · 08/02/2010 12:50

surely that's illegal? I was sure there was a minimum amount of time you had to have off after giving birth?

I think it's appalling tbh. She just went through a major shock to her body and system. You wouldn't return to work immediately after a major operation - it would be stupid adn could lead to further problems.

Also agree with the comments underneath that say what a great example to other members of staff who will presumably feel pressurised to return to work immediately and what a way to undermine those who have fought for maternity leave and rights for women.

I can understand people like Xenia returning a few weeks after giving birth (not that I would want to) but 7 hours is just a joke.

Also she took the baby with her - but how can she do her job properly with her baby constantly by her side?

TheArmadillo · 08/02/2010 12:51

Also what a great way to tell your kids that your work is much more important than them by not even taking a full day off to give birth.

KarmaNoMore · 08/02/2010 12:51

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merrymonsters · 08/02/2010 12:52

I thought it was illegal for any employer to allow a woman to work within the first two weeks after birth.

She's being silly and putting her ideals before her health and the baby.

EleanorBuntingCupcake · 08/02/2010 12:53

why would it be illegal? good on her, she obviously has the constitution of an ox.

TheArmadillo · 08/02/2010 12:54

compulsary maternity leave is two weeks apparently (during which you cannot take any keeping in touch days) or 4 weeks if you work in a factory.

So yes, illegal.

thedollshouse · 08/02/2010 12:56

If she is an employee legally she must take a minimum of 2 weeks maternity leave (4 weeks if working in a factory). If someone only takes 7 hours leave I would conclude that they have serious control issues or are incompetent, if you can't take 2 weeks leave without the place falling apart, you aren't managing your staff properly!

I suspect this lady just wanted to get in the newspapers and have some free publicity for her fee paying school. Not sure it is the right sort of publicity though...

blinks · 08/02/2010 13:00

what a loon.

frakkinaround · 08/02/2010 13:02

Crazy and, I concur, illegal.

EleanorBuntingCupcake · 08/02/2010 13:03

if it works for her why get so cross?

LittleWhiteWolf · 08/02/2010 13:04

Well given that I work in a B catergory mens prison I wouldnt want to take my daughter into work...at any age.
Personally I feel I do have it all. I have a job to return to but at the moment I have my maternity leave to enjoy my baby. Sorry if thats not what this woman thinks of as being empowered, but I'm happy!

BertieBotts · 08/02/2010 13:08

It is illegal to work less than 2 weeks post birth (though I am not sure if that applies if you are self employed) and I agree that it is probably not a great idea health-wise, but I think it's great that she can take her baby into work - I would love to see this option available in more workplaces. Obviously not an option for some due to safety issues etc, but small babies are portable, why not? I would have loved to have been able to work and take my baby with me when he was small - he is bigger now and would probably cause too much trouble

thedollshouse · 08/02/2010 13:08

I'm sure the reality of it is that she went into work, got her mugshot in the papers and buggered off home again for a couple of weeks.

Unless she is really is a "real" superwomen there is no way that she could establish breastfeeding within 7 hours of the birth and adequately perform her duties. And what about her partner surely he wants to spend some time with his new baby?

This is just a cheap publicity stunt.

notnowbernard · 08/02/2010 13:09

Can ou imagne trying to stem the 7hrs post-natal lochia flow in a public lav?!

(Am sure she has her own private loo at work, but you know what I mean)

And your milk coming in on Day 3

Dealing with all the sodden breast pads inbetween meetings

No, ta

Lymond · 08/02/2010 13:15

I suspect she was just in for a few hours a day for important meetings. She has (long private school) holidays at home with baby after all. As its a boarding school, she obviously has a huge duty of care to the girls, and I can imagine that weighing heavily on her. Teaching/leadership at a boarding school is quite different from other kinds of teaching, imo.

I think the breastfeeding at school, in front of borders who won't otherwise see it, is brilliant.

Obviously not right for everyone, but I don't thing she's wrong, unless she makes other people do the same of course.

I, physically and emotionally, would have been okay to do the same after my 3rd and 2nd, though they were in scbu so wouldn't have been possible. After my 4th, however, the afterpains were so terrible for first week that there would have been no way.

RockbirdandHerSpork · 08/02/2010 13:19

Absolute fucking lunacy. Not the slightest bit impressive and a crap message to give to the students. Silly cow.

And as for the 'if it works for her' bleaters, think of the baby she's shoved in her handbag. Poor little scrap.

And if it is, as has been mentioned, a publicity stunt, then she's even more stupid.

AvrilHeytch · 08/02/2010 13:31

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Lymond · 08/02/2010 13:34

this page has more information

She lives on site at the school anyway. Don't you think that makes a difference? Since she clearly felt physically and emotionally strong, is it so extra-ordinary that rather than sitting at home in the grounds of the school, she would go and get on with some work, carrying the baby around with her in a sling and BOD?

I am a SAHM. But immediately after having each baby I've been doing the school run taking my toddler to her activities, cooking and cleaning, carrying baby around in a sling. Thankfully, I've been physically well enough to do so. I don't think a woman should be vilified for doing as much as she physically can and wants to do, after having a baby. I do think putting pressure on other women to do the same would be terrible.

Paolosgirl · 08/02/2010 13:36

She might not make them, as such, but as the Head she then sets the example for other staff. I would certainly feel as if it was somehow expected of me, whether vocalised or not.

She was on the Jeremy Vine show earlier - apparently the philosophy of the school is to empower the girls to make their own choices, regardless of what they may be. That's obviously what any good school would teach, be it state or private, but I'd have to question why she would think that breaking the law by going back before the 2 weeks sets any sort of good example, or why she thinks it's any real choice. Surely we've fought too long and hard for decent maternity leave to demonstrate the value that we place on the family and the early stages with a baby to move back to a situation where women who are really committed to their careers set other women an example by taking the bare minimum off.

RockbirdandHerSpork · 08/02/2010 13:36

I don't think it makes any difference. I think, if at all possible, you owe it to the baby you've just brought into the world to concentrate solely on it till at least the end of the day it's born. Anything less is selfish beyond belief.

AvrilHeytch · 08/02/2010 13:39

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weegiemum · 08/02/2010 13:43

Xenia not here yet?

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