Breastfeeding during tribunal hearing?

[StarlightMcEggsie]

I have a tribunal to attend wrt my ds' SN shortly. It is going to be scheduled in one of the six weeks after I give birth. I do not want to be separated from my baby on this day but will have to attend.

The tribunal cannot be delayed as every week that passes without matters resolved costs us a considerable amount of money.

Many Tia!

well i would take baby with me in a sling, and if it needs feeding then do so. wouldn't bother me at all

I'm happy to do that but what are my rights if the judge sends me/the baby out of the room. I need to be there.

I feel it is essential I to attend the full day long hearing but that it is also essential I am not separated from baby.

I attended a medical tribunal with my baby. It was only 30 minutes ish but I got a lecture when I arrived about how it would have to be dismissed if she cried (!! I was just planning on feeding her!) and that it would cost money/ hassle to rearrange.

In our case my husband had taken the original day off work to help but the tribunal had been cancelled that morning. I didn't have anyone I could leave a very young baby with.

In the end she did cry and I did ask to feed and they were actually fine about it and she went to sleep!

If I was in your position for a day long hearing I would aim to take someone with you who can take the baby in between feeds and try to arrange to feed in the breaks between sessions. Or ask for there to be regular breaks so you can feed.

I think I would also ring in advance to let them know the situation (baby, will need feeding) and what my plan was to cope with it (sling but friend to take it if cries/regular feeding breaks?)

It really is a tricky situation and made me feel very much like I was in the "wrong" place and not looking as professional as the doctor and lawyer having my baby with me. Good luck!

If thus baby is anything like my first he will feed for 40 minutes if every hour. If like my second every 25 mins or so day and night.

Breaks would be disruptive.

:( No idea what to suggest other than to warn them in advance that you intend to be? Just wanted to warn you that my tribunal was nearly cancelled as I had a breastfeeding baby with me... they had agreed not to have it in the first 6 weeks after birth but even so you can't just leave a breastfeeding baby elsewhere can you!

(I absolutely don't have a problem with babies breastfeeding anywhere but it doesn't seem to be how things work.)

I spoke to clerk who says I have to put request in writing for judge to decide.

Why isn't there a 'rule'. What if judge says no baby?

I'd be tempted to turn up with babe in a sling you can feed him/her in, e.g. a ring sling with a low-neck top & big cardi/shawl on top. If challenged explain that the wet nurse called in sick & you didn't want to waste resources by postponing. FFS: it should not be this difficult for a mother to keep her newborn with her. Hope it all goes well.

It really shouldn't be, I agree - but by just turning up you do risk it being cancelled... I did as MavisG said and was lucky though. (Well, didn't say wet nurse just my husband!)

I'll write to them now whilst there is still time to reconsider the timings and bring the date forward of my due date.

They'll have less of a leg to stand on if they are aware now of the potential issue and do not.

A few years ago I attended a tribunal (also SEN) and my main witness was a breastfeeding SENCO who brought her baby with her. She fed him as and when but if I recollect correctly she didn't take the baby into the hearing and another member of staff held baby whilst she gave evidence and she had a break after a short while to feed again as necessary.

Is someone else able to attend with you to hold baby whilst it does not need feeding?

I do feel for you but whilst a feeding baby might not be disruptive, it may be whilst it is not being fed IYKWIM.

If I were you I'd write and say you will need to bring baby to the hearing venue and will endeavour to ensure someone else also attends to look after baby. You may need breaks to feed baby. Explain why you do not want the hearing adjourned (perhaps explain that you will be exclusively breastfeeding for x months and so a lengthy adjournment is not in anyone's interests).

As an aside,there was a photo in the press a short while ago of a european politician who took her tiny newborn baby to parliament in a sling and I was somewhat envious!

I could probably find someone (no idea who though as having SN children equals no friends) to have baby but my Ds really did feed for 40mins out of every hour. How that can be managed whilst I also miss nothing of the tribunal I just don't know.

I feel your pain - my first child was a limpet and would have been attached 24/7 if I let them!

On the other hand, whilst I see what others say above taking a chance and just turning up with baby (and no help) I have been to court hearings where Judges have allowed children in court because the parent didn't have anyone to mind them. It is not ideal but does not necessarily mean the case will be adjourned.

Tribunals (especially SEN) are slightly more informal than 'proper' court so you may be lucky, not least because sometimes the children who are the subject of the hearing attend and come to the hearing, or need to be cared for around the arguments being made.

Good luck

Don't know anything helpful about this but just wanted to say good luck to you. Am and that there is even any doubt that you could bf whilst there. Unless you're giving your evidence through the medium of expressive dance, I can't see how bfing would interfere with it. Also, how is it anyone else's business what's going on in your bra? Hope it all works out for you.

Thank you both.

It's really stressful even thinking about it.

Hi Star
I was very nearly excluded from an early bird course because I had my newborn dd with me. The people in charge of the course wanted to say no but the other parents in the group protested saying they didn't mind and I was allowed. Having also been to tribunal I would be surprised if they allow it. The judge in both my dc cases was not at all informal and very formidable! I personally would write asking that they bring the hearing forward or that they allow you to bring the baby. The other problem is that having the baby there might make the whole thing more stressful (if possible!) as you may be trying to calm baby and make yourself heard at the same time. Good luck.

Would it not be simpler if your dh attended the tribunal and you stayed at home?

TBH most of the judges I know (County court and circuit judges, may be different from a tribunal) would throw a wobbler at having a baby in court.

No mumble. He doesn't know much about the case and it is the type where things will have ti be agreed constantly as we are there because the LA refuse to negotiate anything or talk to us.

I have been preparing the case for over two years.

Well - I would expect a judge to abide by the law. Which, from my (possibly incorrect) reading of this is that you have a right to breastfeed in a public building.

You might be able to get further advice from that organisation as to how to word your request to the judge to ensure you get the answer you need.

Having been in a tribunal where an HR manager not involved with a case was nibbling and scrunching all the way through, I think having a baby in would be most ridiculously distracting to the court.

Would concur with Grimma, I'm sure there's precedent for it too. Would be very dodgy to refuse 'permission' imo.

I can't imagine why the baby woukd be distracting though. Baby woukd either be feeding or sleeping at that age. They don't do anything else.

Thank you Anita and Gimma. I'll call the helpline on that leaflet tomorrow.

Not sure if the hearing is in a public building though. It's often in hotels & conference room but with dd I was not allowed to bf in a training workshop in a hotel.

they don't make noise?

What noise woukd they make?