Any working mums still breastfeeding?

[savanna]

I have just returned to work full time and am expressing breastmilk for my baby to have while he is in daycare. I would like to share experiences and learn from any mum who is also expressing while at work.

Thanks,
savanna

Hi Savanna, I started a three day working week back in January when my son was 5 months old and expressed everyday in the ladies loo (not ideal I know!). I had a specific time when I did it so the ladies in the company knew they couldn't go in the loo for half an hour. I found that if I was stressed (as in demanding deadlines) I didn't produce as much milk. The company was very understanding about what I had to do. It's good to hear of others doing the same thing. Good luck!

I returned to work last week. I express once a day whilst at work. I use the first aid room. My understanding is that all workplaces should provide somewhere suitable for this. On the first day I forgot to bring ice pack so had to put the milk in the kitchen fridge. I disguised it as I knew there'be complaints.

I have forgotten my pump today so starting to feel very full!

Hello Dophus and Zammo, thanks for your responses. Yes, employers in the UK are legally obliged to provide a suitable place for mothers to express or breastfeed.

Today I forgot the adapter for my pump and had to go home as I must express milk for my baby every day. I explained this to my line manager and said I was prepared to take the rest of the afternoon off but he kindly said I could do some research from home

Good luck to both of you.

savanna

You knew there'd be complaints ,dophus???
What sort of people do you work with????

Nice people really so maybe they wouldn't have minded! I think some people are a little squeemish over breast milk.

On another note...

DS wakes and feeds in the night. This mornign this was at 4.30 which meant that he wouldn't feed again before I left the house. As he only ever feeds form one side at a sitting I now feel very lopsided. Any suggestions?

Dophus, you could try expressing from the other side so that you are not lopsided. I expressed for the first time today early in the morning before I left for work and got more milk in 10 minutes than I usually get in the afternoon. I'll see if I can do this more often.

I returned to work 3 days a week after both DS & DD. I decided not to express and gave formula at nursery. However I managed to continue breastfeeding on my days off & weekend - my body just adapted.
This for me was great - meant i didnt have to worry about expressing at work BUT didnt have to give up BF.
the body is an amazing machine !!

dd went to nursery full time when she was 3 months old, and I continued breastfeeding until she was 10 months. At first I felt very self conscious, being a 21 year old single parent at university is bad enough without thinking everyone is looking at you and knows why you are going into the loo with a suspicious looking bag! Yes, I did have to express in the loo, as there was nowhere on campus I could express in private, although I'm sure my tutors would have let me use their offices had I thought to ask! I had an isis pump, which was silent, and the special case to keep the milk cool. To be honest, the bag just looked like I was carrying electrical equipment, so I don't think anyone was really any the wiser. I managed to express at least once a day, and expressed more at night time. I was the only mother at nursery to take in expressed milk, but they were wonderful about it.