Breastfeeding WFH?

[BobbitWormNightmares]

I'm reading on the NHS page that you can arrange childcare close to work so you can breastfeed your baby.

When I return to work part time I'll be working from home. I'll be doing some late evening shifts, a couple of times a month but most of my shifts will be daytime hours.

I want to still do one feed in morning and one feed before babys bedtime. (And just solids during the day - baby will be 1 year)

Could I:

A. tell work I want to breastfeed my baby at say 7pm - for 20 mins - which would only affect my work a couple of times a month

B. Lie and tell work I am expressing and tell them I need to express at around 7pm in evening - and feed my baby

Or c. I'm being completely unreasonable,

P.s sneaking off isn't an option as breaks are strict and scheduled.

I have worked full time for a while now and do reverse cycling. So I don’t feed during my work hours and DS will catch up after nursery. He’s 14 months now and has 3 feeds between 6pm and 6am.

Thats interesting. Im up at least 4 times a night anyways with my LO so I'm sure that will continue :0

I've read that employers have to give good consideration to flexible working hours for breastfeeding mothers. So maybe they can change my evening shifts until he's completely weaned ....

I think A is fine (tbh I don't think it makes a difference if you are expressing or feeding).

I had to take an (online) professional exam during mat leave and they allowed me a half hour break to breastfeed. That was a large public sector organisation though, so very good about complying with their obligations re maternity rights etc. I don't know what it would be like in the private sector.

Good luck!

Okay thank you. I work for quite a large private sector so my feeling is they'd be very by the book, so I should be able to breast feed if I'm entitled to.

Did you feel like it all worked well for you?

Do you think I could ask them to either change my evening shifts or allow me a break at his bed time? That way I'm being flexible and they can choose what suits them

@BobbitWormNightmares

Okay thank you. I work for quite a large private sector so my feeling is they'd be very by the book, so I should be able to breast feed if I'm entitled to.

Did you feel like it all worked well for you?

Do you think I could ask them to either change my evening shifts or allow me a break at his bed time? That way I'm being flexible and they can choose what suits them

I'd consider what would actually work for you and ask for that as a starting point. If either option would really be fine then that's great. My baby does NOT like to feed to schedule 🙄 and it only worked well for the exam by pure luck so personally I'd try avoid the evening shift if I really wanted to BF then but maybe your baby is better behaved!

You're totally right. My sons whole day depends on when he wakes up/how long his naps are, etc so his bed time can really vary, 7pm is just the time we work towards but it can sometimes be 6 or 8pm.

Okay, I'll have a really good think about how late I could work until and request that change.

I'll also ask hr for a copy of their bf policy - it's so frustrating when everything is on an intranet.

Thank you