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Original poster

Calling all breastfeeding teachers

16 replies

mummynumnum · 01/12/2006 21:15

I am going back to work on the 11th, just for a week before xmas. Friends/relatives/dh are having dd (21weeks). DD has been exclusively breastfed and wont take a bottle. She may have a sip from a cup. I live close to the school. Would you nip out in lunch hour to go home and give baby a feed? I cant decide whether to do this or not.

OP posts:
luciemule · 01/12/2006 22:30

I think you should do whatever is necessary to make you happy and if you're going to worry about your DD, your milk might start drying up and you'll be stressed. Maybe try nipping back at lunch time to start with but at the same time, keep trying with bottle. Let everyone else do the bottle thing and perhaps when you're not there, your DD will realise there's no other option. You could also try different spouts. My DS wouldn't suck from a teat so I gave him an avent bottle with the green spouts with 3 holes across the top (you fit a rubber disc underneath the spout to prevent leaks). He really took to them and still has his milk in bottles using those spouts and he still feeds from me too so they obviously don't confuse him.

Yorkiegirl · 01/12/2006 22:31

Message withdrawn

Judy1234 · 01/12/2006 23:12

Can the baby be brought to you at work to feed? The children might love that. Could be really good for their education. Could it even be brought into class a few times a day?

Article at
www.personneltoday.com/Articles/2006/09/12/36343/feeding-frenzy.html
"In England and Wales, there is no statutory duty for employers to permit time off work to breastfeed. However, a number of laws are relevant:
Health and safety law requires employers to:

  • provide a place for breastfeeding mothers to lie down and rest
  • permit adequate rest and meal breaks
  • conduct individual risk assessments and remove risks such as exposure to hazardous substances, infectious diseases, long working hours, stress and cigarette smoke.

European Commission guidelines, which are not legally binding but are likely to be taken into account by an employment tribunal, recommend:

  • access to a private room in which to breastfeed or express milk
  • use of secure, clean refrigerators for storing expressed milk and facilities for washing, sterilising and storing receptacles
  • time off (without loss of pay or benefits, and without fear of penalty) to express milk or breastfeed."
Original poster
mummynumnum · 02/12/2006 06:55

Thanks-yes def think will go with getting dh to bring her up at lunch and go somewhere to breastfeed. Think it is better than me getting stressed and worrying about her starving!!

OP posts:
Yorkiegirl · 02/12/2006 07:31

Message withdrawn

Original poster
mummynumnum · 02/12/2006 08:05

Not thats what I plan to do. Get dh to pick me up at lunch and then just nip round corner. Would not do it in front of students. Not that liberal!!! Sorry for any confusion.

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Original poster
mummynumnum · 02/12/2006 08:06

Would go off site rather than stay in school.

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nothercules · 02/12/2006 08:08

I went back to work when dd was same age. She wouldnt use a bottle either until we tried the playtex system with expressed milk and me out of the house. I expressed during my lunch break in a locked office and supplemented with formula if I couldnt get enough.

Sophiev73 · 02/12/2006 09:03

Interesting - am going through exactly the same decision-making myself! Am also going back in the last week (Christmas pay for me too, guffaw) and my ds2 will be going to on-site nursery like his brother.
But to be honest, I've decided to give him expressed milk from a cup/spoon combo and BF at home in the morning and evening - I just thnk I couldn't cope with the emotional 'confusion' of the work me and the BF me, if that makes sense. I know I could very easily go over to the nursery at break and lunch, but I have to say I find it easier to divorce myself completely from the babies or I just get all confused and I have a feeling they do too...

Having said that, if I was staying at home (not an option for me) I would be continuing BF-ing all the time. How old is your dd? Are you going back full time?

Judy1234 · 02/12/2006 10:12

When I had the twins and fed during working hours, they were brought to me in private (I don't teach) that was so much easier and more comfortable for me physically and much more fun than expressing.

I suppose I feel we've a duty to make sure children realise breastfeeding is natural. We had a mother and baby come into school to show us feeding and it was lovely to see. But I'm sure in breaks is essential not in class because of people's prejudices and because that's working time.

Original poster
mummynumnum · 02/12/2006 12:23

Going back 4 days a week, so only got to struggle through 4 days and then it is the xmas hols.

OP posts:
CantWaitForTheSnow · 02/12/2006 19:35

Its only 4 days, do what ever you are most comfotable with. I think I've done many of the options available - expressed, popped out to feed, had dd brought in to feed. The hardest was bringing dd into school - having to find a room, get timings right for child swapping with partner, harder to switch off etc.

Personally I'd nip out or express. Have you expressed before - might be difficult the first few times and therefore stressful?

When I expressed, the first few days dd just adapted her feeding to 'essential intake' during the day and 'feed fests' at home at night, so for 4 days might just be better to pop out.

Original poster
mummynumnum · 02/12/2006 20:58

Thanks everyone-I think I will just nip out. have convinced myself that am being naughty nipping out at lunchtime. DH keeps telling me I am not a student, but an adult that is allowed to do as they wish at lunch!!! Think this going back to work business has just made me lose the plot .

Cant wait for the snow-that was very understanding of work to let you bring dd in for feed. Not sure I would be allowed to do that.

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Original poster
mummynumnum · 02/12/2006 20:59

Oh and I do express every morning. Get btwn 1oz and 4oz.

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mozhe · 06/12/2006 12:02

My 7 month twin DDs are exclusively breastfed,until 2 weeks ago I worked fulltime as a hospital doctor, now we have just moved abroad for a sabbatical year and next week will be starting an academic post.The hours will be shorter,( more like 9-5, rather than 7-7...academe being less full on too I suspect ),but still I am away from twins fo large chunk of day....I have one word of advice,( well maybe slightly more..) EXPRESS,I give my two, 2-3 big,( avent btw ), bottles of EBM a day,plus 2-3 ' mummy feeds'.Back in England I used to nip home,( also lived close-ish to hospital ), a couple of times a week at lunch time but won't do that here as the university is half an hour away from home....A handheld electric pump,( I use 2..one on each breast to save time...but you wouldn't need to do this, unless really pressed for time ), does the job, I express 2-3 times a day for about 15 mins each time....Start expressing today and build up a 'bank' of EBM for those days when you either don't have as much time for expressing or you jusy need extra.I did this routine with three oldes DSs now 4,5 and 6.Good Luck !

Original poster
mummynumnum · 06/12/2006 16:38

Have been expressing. Lost alot of express milk stores when freezer broke a week ago . DD has never taken bottles really, although she will take about an 1oz of formula from a bottle now and can drink from cup. Think the feed her in my lunch idea is a good one, just for next week, as she wont take big feed from bottle or cup. Is on 3 solids a day though. If dont feed her at lunch, worried she will scream all day for il/dh.

Thanks for advice

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