Expressing milk at work - urgent help needed

[sven]

I return to work tomorrow (boo hoo) and have just discovered that my employer (huge financial company who should know better) do not provide a specific place where I can express milk - they've suggested a meeting room (not lockable) or the gym changing rooms!! Although I can use the fridge in the creche to store the EBM they will not allow me use the other facilities as my daughter doesn't go to the creche (unbelievable!). I'm sure I read somewhere that an employer, under health and safety guidelines, must provide a lockable room - is this true? I want to force them to provide a room if they should be doing so - if not I will threaten to express at my desk!

To be honest Sven, I THINK all they need to provide is a private space, which the gym changing rooms sort of cover. If you're a big company, you probably have a first aid room - ask to use that, that's the most common place. Talk to your personnel/HR staff, they should be more understanding.

Whatever, you should inform them of your intention to continue to breastfeed - ideally in writing - because you are right, they do have special health and safety considerations in these circumstances (whether you are pumping at work or not). TBH though I found these regulations a bit of a drag because it meant I couldn't do my job properly, but hopefully that won't be the case for you. More details at: www.maternityalliance.org.uk/

I used to express at my desk, but then I have my own office....

Don't let this get you down - expressing at work is actually a lovely way of continuing your connection with your child while being at work. Enjoy it.

More info here:
www.excite.co.uk/directory/Home/Family/Babies/Breastfeeding/Pumping

sven, do get in touch with the Maternity Alliance, as they have all the details you need. At the moment, UK law says that employers have to provide "suitable facilities" for for a breastfeeding mother to "rest", but do not specify what those suitable facilities should be. You need AT LEAST a room with a lockable door. Perhaps you could turn the tables and ask your manager just how embarrassed he would be if he walked in on you with your chest hanging out! I'm assuming its a he, of course, I'd imagine that a woman would be more sympathetic. Could you enlist the help of the Occupational Health Dept? Do you know someone who has a lockable office, that you could use while they're at lunch? When your boobs start dripping you'll find somewhere, and it sounds to me as if the creche would be most suitable...

I work in a hospital, and they REALLY should know better, but I've been back at work 8 months now, and STILL the breastfeeding mothers room is in the "planning stage" (i.e. if we drag our heels for long enough she'll go away or her baby will be weaned....I won't!!!)

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I also used first aid rooms (lockable) - same place where I'd been to lie down on those pregnant days when I just needed to get horizontal. You have a complete right to this at a minimum. I actually booked two slots in my on-line calender every day and made it clear to everyone taht I really was not available at those times - unless tehy wanted me to attend meetings topless.
Having said that, after two weeks back at work (also large financial institution) I got so faffed off with pumping/lugging in sterilising equipment every day that I stopped, and now manage to pump enough after the am and pm feed and during the evening to satisfy dd during the day.