Returning work and still breast feeding

[zoejeanne]

I've been into work today to have a chat about my return to work in a couple of months time. Since I've been on maternity leave, my employers have relocated so it was a good chance to look round the new offices. However they are completely open plan, without any meeting rooms or private areas (apart from the toilets) and I am still breast feeding. I know employers are supposed to be considerate towards BF mums, but do I/can I insist that they provide me with a private room to express? I don't fancy using the toilets, and anyway my pump is an electric one and the toilets don't have sockets in there. What have you done about BF and working?

Thank you!

[LadyStealthPolarBear]

HOw old will your LO be?
I think you can insist they provide you with a room and time to express, although that time will be usual breaks / lunch.

[LadyStealthPolarBear]

Ds was 11 months when I went back, I fed morning, when I got in and bedtime and on demand at the weekends - still feeding him now at 2y4m so it wasn't the beginning of the end. At nursery he had cows' milk. But to me expressing seemed more hassle than it's worth (and I used to express all day to get one feed) but that's just my experience.

[PavlovtheForgetfulCat]

It is my understanding that they have to provide somewhere quiet and private for you to feed, although they do not have to provide additional time. A toilet is absolutely not acceptable.

My employers had to create a make-shift room from another room, putting a curtain up at the window for privacy. But, in the end, I was also given time to leave (half hour in morning, and half hour in afternoon, plus I took my own lunch hour) to go to her nursery and feed her, as I did not feel comfortable with DH bringing her into where I work (criminals visit the building!)

[19fran76]

My DD is 12 months. I do the same as Lady, feed her when home, she has water or cows milk when I'm not around. This arrangement works fine. I would find expressing aggravating methinks. You are entitled to a room as the other posters have said.

[zoejeanne]

LadyStealth my little one will also be 11 months when I go back. She is dropping feeds out of choice as she guzzles eats more solids, so it may not even be an issue then, but I'd like it to be her choice and forced on her

Unfortunately Pavlov the nursery isn't close enough for me to feed her, so I'd have to express (although from LadyStealth's comments maybe I can maintain supply without doing so). I mentioned it in passing today and was basically told they'd look into it, but doubted they could help without doing some building works!

[zoejeanne]

X-posted with fran - giving me more confidence about the supply without having to be annoying for work

[sandl]

I went back at 12 months and couldn't face telling my boss I still BF as somehow it seems to have a stigma about it if you haven't given up by then (but that's probably another thread) and am still going at 16 months. Sometimes I don't even manage to make it back for bedtime, but (un)luckily he wakes plenty of time during the night so he manages to get plenty of milk, regardless!

[cleanandclothed]

I went back when ds was 10.5 months, on 3 feeds a day (morning, afternoon, night). I have just about managed to express for the afternoon one and will stop when he is one, he can have cows milk for that and will carry on morning and night then.

[ThingOne]

I would expect she'll be fine at 11 months (but I do appreciate your point about choice).

[Belgianchocolates]

I bf for 2 y and went back to work when dd1 was 5.5m. I worked full time and only expressed the 1st 2 weeks or so as I found it hard to squeeze in at work + I couldn't get let down as I couldn't relax because I felt I wanted to be back out there soon. Anyway dd1 fed before I went out as soon as I got home, at bed time, a dream feed and early in the morning before I left, so I think she still had about 4 breast feeds in 24h on the days that I worked. She refused the bottle too, so during the day she solely had solids.