QuoteReplyTopic: Breastfeeding and going back to work Posted: 29 April 2013 at 2:00pm
If you went back to work while still breastfeeding, how often did you need to express milk? Twice a day? Is it easy or hard to do it at work and are employers pretty good about letting you take time out to express? Were you given the use of an office or meeting room to express or did you have to scamper off to the ladies' for some privacy?
I went back at 6 months both times. First time I had dd in an on site crèche and went to feed her twice a day till 9mths then once a day till 11months. After that I continued to feed at home for months after that.
Second time round bub stayed home with dh, so I expressed at lunchtime. I was gone 8-5.30. i was really full when I got home so would express one side while feeding on the other as soon as I walked in the door. I found I adapted to being away after a while, and stopped expressing at work after a month or two I think. I had to express in the first aid room. I'm pretty sure your work legally has to provide a reasonable, private expressing space. It can be a multipurpose space like a first aid room or meeting room but a toilet is not acceptable.
You'll work out what works for you once you try it :)
Ps, that second baby is still bf now at 18 months even though I stopped expressing when she was 8mths. She just had extra night feeds instead, no formula :)
thanks for that T_Rex. I've heard that some workplaces are great when it comes to letting mums express milk. I'd like to go back to work and keep breastfeeding but am just keen to find out from others how hard or easy it is.
I just made it clear it was a non-negotiable. It's a mostly blokes dept I work in and they would cringe a bit when I said I'd be late to lunch cos I had to express but that mostly just amused me.
Legally it has to be accommodated - check out the dol website. Be reasonable about it and so will everyone else.
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