I like breast feeding. I express during the day and give the expressed breast milk (EBM) via a bottle. At night I just breast feed as I am lazy and don't want to get out of bed to make a bottle. This has the advantage that when I take EBM in bottles to the child care centre, L can continue to recieve the EBM - bonus. Happy with that. So here is the problem - how do I express when I am at work???
I work in a male dominated office environment. The office is open plan. I could book a meeting room each day, twice a day but from previous experience I know that meetings rooms are in short supply. Also in some work spaces the office walls are made of glass - no such thing as privacy. The only other space that would afford the required privacy is the ladies room. And who wants to express in the ladies room?? That is just so NOT hygentic.
So - if I want to continue to breast feed when I return to work I have to invest in another breast pump. Something a little more discreet. I also have to cause problems at work stealing meeting rooms when I know they are considered a rare commodity. These two things alone leave me questioning if it is all just too hard.
I would love to hear from you - how long did you breast feed? How did you manage breast feeding when you returned to work? Or did you move to formula once you returned to work?
Cheers,
Sharon.
This is indeed a dilema Shaz.... but I may have the answer!
ReplyDeleteFirstly, your workplace needs to provide a lockable sick room for employees. Is it possible to commandeer this for expressing twice a day? If your sick room is in use, perhaps one on another floor might be able to be used. Or better still, your sick room facility may be divided into several smaller rooms.
Further to this, the Queensland Government recently introduced the Breast Feeding and Work Policy (http://www.health.qld.gov.au/breastfeeding/work_breastfeeding/info_resources.asp) which, amongst other things, means Qld Govt employers must provide 'suitable and reasonable workplace facilities for employees who choose to express breast milk or breastfeed their child'. So, once you get that QT job, find out where their 'lactation facilities' are :)
As for the pump.. it's massive! I've got a Medela Swing which is about the size of a saucer. Only pain is that it needs to hang vertically when in use, but there are hooks, doorknobs and chairs everwhere that I found come in very handy :)
Hey K - thanks for the information. I will look into it further.
ReplyDeleteCheers,
S.
did you know that the Australian Breastfeeding Association has a whole 'arm' dedicated to helping women breastfeed when returning to work? Look on their website www.breastfeeding.asn.au or contact:
ReplyDeleteTracy Kelly bfwa@breastfeeding.asn.au
I would really encourage and support you Sharon, what you are doing is mega important for your baby and for you. Good luck.