Bf at work with male boss

[vs011]

Im returning to work soon. I have a male boss and want to tell him I'm breastfeeding and need a break every 3-4hrs to be able to provide milk for my baby. Is this a good way to put it? What did you say to your boss if you needed to pump 3-4x during work hours. I expect to pump for 30mins, then an hour pump during lunch. 15min pumps arent enough for me when my breasts are full.

 

[crownest]

It's a long time out of your day 1.5 or 2 hours I'd be prepared to tell him how you will make up your time or lessen the impact on your work just in case it comes up.

 

[noon_child]

First I would arm yourself with any statutory info there is for where you live (depending on that there may be nothing in law or quite a lot which tells employers what they have to do to accomodate you).

Then I'd open a conversation with him about breastfeeding...something like "I dont know how supportive you are of breastfeeding, how much you know about how breastfeeding works, or the benefits?" Based on his answers you will know how much you need to fight and educate him or actually if you just tell him what you want and he'll be fine with it.

I think a few good points to make are:
1) Pumping often enough will reduce the chance of Mastitis, which if it happened could mean lots of (possibly paid) time off work while you recover.
2) The longer your child receives breastmilk, the less likely they are to get serious illnesses or be hospitalised before the age of 5 (which again would be extended periods off work).

Depending how old your LO is and what childcare you have arranged, it might be worth considering if it would actually be quicker for one of those sessions to have someone bring LO in to work for you to feed, or if at lunchtime you could leave work to feed her.

I wouldn't actually mention making up the time unless your boss asks you to.

 

[Wannabe Mommy]

If you are in the UK I believe by law they have to provide an extra hours worth of break time, a private space and refrigeration facility. Check your maternity policy that's where the info was for my cpmpany.

 

[stacirene]

I'm from the U.S. (Indiana). When I had my first, I was told by law that my job had to provide me a private room to pump, along with a place to store it. They also had to provide me extra breaks on top of my normal breaks to pump.

Not sure how much of it was true, but I had a very understanding boss that provided all of the above to me and another lady that was pumping.

I do want to add that my boss, and their boss were both male. So they may be more understanding then you think.

 

[DoubleTFun]

Every state is different on BF laws. Unfortunately I now live in a state that doesn't have BF rights in the workplace. So I have to drive home to pump. luckily I only live 5 minutes away from work. I would pump at work, but my facility has no private area with a lock and outlet for my pump.