Hi all,
It's Tuesday again so time for another tip.
Today's tip is:
If you are thinking about returning to work remember;
- Employers have to offer breastfeeding mums a private space to express milk and somewhere to store it
- Every parent has the right to request flexible working.
Does anyone have any tips on using parental leave, requesting flexible working or preparing to go back to work? Share your thoughts below!
I'm not anywhere near this stage yet, but have been thinking about how me and my partner should use shared parental leave. I want to breastfeed - so am keen to take the first 9 months myself. BUT I would also like to give my partner chance to spend time with baby, so was thinking he could take the last 3 months. Would months 6-9 be enough to wean baby? Has anyone else had experience of using shared parental leave?
I didn't use shared parental leave but we did consider it. I think its a greatvway for the dad to bond i didnt get the opportunity to breastfeed so my partner got involved from the beginning. How you thought about expressing for when your at work instead of weaning completely?
I'm now in my final month and am about to return to work. Ive decided to go back part-time
How have others found returning?
I've had to leave my company as we couldn't agree on a flexible working pattern has anyone else done this?
I guess it's normal to feel scared but how did you cope with having to start over as well as not being with your baby full time?
Shared parental leave wasn’t a thing during my previous Mat Leaves unfortunately so have no experience, but I would have liked to be able to use time this way. I requested to go back to work part time with my first pregnancy and ended up working three days a week which worked well for us. What we didn’t think about was nursery places and the waiting lists for places at some of them, so I recommend looking around if you are thinking about return to work.
In terms of breastfeeding I returned to work at around 8 to 9 months after each baby was born so our routine for breastfeeding became morning , on collection and nighttime. At nursery they had the meals offered and water out of a skippy cup. I was really worried about this but it seemed to work for us.
To get the nursery I needed, working in the city centre, I had to put my name down at 26 weeks pregnant. I've had people in my team who've had to take longer off due to waiting for nursery places so please don't wait until you're thinking of going back, look for a place whilst you're pregnant.
Yep learnt that the hard way. Nursery were the first people to find out we were having another baby! Always make sure I pass that knowledge onto others now too!
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