Agree with other commenters, very few return to work before baby is 26 weeks old but given how solids should only begin to be introduced at this time, I can really see the benefit of an additional hour up to 26 weeks.
However, 6 months is not a magic turning point. My son started on solids then but showed little interest until he was 7-8 months old. I took the 16 weeks unpaid plus 4 weeks parental leave to get him to 11.5 months before I returned to work. It was tough as my son didn't get milk during the day then reverse cycled (looking for it in the evening and at night instead) and I had to compensate to ensure he got what he needed. I was going around like a zombie my first few months back in work! I had returned to work after having my daughter when she was less than 10 months and it was even harder - hence my taking some parental leave second time around. Not many can take this much time off work unpaid though!
Entitlement to breastfeeding breaks definitely needs to be extended beyond 6 months. I would think on a graduated scale as an 18-24 month old toddler in no way needs the same amount as a 6-9 month old baby. Maybe it could go from paid 2 hours up to 6 months to paid 1.5 hours from 6-9 months, paid 1 hour from 9-12 months then unpaid up to 1 hour between 12-24 months. This unpaid option between 1-2 years of age would give mothers who still absolutely need to express the option whilst giving some incentive to scale back from the full hour as their child's needs change.
Those times from 1-2 hours would be from a 7.5-8 hour working day and I think the times shouldn't be "per shift" so mothers on 10-12 hour shifts should get proportionally longer.
C. Winters - 11 years ago
For the majority of mothers returning to work in the public sector after 6 months maternity leave, the law at present doesn't entitle the mother to have even 1 hour paid break to express. The WHO recommends to exclusively breastfeed for 6 months and to feed at least for 2 Years . So when you do return after 6 months there is no support !!! If you want to express or breastfeed your baby you can take 1 hour UNPAID!! The emphasis on breastfeeding and the importance is put on to mothers up to 6 months , then there is just no support or provisions to ensure the mothers can continue. Hence many mothers are using their lunch breaks to express in toilets. The bigger picture our employers should be looking at is that a breastfeed baby is less likely to get sick resulting in reduced sick leave for mums!!!!
Edel Loughrey - 11 years ago
it needs to be extended to 2 years, a year minimum.. Most bf mums aren't back to work by 26 weeks. At the moment I'm trying to fit in a pumping session in my 30 min break which is hard but I want to keep bf my little boy..
Emma - 11 years ago
In practice this right affects very few mothers currently as statutory maternity leave covers the period up to 26 weeks anyway. It should be extended to two years as this is the minimum time it is recommended to breastfeed your child by the HSE and the World Health Organisation. It might encourage more women not to wean before going back to work.
Caroline - 11 years ago
Not only should mother's be given more time power day, but the time s Gould new given for a longer period after the baby is born, 2 years seems good as that is the minimum recommended age to wean (see WHO or NICE guidelines). Women who want to breastfeed would be more willing to return to work, they would must likely be more productive as they would be more comfortable both physically and emotionally.
Julika - 11 years ago
I agree. Even one hour for the complete first year would be a huge improvement. Most mums only go back at 26 weeks so the time to express before that is of little use to us. There shouldn't be a difference between mothers working in the public and in the private sector.
Clódagh Corrigan - 11 years ago
The time given to nursing mothers to express shouldn't end at 6 months but should continue until the child is 2 as the hse and the who advise bf til at least 2. Anything that increases bf rates is going to save the country a fortune in reduced medical costs longterm. From a proud mother of three still nursing a nearly 10 month old
Clódagh Corrigan - 11 years ago
The time given to nursing mothers to express shouldn't end at 6 months but should continue until the child is 2 as the hse and the who advise bf til at least 2. Anything that increases bf rates is going to save the country a fortune in reduced medical costs longterm. From a proud mother of three still nursing a nearly 10 month old
Agree with other commenters, very few return to work before baby is 26 weeks old but given how solids should only begin to be introduced at this time, I can really see the benefit of an additional hour up to 26 weeks.
However, 6 months is not a magic turning point. My son started on solids then but showed little interest until he was 7-8 months old. I took the 16 weeks unpaid plus 4 weeks parental leave to get him to 11.5 months before I returned to work. It was tough as my son didn't get milk during the day then reverse cycled (looking for it in the evening and at night instead) and I had to compensate to ensure he got what he needed. I was going around like a zombie my first few months back in work! I had returned to work after having my daughter when she was less than 10 months and it was even harder - hence my taking some parental leave second time around. Not many can take this much time off work unpaid though!
Entitlement to breastfeeding breaks definitely needs to be extended beyond 6 months. I would think on a graduated scale as an 18-24 month old toddler in no way needs the same amount as a 6-9 month old baby. Maybe it could go from paid 2 hours up to 6 months to paid 1.5 hours from 6-9 months, paid 1 hour from 9-12 months then unpaid up to 1 hour between 12-24 months. This unpaid option between 1-2 years of age would give mothers who still absolutely need to express the option whilst giving some incentive to scale back from the full hour as their child's needs change.
Those times from 1-2 hours would be from a 7.5-8 hour working day and I think the times shouldn't be "per shift" so mothers on 10-12 hour shifts should get proportionally longer.
For the majority of mothers returning to work in the public sector after 6 months maternity leave, the law at present doesn't entitle the mother to have even 1 hour paid break to express. The WHO recommends to exclusively breastfeed for 6 months and to feed at least for 2 Years . So when you do return after 6 months there is no support !!! If you want to express or breastfeed your baby you can take 1 hour UNPAID!! The emphasis on breastfeeding and the importance is put on to mothers up to 6 months , then there is just no support or provisions to ensure the mothers can continue. Hence many mothers are using their lunch breaks to express in toilets. The bigger picture our employers should be looking at is that a breastfeed baby is less likely to get sick resulting in reduced sick leave for mums!!!!
it needs to be extended to 2 years, a year minimum.. Most bf mums aren't back to work by 26 weeks. At the moment I'm trying to fit in a pumping session in my 30 min break which is hard but I want to keep bf my little boy..
In practice this right affects very few mothers currently as statutory maternity leave covers the period up to 26 weeks anyway. It should be extended to two years as this is the minimum time it is recommended to breastfeed your child by the HSE and the World Health Organisation. It might encourage more women not to wean before going back to work.
Not only should mother's be given more time power day, but the time s Gould new given for a longer period after the baby is born, 2 years seems good as that is the minimum recommended age to wean (see WHO or NICE guidelines). Women who want to breastfeed would be more willing to return to work, they would must likely be more productive as they would be more comfortable both physically and emotionally.
I agree. Even one hour for the complete first year would be a huge improvement. Most mums only go back at 26 weeks so the time to express before that is of little use to us. There shouldn't be a difference between mothers working in the public and in the private sector.
The time given to nursing mothers to express shouldn't end at 6 months but should continue until the child is 2 as the hse and the who advise bf til at least 2. Anything that increases bf rates is going to save the country a fortune in reduced medical costs longterm. From a proud mother of three still nursing a nearly 10 month old
The time given to nursing mothers to express shouldn't end at 6 months but should continue until the child is 2 as the hse and the who advise bf til at least 2. Anything that increases bf rates is going to save the country a fortune in reduced medical costs longterm. From a proud mother of three still nursing a nearly 10 month old