Breastfeeding/expressing breaks at work

[MrsFabuloso]

My bub isn't quite here yet, and I have no idea how successful we will be at bf, but another thread got me to thinking if I need to go back to work before I finish bf, how do I go about expressing for bub at work? It is likely I will need to go back to work before my years worth of maternity leave is up, for financial reasons.

Now the problem for me is I am an early childhood teacher in a long day care centre. It is unlikely that my employer could give me any position less than 7hrs long each day, so I would possibly be expressing up to 3/4 times a day.

If anyone here has worked as a carer in a childcare centre, particularly long day care, you will understand my dilemma. It is unlikely that we will have the ratios for me to just up and leave the room for 15mins to express, then there's time to prepare the pump, clean it and store the milk, so maybe all up 25-30 mins. As part of our agreements, we only get 45mins worth of breaks a day anyway, so nowhere near enough time to express even 2 times a day let alone 4.

So what I would like to know is what are my rights. My employers are (supposedly)family friendly and can be flexible to a point with my position, though my position is as a teacher, which is 7 1/2 hr days in a centre. Unles they are flexible to the point of giving me a share position of part days (highly unlikely) I don't see how I could continue bf/expressing and work as well. Is it up to my employers policies, or are there laws or what ever in place for the bf mother? Can anyone tell me??

[MrsFabuloso]

Bump!

No one knows about this??

[danniellabella]

I think it is law that an employer must provide a clean private environment where practable and allow time for lactation breaks. You really would need to negotiate this with your employer as to whether or not you'll get extra breaks on top of your normal ones and/or if they will be paid or unpaid breaks.
I'm fortunate to have an employer who is very flexible in this regard and has several areas available. I just express once a day as my DD now has formula about 95% of the time and I am able to go when it suits me.