Question by Ember Halo: is it justifiable to go home from work early in order to prevent needing to give baby formula?
just wondering your opinions…
do you think it’s justifiable to leave work early to go home & nurse your baby in order to try & ward off needing to supplement with formula (due to a bad pumping day / supply issues) & keep her on breastmilk exclusively (for at least another week)?
what do you think, would you do it??
no, i didn’t think they’d understand either 
…
but i did it anyway.
just said personal business when they asked.
fizzygrrl1980- you obviously aren’t a seasoned breastpump user… i (and many women) do not respond as well to a pump and CANNOT pump as much as my baby eats in a day. (even with pumping several times at HOME in addition to pumping at work)
just fyi.
also, fizzygurrl, you assume i put in less than 40 hrs that week… i still managed 42.5.
i don’t think i jumped down her throat, i was just saying that there *are* reasons to not be able to express as much milk as the baby eats AND even on top of leaving early once it
is still possible to put in at least 40 hours. even if i go home early “just because” i have to feed my baby.
btw, just further info… by going home (2.5 hours shy of my 10 hours) *that* day, i prevented the need to give her two bottles of formula the next day and quite possibly kept her from getting formula for–so far–an entire week.
Best answer:
Answer by kat
I think it should be… unfortunately I doubt your employer will think so.
What do you think? Answer below!
“what do you think, would you do it??”
Oh no, no. My career is much more important than my young baby, and… No, seriously? Why on earth wouldn’t you?
Er, barring “then I would run out of food for myself,” of course. But you could try printing out some of the work-ups on-line on how much money breastfeeding saves employers — with children less likely to be sick and thus Mom less likely to take time off, stuff like that…
edit: fizzygurrl, the answer to that is to have better policies for FAMILY-related absences. Do you disagree with Daddies going home to take care of children when they’re sick? If no, then…
It’s not like there’s a whole lot of rationale for a 40hr 5day work week anyway.
From an employer standpoint I think that is a completely stupid reason and not an excusable absence. I can understand not wanting your child to have formula, but a 4 oz bottle isn’t going to hurt the baby.
If your child was home with the babysitter and ran completely out of food, that is a totally different story.
if it’s a one time thing, then it should be fine.
Absolutly… Babies and family come first.
I have been known to do that, but only if I couldn’t get anyone to bring my son to me. Luckily, it only happened a few times, so no one really knew why. I was working in retail, so sometimes customer timing isn’t great and I would miss a break and throw off my pumping schedule. So I would say, yes, on occasion, if you REALLY can’t get anyone to bring your child to you. In the end, breast milk fed babies are healthier, so you will miss a few hours now, compared to the sick days you might have to take later to stay home with a sick baby!
I would if your employer is understanding. I think its a reasonable request occasionally.
Ofcourse !!!!! And if u’re boss is ok with this / if u’re work place offers this flexibility then by all means avail of it. I work from home ( been doing it since I was 8 months pregnant ) since my job allows it. As long as u meet your timelines and dont negatively impact your work deliverables.. you can leave work early. But do talk to your manager about it and get his permission before you do so.. explain to him how this will not impact the work timelines. If he is reasonable.. he will agree.
i think so! employers take advantage of employees all the time and people call in sick all the time when they aren’t really sick. don’t feel bad.
(but don’t go getting yourself fired or anything!)
No, I think an excuse like that to go home early sets women back in the workplace by about fifty years. We’re all doing our best every day to shatter the glass ceiling and be looked upon as equals by our male co-workers, but if we start leaving the office early to go home and pump breast milk, that makes the gender gap that much harder to bridge. Thanks to portable breast pumps, there should be no reason why you can’t pump enough milk to give your baby breast milk as well as put in a 40-hour work week like everyone else. In fact, as a fellow female professional, I would find it very insulting that you get to go home early just because you need to nurse, while I have to remain at work for the duration just because I have no babies yet. Seems unfair, doesn’t it?
Do you mean just for one day or on a regular basis? If it is just for one day, most definitely! I wouldn’t give it a second thought.
If you mean on a regular basis, I think that an employer should do everything he or she can without seriously compromising business to allow mothers some flexibility when it comes to nursing.
Breastfeeding benefits society. Breastfeeding = healthy babies = less time mom needs to stay home with sick babies.
ADDED: To the poster above me….
So women who want to be “legitimate” professionals have to sacrifice their responsibilities to their children? In other words, instead of wearing our “mom hats” with pride, we should simply hang them up outside the boardroom and pretend that the realities of motherhood don’t exist?
And the definition of “fair” is NOT everyone getting the same thing. It is everyone getting what he or she needs.
ADDED:
And I think that business-owners/employers should realize that being flexible with breastfeeding employees is in their best business interest…..breastfeeding mothers will need less time off caring for their sick children. Breastfeeding is good for overall communities, and although employers should certainly be interested in the welfare of their business, it IS in their best interest to be concerned about the welfare of their communities as well.
sorry, but i agree with alyssa’s mommy.
if there is formula available, there is no reason to go running home, unless there was absolutly no breast milk or formula available to give her. everyone that pumps has days where you dont get anything out. some people just cant get enough out period, no matter how hard they try.
Justifiable to who? It is definitely justifiable in your eyes, but to the employer it probably isn’t…depends on your employer. Yes, breast milk is best, but employers have to have rules for their employees. If they had people leaving all of the time for their own personal reasons, the company would not fare very well. If they let one person go home for that reason, they would have to let anyone else go for whatever reason they could come up with.
fizzygurl….I wonder (and hope) you will change your tune once you have a baby…..life is totally different once you are a mommy…and besides, men leave work early all the time in the summer for a “meeting” on the golf course…just ask my husband! lol
I would leave if I had to. To me, it is just as good of a reason as if your baby got sick at daycare and you had to pick them up.
Is there any way you could try to change your hours..come in a bit earlier, work through lunch etc?
What if the person watching your child could bring them to your work for a quick nursing session?
I used to manage a retail establishment, so coming from a former manager, one time okay. You keep repeating it, you’d probably lose your job. So, if you continuously leave work, how is losing your job going to benefit your daughter?
But if its a one time deal, then fine, personal business is all they need to know, just don’t over do it.
I think there is a difference in leaving work early (completely gone for the rest of the day) and running home and then back to work. If you live close enough to your work I see no problem with running home every day during lunch (you get a full hour lunch, right) to eat really quick and nurse your baby.
Leaving work early once or twice is perfectly justifiable, BUT it won’t really help your goal much. If you can’t make a habit out of it it won’t really help your baby in the long run.
It’s a difficult situation you’re in and one that is going to be a tough decision to make. Is it possible for your mom to take your baby for a drive to come see you during lunch time (if you’re too far away to travel home)? Yes it is a lot of driving time, but it would let you nurse your baby during the middle of the day.
Mostly, relax. The more stressed you are the harder it will be for you to deal with supply issues and make the best decision you can.
Well, I dont work, but nursing is very important to me! I would absolutely leave work to nurse my baby if I had to, and I’d lie to my employer about the reasons if need be. I’d do everything in my power to prevent it, but if there was a rare occurance of needing to do it, I wouldnt hesitate. Maintaining my daughter’s “virgin gut” is a priority to me. My job as a mother comes first. I wont compromise my values when it comes to my kids. Not even for a job.
I wish everyone had as much success with pumping as me! I’ve got a cheap electric pump, and can easily express 4-6 ounces per breast in one sitting (usually 10 mins or less!). My supply and letdown have always been strong, so I decided to share =) Now, I feed my daughter on one side (because thats all it takes to fill her up), and I pump the other, and donate it. I really feel for you moms who have to work, feed your baby, and struggle with pumping! I’ve heard of so many moms that will only get a tiny ammount in an HOUR of pumping! I really commend anyone with that ammount of dedication.
Although I can absolutely understand your position I do think it should be only in an emergency. Your employer has a responsibility to not only their company but to the other employees to make sure the equality in the workforce stays even. Do men get to run home for such things..no. I have to agree with SOME of what the other poster said. The workforce does still look at women as a risk in many ways. Having to leave for breastfeeding, having to allow additonal breaks to allow nursing or breast pumping honestly does show favoratism. Do I think it is fine that some businesses do accomadate these…absolutely. Do I think they should be mandated no. I don’t really see anything wrong with formula being used in an emergency situation. I think people have to recognize that businesses are in the business of production. Now I do also understand that your baby comes first and only you know what is best for him or her.
EDIT** I do agree though leaving one time isn’t going to hurt anyone including our employer. I would just keep it at a minimum.
**EDIT 2** I would like to point something out..and this really isn’t to pick on one person….but was this not an opinion question? The poster asked what do you think…and everyone is jumping down Fizzy’s throat for giving her opinion. No matter what your opinion there is going to be oppositon to it. Maybe you disagree with her but to be honest you learn some if you keep an open mind to what others have to say. Asking people’s opinion…then you should be able to listen to both sides of the argument. Otherwise the only thing you are wanting is justification not people’s honest opinion. Just my opinion. Not meaning to be rude or honestly even to side with Fizzy’s particular opinion as a whole.
Desert Mama…I can see your point. Idealy businesses should be interested in the community. However right now in the society were are in and the economy we are in does not in many situations make that a reality. My brother works for a company BARELY making ends meet..this was a very large company doing great 2 years ago. They have laid off people due to their struggle..are you saying they should just allow people to adjust their schedules as they so choose because that is what suites them personally. I have to say that is somewhat egotistical. I would also like to point out that although breastfeeding IS best..no one is going to argue that. Breastfeeding as a whole does not GUARANTEE that your child will not be as sick as any other child. My sister breastfeed exclusively with both of her girls. She did so for 2 years…of course using expressed milk during the day. Her girls have been every bite as sick as my children..quite frankly more so and my kids used formula. I can absolutely see your opinion but I do not think all of it is completely logical during the current state of the world.
sure, I would do it — but only if my employer was okay with it. If I was in your position, it wouldn’t consider it a huge deal if my baby got a bottle of formula every once in awhile. On the other hand, it would be a huge deal if I lost my job. Ideally, you’d be able to leave work early to nurse, but not all employers would be okay with that. They generally want employees to stay until the close of business (understandably so) unless you have a specific arrangement.
I’d run to my little man if he were hungry & there was no more breast milk home, even if my employer didn’t agree. Family comes first & giving my son formula is not an option if i can do something.
Then again, this is a new job & i could get fired.. & i’d STILL run home
I doubt your job views it as a tolerable reason to leave. I commend you for avoiding formula but you need to stock that stuff up if you want to keep your job. I found many jobs barely like the fact I need so many breaks to pump. I would not ask to leave I would supplement formula.
YES. of course it is justifiable. lie if you have to — meaning if you have good reason to assume your employer will not think it is justifiable. it is not up to them to decide what constitutes a family emergency, and, if you are committed to breast and no supplementing, this is an emergency for you.
edit: who the he*l gave rain 2 thumbs down for that answer? it was perfectly balanced! you thumb crazy people should start offering help and answering questions instead of sitting around waiting to “rate” people based on your personal agendas. lame.
If you are a full time, working breast feeding mom you do what you have to do to make it work. I duck out all the time to nurse my son. My boss is none the wiser at this point because it has not effected my work. If it does…then I’ll figure something else out.
You do what you have to do Ember…just don’t get fired.
I would. Most women who don’t work “on the clock” can usually get just as much done as the men who sit there daydreaming about boobies all day long. You’re doing something productive with that time! LOL
Seriously, people spend so much time at work doing NOTHING. Those of us who worked our butts off and worked extra hard so we can squeeze in pumping sessions and occasionally leave early are totally justified I believe.
Do you know how many employees waste their time staring off into space or otherwise getting paid for nothing? The stats would shock you! Women who pump are often very hard working and dedicated women. If a woman has enough resolve to stick to breastfeeding even when returning to work I think it shows a lot about her character as a person and an employee. We aren’t willing to give in and do it “the easy way” by doing formula. We wash just as many bottles PLUS pumping equipment and must give up our breaks and lunches to pump for your little ones.
I think an employer should see this as a GOOD attribute and realize that a woman strong enough to stand up and do what is right for her family will stand up and do what is right for a company who stands behind her as well. It is a two way street.
When I worked for the VA hospital they accommodated my pumping breaks and we all understood that I could actually work and pump at the same time. Many time I made phone calls while pumping and just closed the door to take care of business. Other times I worked on projects on the computer at the same time. (Keyboard trays are awesome pump holders LOL). When there were days that I needed to “get out of there” and take care of my baby, no one said a word because they KNEW that I would get the job done–often faster and with better results than the person who spent their breaks smoking, drinking coffee, and BSing.
So, YES, leave work. It is justifiable. You must make yourself a valuable member of the team so they don’t dare question your ethic. It sounds like you already have–so don’t sweat it. Be open, frank, and sincere when having this conversation with your supervisor–male or female.
Every once in a while my supervisor would tease me and say “nope sorry, can’t pump today” and I would say “ok, I quit then”. He would laugh, turn red, and say something to the effect of never getting on my bad side