This month a woman in the US was asked to estimate the amount of time she might spend pumping her breastmilk at work. Why? So that her breastmilk pumping could be contractually controlled by her employer and not cost them actual man hours. Anything over and she could get her pay docked. Like, Ebenezer Scrooge style.

Have we reached a point of such absence of humanity that new mothers, who’ve left their newborn baby at home and replaced their breastfeeding with pumping so they can get back to work quickly, are left out of pocket and ostracised? What would it really have cost that employer versus the goodwill they would receive from a faithful employee, who’s welcomed at the reception with a comfy cushion and a quiet room in which to pump? This isn’t even inhumane, but uncommercial.

At Sarka London HQ we feel every woman should be supported to get back into work however they feel appropriate after having a baby - the postpartum life is hard enough (breastfeeding or not). Thankfully our maternity protections in the UK are significantly better than the US, but we still have a way to go.

Let’s all watch out for each other in the workplace. If you are going back to work soon, check out our breastfeeding dresses for easy pumping - the Amelia Nursing dress and the Emmeline breastfeeding dress (pictured) are perfect for the workplace and can be worn forever.

Good luck out there ladies xx