Hi, apart from the obvious welfare related issues does anyone have any additional factors I need to consider when bringing a new mother back into the workplace please? The lady is an office worker but accesses our laboratory. Any fumes etc are controlled with suitable ventilation.

I have also just read this on the HSE published guide: Are there specific workplace risks associated with breastfeeding? There may be risks other than those associated with pregnancy to consider, if you plan to continue breastfeeding once you have returned to work. These depend on your working conditions and could include: ■ working with organic mercury; ■ working with radioactive materials; ■ exposure to lead. The full document is below. http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg373.pdf