Dragons' Den star Sarah Willingham didn't take maternity leave and breastfed in meetings

The businesswoman said her colleagues and clients didn't complain
Hectic schedule: Sarah Willingham couldn't take time off work
Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock
Emma Powell12 September 2016
The Weekender

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Dragons' Den star Sarah Willingham has revealed she never took maternity leave so would breastfeed her children in meetings.

The 42-year-old business woman – who was too busy to take time off – said her colleagues and clients never objected to her breastfeeding in the boardroom.

"I asked if anyone had a problem, and they never did,” she told Hello!. “In order for me to continue running the businesses, the babies needed to come with me wherever I went.

“So I always needed to work."

Willingham - who made her fortune with the Bombay Bicycle Club chain of Indian restaurants - has five children Minnie, 10, Monti, eight, Nelly, six and five-year-old Marly, with her husband Michael.

The family are currently preparing for a year long round-the-world trip.

“For me, as a mum, this is such a precious time with the kids," she said.

“They still think we’re cool, they still choose us over their mates and I feel I’m bottling a period of our life that we’ll never forget.”

The children will attend schools as well as being homeschooled along the way.

Dragons' Den 2016 line-up

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Speaking of the adventure she said: "How could you not come back enriched. We're so open to new experiences, I think a lot will influence us.

"I'm sure we'll laugh and cry more than we ever expected to."

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