Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

milk in hospital

35 replies

marsala1 · 10/04/2025 09:36

Trying to figure out how to have cold milk in a fridge in a hospital for 2 weeks. Obviously DH will visit every few days but there is no fridge in the room. I know this seems silly but I have one of those healthy shakes every morning for breakfast now ( just last month and have put on weight!! was better off not having breakfast). Anyway I'm used to them now, There is a patients fridge but how will I know that someone hasn't opened my milk and drunk out of it. I know, I know it's unlikely but this is not a general ward. Basically I want my DH to deliver 1 litre of milk every second day. I thought of those 600 mls plain milk , heaps of them and if the get nicked I don't care, Any better ideas? I realise this is niche and weird. Considering bring my own little friidge into my room!

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Lineeyesahh · 11/04/2025 14:08

Hospital wards I’ve worked in usually just give patients milk (count of full or semi skimmed usually). Might be a worry you don’t need to have!

marsala1 · 11/04/2025 13:47

I think the cool bag is the winner ( and the shop). Thanks all.

OP posts:
marsala1 · 11/04/2025 13:45

AlisounOfBath · 10/04/2025 16:15

Do what people in student houses do: write “I have spat in this” on it and put it in the fridge. Obviously you don’t really spit in it, but who would take the risk?

Brilliant, I will write a series before I go in, on post it notes , or maybe masking tape, each gradually more gross.

OP posts:
starrystarrynight88 · 10/04/2025 17:00

Small cool bag. Husband replaces ice packs daily.

LolaLouise · 10/04/2025 16:16

Ive worked in a couple of hospitals, and lots of wards and departments, and we always supply milk to patients if requested.

AlisounOfBath · 10/04/2025 16:15

Do what people in student houses do: write “I have spat in this” on it and put it in the fridge. Obviously you don’t really spit in it, but who would take the risk?

marsala1 · 10/04/2025 16:14

Thanks all. There is a cafe downstairs that sells milk. I have so lost it I didn't even think of that. No this particular ward in this hospital doesn't have the trolleys for food, you have to get it yourself ( maybe a 10 metre walk) obviously not a post-surgery ward. Otherwise in other wards and other hospitals they do the rounds with the trolleys.

OP posts:
Iheartmysmart · 10/04/2025 16:04

How about a small cool bag then ask your DH to bring the milk in frozen with an additional ice pack? It should be fine for a couple of days that way. That’s what I do when I go camping and the milk stays cold for a good 2-3 days.

Ilovelowry · 10/04/2025 16:04

@marsala1 consider you might not want to eat anything. I've had three hospital surgeries where I've been in for a long day/overnight in the last year and I couldn't consume anything but water even if they'd forced me I wouldn't have eaten.

Tastes change in hospital.

marsala1 · 10/04/2025 16:01

This thread appears to have gone circular for some reason. I'm not answering the same questions again, but thank you for your kind interest , I'm quietly terrified,

OP posts:
Whiskeyandkittens · 10/04/2025 16:00

Were you needing to put on weight? If not, breakfast isn't compulsory! Or just go with the hospital breakfasts for a couple of weeks.

VickyEadieofThigh · 10/04/2025 16:00

marsala1 · 10/04/2025 15:58

I swear I just answered this. You have to get upp and get your own tray or your own food you have brought. Maybe I'm going bonkers though

Really? People in hospital for so long would generally not be capable of doing this.

Where are you? Not UK, surely?

marsala1 · 10/04/2025 15:58

Mulledjuice · 10/04/2025 10:36

Just ask for milk when they come round with the breakfast trolley?

I swear I just answered this. You have to get upp and get your own tray or your own food you have brought. Maybe I'm going bonkers though

OP posts:
Instinct1 · 10/04/2025 15:55

Try an "UdderLok - The Original Milk Bottle Lock" - available on Amazon.

marsala1 · 10/04/2025 15:54

Mulledjuice · 10/04/2025 10:36

Just ask for milk when they come round with the breakfast trolley?

No trolley, you have to get your own tray, or your own food from the "patients fridge".

OP posts:
marsala1 · 10/04/2025 15:53

Serendipetty · 10/04/2025 10:27

I'm missing the point but if I've read it right you went from not ingesting anything to having this and you're surprised you've put on weight? I don't understand that. Taking in more than your body is used to causes gain of course.

Yes . I have figured this out now, somewhat belatedly.

OP posts:
marsala1 · 10/04/2025 15:52

The shop is a good shout, but I will have a stash in the patients fridge as well. Thanks all.

OP posts:
marsala1 · 10/04/2025 15:46

Hellskitchen24 · 10/04/2025 09:51

Hospitals will label it for you. No one has access to these kitchens apart from staff so no one will be using it. Alternatively hospitals have milk coming out of their ears so it wouldn’t be unreasonable to use the hospital supply.

No , every one has access to the "patients fridge". And it's packed, but emptied and clened on a Tuesday!
And sadly the milk dellivered in the morning with brekky is a sad luke warm tiny container, Never been offered a cup of milk .You fill out a sheet every day so maybe I could ask.

OP posts:
marsala1 · 10/04/2025 12:03

Ta all. Yes the big fridge in the kitchen is for patients food. Maybe I'm being paranoid. It's all labelled. No fresh cold milk in the morning. Those weird containers and luke warm. I've just got used to having the shakes and yes I guess I have put on 1 kg because I'm eating something for breakfast when I didn't before. Just another stress. They supply breakfast , lunch and dinner I just wanted to stick with my shakes for breakfast. I'm sure someone will tell me they are full of chemicals , but they are low calorie and high protein and they taste nice. I've decided to buy 5 x small milks and if some are stolen thats fine as my DH will be visiting every few days so can replenish. Thanks. I know it seems a silly thing to worry about. There's a patients kitchen where I can wash my shaker too so thats sorted.

OP posts:
mindutopia · 10/04/2025 10:59

Honestly, I’d just drop the shakes for a few days and eat proper food. Or do they make a ready to drink variety?

But there is always cold milk on the breakfast trolley because they use it in coffees/teas and in cereal, so just ask for them to fill up your shake thing so you can make it.

Mulledjuice · 10/04/2025 10:36

Just ask for milk when they come round with the breakfast trolley?

ThisIsMyYearToFindMyself · 10/04/2025 10:30

I don’t know what you’re in for, but consider the fact with ops/meds/similar you might find you don’t want one. But ask the staff for milk, or buy it from the canteen.

8dateslater · 10/04/2025 10:30

What kind of hospital ward is it?
Mini fridges are often not allowed
I work in some specialist hospitals and in some there would be a way round but others not.

If its a mh hospital for example then you'd need to think about cables not being allowed etc

Serendipetty · 10/04/2025 10:27

I'm missing the point but if I've read it right you went from not ingesting anything to having this and you're surprised you've put on weight? I don't understand that. Taking in more than your body is used to causes gain of course.

Fraaances · 10/04/2025 10:27

Order a cup of milk with your breakfast?