If your breastfeeding and you need to stay in hospital can you bring your baby?

[Inyourfacebidisg]

Hypothetical question, if you had sepsis or chest pains that required overnight observation, would you be able to bring your baby if you were breastfeeding?

If you can’t do they provide a breast pump?

It’s sad to hear about the premature end of people’s breastfeeding journeys.

I had appendicitis when my baby was a year old and I asked for a breast pump from maternity and they gave me one to keep the milk going until I got home. Was in for five nights after the op in the end. Baby visited me in hospital but screamed and screamed and refused to be held by me while I was in the hospital bed it was weird. I resumed BF when I was discharged.

Depends what you're in for and how old your child is .
Midwives can't look after other specialities eg surgical or medical patients.

You sound like a very mature and sensible mum. Good for you. I wouldn’t want a young baby anywhere near a germ ridden hospital neither!

I did this many years ago, but I was unable to feed until the anaesthetic left my system. Bloody hard work getting it all back ok, but worth it in the long run, for me.

Worked on a respiratory ward for 6 months a couple of years ago. In that time we had 2 different women with chest infections, admitted to side rooms so their breastfed babies could come with them. I don’t know what would have happened if a side room hadn’t been available though.

Its going to depend hugely on how sick you are.

When I had sepsis I was in a coma on life support with a huge amount of drugs being pumped into me. No chance of breastfeeding. But if you're able to sit up and not on stong medication then I think they're supposed to support you if you've a small baby still.

The answer surely had to be 'it depends'. Hopefully a yes if:

• if mum is well enough, had a support person to stay and its a non mobile tiny baby
• if there is a spare side room. Those that are infectious etc need to be the priority though, so only if there is still space after these have been allocated.

There shouldn't be babies on the open ward though, or taking private rooms for those in need. There apart needs to be someone to do the non feeding care, and mums health and needs must come first.