To ask why breatfeeding mother get free hospital food

[McHappyPants2012]

In work last week and was working on the children ward. Formula feed babies the mothers had to pay £1.50 for a meal yet breastfeeding mother was told ther is no charge.

Formula on children ward are only provided in an emergency so I don't think it's down to cost

I don't like the "had to be there 24/7" argument. I think most would agree that as parents of young children most families want to be there 24/7. I don't disagree with bf parents being fed but that's a weak argument for it.

I don't know but hospital meals provided NOWHERE NEAR enough calories to sustain me when I had given birth and was bf. I was supplementing with chocolate & sausage rolls DH brought in and was still hungry!

It's not the parents that 'have to be there 24/7' it's the breast feeding mother - what if she had no partner or any other support?

I was feeding my DD every hour - like I said, for me I didn't really need the food but I am thinking of the people who need it.

When I'd just had dd they gave me a lovely curry which I was thoroughly enjoying - before dh nicked half of it !

Would be nice if they could supply a few more meals for immediate family at cost price. I was only in for about 24 hrs after the birth after all - surely wouldn't break the bank to be a bit more generous (though sadly bank seems pretty broken generally anyway doesn't it ?)

what if she had no partner or any other support? what do you think parents who FF who are in that situation do wander off and leave the child?

No, I would pay the £1.50

I agree Sirzy.I've been in 3 times with my 3(1 time bfing,2 not).The amount of time I needed to be there didn't differ at all.Poorly kids want their mummy end of not just those that are bf.I think this policy is utterly shit actually.

Last time my son was in pain,upset and scared I could barely leave him to go to the loo,particularly so as these days you're expected to do a lot of the care and nurses don't actually come round that much.My dp was at work all day or looking after the others so I snacked on food I bought in and went without a hot meal.

Sirzy I don't think anyone is saying that FFing parents just wander off and leave the child alone, just that they can swap with dad etc to get some rest, whereas a BFing mum is the only one who can feed. Obviously that doesnt take single parents/those who have nobody to swap with...

Nobody can have both parents off work,9 times out of 10 the mother is there alone.

I like the vending machine idea, however the welsh assembly have put restrictions on what welsh hospitals can put in them. It must be heathy options.

I am just glad neither of my children was admitted to hospital.

But thats what I was saying fuzzpig and why the "well we have to be there 24/7 argument" doesn't sit right with me way to many variables to even consider that as an argument for BF mums being fed.

If you're there for several days vending machine food which costs a fortune(and don't get me started on car park fees)isn't going to be enough.You want a hot meal even when you're worried and upset.

I got it free when my eldest was in hospital and I was pregnant. Still had to sleep on lumpy mattress next to her bed & to be honest the food was vile - husband brought in regular supplies from Tesco.

I just think too that, whatever the intention, this sends out a bit of a message that BFing is an unusual thing to be doing that only applies to small babies. I was BFing mine well into toddler years and beyond and would have felt very odd claiming my free hospital food where other mothers weren't entitled to it on grounds that I was "still" breastfeeding.

I think some of these policies need a bit of a re-think

I thought it was about practical necessity an cost, not message.

My impression, though not sure, was that it was a six month cut off for all here. So parent of ff baby would be fed, of bf toddler not. Could have been bf plus age.

my dd1 is repeatedly in hospital for long stays and in the childrens ward they always did this for bf mums of 1yo and under but then again they would often take pity on parents of over 1yo's who were there for the duration. i lived in a side ward with dd for 4 months once they were great with everyone

It's always about the message to me though lottie especially with something like this - maybe that's partly just me

I don't mind paying but I like things to be fair and well thought through.
Do appreciate the opportunity to eat though !

I had meals provided when DD (BF) and I spent time on the paediatric ward when she was a newborn.

I assumed that I was fed as I was providing food for DD and that FF babies would have their formula provided too. Although I don't know if this was the case. Seems unfair that FF babies don't get any food.

I got free meals when Ds was re-admitted at 5 days old with jaundice. I was told that all breastfeeding mothers with babies on the ward got free meals, as they had to be kept fed/watered in order to feed the baby.

The food was grim though (although breakfast was quite nice).

Also thinking it would be best for mothers of babies and young children to be fed in order to meet their needs as carers of their children - and not just because they are lactating (speaking as a pro-breastfeeder but more than that as a supporter of human and maternal rights )

But where do you draw the line that way Juggling? It wouldn't be fair to say you will feed the parents of a 6 year old but not a 7 year old for example so in reality you could easily double to food needed on each ward which realistically isn't financially practical

I had to read this a few times and I suppose it makes some sort of logical sense. Presumably the parents aren't the patients and if the Mother is breastfeeding then indirectly by feeding her the hospital is feeding the baby.

I think they do the cut off age (1 year) because presumably by that age the child is eating things other than breastmilk, and the mother isn't the main source of nutrition iyswim?

Can I ask why people are so interested in this?
And how many of the people who appear to feel v strongly about it have ever spent time in hospital with a sick child?

Is it a new way to generate a battle over bf v ff?

I said upthread that I'd make the cut off around the three year old mark, as the under 3's are often recognised as a distinct category, often needing the care of their mother or other regular carer.