Hospital should feed breastfeeding mums?

[NurseRosie]

AIBU to think that if your baby is in hospital and Mum is staying as fully breastfeeding, the ward should feed Mum? The NHS is not spending money feeding the baby as mummy us making the milk. Baby feeding sometimes 2 hourly and very clingy as unwell. Ward have only given tea and biscuits. Restaurant expensive and open funny times, for example baby upset over lunch yesterday so didn't get down until 2 and they'd stopped serving hopt food for the day. Do you think they should offer mum a meal?

mummy is making the milk

So if she was at home or out for lunch with her baby she wouldn't be feeding herself?

Very unreasonable. Maybe they should spoon it into her mouth too as she clearly has opted to take no responsibility for herself at all?

To be honest, I think you need to be grateful for the medical treatment you are getting for free and not expect anything else. Someone mentioned upthread the opportunity to buy food at cost price - that seems like a decent compromise.
I don't think anyone should make any money from the food sold as it would be a service provided for patients, but I think to expect to be fed for free is frankly ridiculous.

Yes, it would be nice by YABU.

You are perfectly well and therefore able to feed yourself. Be grateful for the care the NHS is providing for your child.

Same could be said for ANY parent in hospital kpo58. Not just bf ones.

In an ideal world any staying parent would be fed. But it's not ideal. Most nhs trusts still feed bf mums afaik? We're lucky to still have that. If they can't afford it they can't. It's a hospital, I dare say the things they prioritise are probably more important.

The NHS was set up to provide healthcare and treatment for all.
I think if the founders could see what it has morphed into and the expectations some people have of what they should get out of it, they would want to start again.

And if she can't leave her baby's side for 15 minutes maybe she needs a commode in the room too so she doesn't have to leave to use the toilet? Bum wiping maybe?

Bloody ridiculous

Ours provides meals for exclusively breastfeeding mothers as long as the breastfed baby is the Patient ie not an older sibling. They often have spare meals left over anyway from people who have ordered in the morning and then been discharged, so if you ask nicely, you can sometimes get a free meal anyway.

In an ideal world then yes, they should but this is real life and the NHS just can't afford it. You wouldn't get your food paid for if you were at home?

Wow, didn't realise this would be so controversial. my problem was yesterday baby was having loads of tests and was inconsolable. I literally couldn't put him down, lo was screaming most of the day.
Also, surely it's important for the mum to have enough food, regularly and of a good nutritional value so the baby gets the best it can to get better.
I understand the money issue for the NHS but not everyone has the help that I do and might struggle to actually get some decent food.

I thought BF mums got fed. I did when my DS was 7 weeks old and in hospital for a week. I never left his side. They fed me three meals a day. Not that I felt much like eating.

The hospitals I've worked in have all fed breastfeeding mums so yes OP yabu to generalise.

Depends on the age of the baby though, in the trusts I've worked in we provide meals for up to 6 months if you're ebf.

Also you may not have money with you if you went to hospital in an emergency situation.

That could be the same for anyone.

Hospitals can't feed everyone, they don't have endless pits of money.

Where is the father of your baby?

I would hope that some help would be available for people who genuinely needed it (so someone with literally no support network and who was struggling financially) but I would hope that most breastfeeding mothers have a partner, friend or family member who could bring in food from home for them if they can't afford the canteen.

Our very largeTrust does.

Sympathies, OP. Staying with a child who is ill enough to be in hospital is horrible and stressful and is only made worse by money worries caused by relying on bought meals and sandwiches, not to mention parking costs for you and parking and transport costs for other family members.

I think that on balance there should be some kind of provision for breastfeeding mothers because of the sheer logistical difficulties involved in establishing and continuing breastfeeding with a poorly baby quite without taking into account canteen provision etc.

Have you asked staff if they can refer you for any financial assistance during this time? There are charities that have funds for families on low incomes who have children in hospital. I wish you and your baby all the best and I don't think you are being unreasonable at all.

It's hard, I agree. I was in with my ds and unable to leave him. I had very little support. I was also pregnant and pretty much ate a sandwich and a few snacks over 3 days. Should they have fed me because I was pregnant? Well it would have been nice (actually come to think of it I think I may have got breakfast) but I didn't expect it.

Unless you're in mid-long term and unable to gain access regular food a few days is not going to make much difference to the milk your baby is getting.

Why didn't you pack some sandwiches/a salad/fruit or bring a flask, OP?

Rosie a lot more vitriol coming your way than necessary imo. I wonder how many have had really poorly babies being prodded and poked all day for days on end and still think you can just pop to the supermarket for a nice sandwich inveteen bf / expressing every few hours.
Depending on the ward, a parent is often expected to stay with the child unless they're asleep / content as nurses are not childcare. I used to leg it Gregg's during a brief nap and of he didn't nap I waited for Daddy to get back from work.
If you're sleeping in the hospital you can't just take a packed lunch every day.
Yes this applies to all parents but a BF mum is trying to provide nutrition for her child, the rest of us are only trying to get through the day - having done both its very different and I do think its in the patients interest to provide bf mums with food, even if its only once or twice a day

Did you actually mention this to the ward staff? The not being able to get away for any food? I'm sure they would have found you a sandwich. They have done for us.

But no, it's not a general right and shouldn't be.

Nhs is already paying for whatever medical help the mother and baby needs, midwives, doctors, nurses etc.

And now you think they should pay for mothers to be fed?

If a mother can't afford to feed herself with a new baby, then being fed in hospital is a drop in the ocean.

NHS is on its arse right now - it's struggling to look after people who need care, it can't afford to pay for stuff like that

ODFOD

Worraliberty pack sandwiches for how many weeks in advance? She may have been in for a month, if she's sleeping beside baby every night she is going home. If Dad works he may only visit after work.

Rosie is hope your baby is doing ok

I have just read your update - so you think people should be fed when they are with their kids who need tests etc?

Perhaps they could have a menu and the nurses could provide silver service?

Livia there's a big difference between being able to afford to feed yourself and logistically managing it weeks into a hospital stay with a sick child who is feeding every few hours when youre paying expensive shop prices on maternity pay.