Hospital food

[Afternooncatnap]

So my 9 month old is in hospital with bronchiolitis. I have to stay in here with him.

the hospital don't provide his milk and won't let me make up formula. So I'm buying really expensive ready made milk. They also don't provide baby food and don't want me bringing home made. So I'm also buying jars of food for him.

They don't feed me and there is only sandwich places at the hospital so I have been buying expensive microwave meals for me.

So including parking it's costing a small fortune to be here.

I just found out that if I was breastfeeding (somthing I was unable to do) they would feed me.

I now just feel a but hacked off that it's costing me so much to be here when there are other parents that are in the same position getting either themselves or there baby fed by the hospital.

AIBU to think that as a children's hospital they should provide baby food, and to feel that they should feed all mums. We all need energy to look after our babies, breastfeeding or not. It's not like I can just not eat because my son is on formula.

[Helpme02]

you also said you clearly have use of a microwave so there must be some form of kitchen !

[Lules]

help at my hospital you could make up formula but there was no way to sterilise bottles so you had to use those one use bottles.

[Soubriquet]

Blimey. When my Dd was in hospital with bronchitis, they provided everything. Formula, food and even a parents room where we can make cups of tea and toast.

I had to buy some purée when she really wasn't eating but it did kick start her appetite and at one point as there was only 3 patients on the ward, we actually got served a roast dinner

Hope your Ds gets better soon

[Sirzy]

I never expected to be fed when ds was in hospital. The thought never crossed my mind even when he was critically ill at 8 weeks old.

They should be providing facilities to prepare bottles but I wouldn’t expect them to provide milk or specific baby food. Ds we just used to give whatever was on the menu he ate a lot of spaghetti hoops iirc

[fairgame84]

All the wards I've worked on have provided jars of food and formula for babies it's really odd that your hospital isn't doing the same.
I've not worked anywhere that has fed parents apart from bf mums. As pp have said, it is due to bf mums needing the calories to be able to feed their baby.
Staying in hospital with a child is really expensive and it's not fair. DS is for surgery next year and I'm expecting to pay at least £50 for parking and food. Parking should be free for resident parents and discounted food vouchers for the canteen would be helpful.

[2014newme]

When my babies were on we parked for free and got discount at the food outlets but did not use them I got micro meals or snacks from M&S instead

[arethereanyleftatall]

I really do think priorities are wrong for lots of British people.
When dd had bronchiolitus, the nhs saved her life. Nothing else really matters beyond that.

[2014newme]

At least treatment is free, amen to that!

[expatinscotland]

We had access to a kettle and a microwave and a small fridge. You'd be amazed what you can do with that, but I hope you're not in there long enough to learn that.

[Pancakeflipper]

Our Children's Hospital feeds the babies/children regardless of their dietary requirements

Parents staying over can use a kitchen area for tea/coffee. There's cereal in the morning available and a toaster (bring own bread - parents usually take it turns to buy a loaf). And there's a huge drawer of biccies to eat as you want.

Lunches/dinner etc - I would hope for someone to visit us and be lovely enough to sit with my child and let me get some fresh air and go to the nearby shop.

Hoping not jinxing myself as we have the next hospital venture next week - hope someones not removed the biccies, my saviour at 2am in the morning!

[Timmytimetime]

When my DC was 5 days old he got admitted to hospital as he'd lost too much birth weight.

It transpired I wasn't producing enough milk as I'd been anemic after a PPH. DC and I had to stay overnight and the doctor told me to give top up formula (which they provided) after bf every 2-3hrs.

But they didn't even offer me a drink never mind food /breakfast. I had to keep asking for water. Maybe because I was combination feeding

[WeAllHaveWings]

Ds was in with broncholitis when he was 18 months old and was in for 8 days. Dh took the car home as I stayed in the hospital day and night so no car charges, ds didn’t eat or drink much (had a tube for fluids) until the last day or two before he was discharged, but very basic cold food was available for him if he wanted it, sandwiches/yoghurts, and a hospital meal if he was hungry (he wasn’t until he was home). Dh brought me food in each night, I would not have expected the NHS to feed me.

[BrioLover]

Hang on OP, so they ARE feeding your child it’s just that you don’t want him to have the food? Surely there is more on offer than ‘smash and custard’ - things like cooked veg and baked beans for example? The food mashed up is basically baby food.

It is hugely frustrating that parents are not fed, especially when you can’t exactly leave your 9 month old for long enough to do anything but buy a sandwich or use a vending machine because the wards don’t have the staff to watch your child. Stuck between a rock and a hard place.

[expatinscotland]

' Surely there is more on offer than ‘smash and custard’ - things like cooked veg and baked beans for example? The food mashed up is basically baby food. '

It's entirely possible that's truly all there is the kid can eat. When DD1 was in, the food was abominable. Truly, just dire. She wound up not eating it most of the time and I had to buy her food in (or other MNers were kind enough to bring it in for her).

[Floralnomad]

2 people die of hunger or thirst every day in an NHS hospital or care home. We can afford to do better than this

Yes , but none of them are parents on children’s wards . The NHS cannot afford to treat every patient in a timely fashion , they certainly can’t afford to feed relatives .

[kaytee87]

So there is children’s food but not baby jars? I wouldn’t expect a hospital to provide jars of baby food to be honest. Just mash whatever potatoes or veg there is or let him feed himself some suitable finger food.

[Afternooncatnap]

I should have probably made it more clear my son is 9 months but he doesn't eat any solid, only pureed food.

I tried him on their porridge but he couldn't hack the lumps. The food they have on offer is like mine beef, fish fingers, chicken nuggets, tuna pasta. So not suitable baby food.

So I'm not just being fussy not giving him the food. He's a baby he eats baby food. They only provide kids food which is too solid for him.

So I go back to my orginal point, a children's hospital should provide baby food.

They do provide ready made baby milk, but the brand they stock makes him constipated. I give him HIPP which they don't stock.

It's not really a problem. I have some microwave meals now. I was just a bit hacked off that it's costing me so much to feed us both crap food when other patients and carers are getting three hot meals a day. They should have options in place for all patients not just some.

I do also understand the NHS is under strain. As I said I didn't expect them to feed me. But as there is adult food on offer they could maybe let none Bf parents pay for food. Or let me eat as they are not providing ds food.

I'm his mum so it is ultimately my responsibility to feed him, but its annoying that because of all their rules it's costing me more than usual to do so.

[Oogle]

My DS was admitted at 5 days old due to losing too much of his birth weight. They immediately put him on formula and I expressed as much as I could for the next 24hrs. They classed me as a breastfeeding Mum and fed me dinner & lunch the next day. We were moved to a ward so missed the chance to order breakfast. Two wonderful student nurses turned up in our room with a cup of tea and two slices of toast for me. One cuddled my DS and the other cuddled me whilst I cried my eyes out over how much of a failure I felt.
I can't believe your hospital aren't providing formula though. There was a selection in ours. Would he eat any of the options on their food menu?

[Oogle]

X-post, sorry

[kaytee87]

Op I know you’re having a tough time, I hope your ds makes a quick recovery.
It’s easy to take out your anger on the hospital but they’re doing their best; they are providing food and ready made formula. They’re not a shop or a restaurant, they absolutely cannot cater for everyone.

[Sooooooooooooooooooooo]

I’m a children’s nurse and have to say I’ve never worked anywhere where parents are fed apart from breakfast unless mums are breastfeeding. When I was in with my own dc I relied on DH relieving me to go to the shop or bringing me food but I appreciate that it isn’t possible for everyone.

Your baby doesn’t need to have baby jars they could eat off the menu you’re just choosing not to.

I have worked places where parents weren’t allowed to make feeds but they were allowed to bring in formula, us nurses just made the feeds when asked. Will they not let you bring it in and they make it up?

I don’t see why they won’t let you bring in home made, unless there is storage issues. It really wouldn’t bother me if parents bought in food, they do it all the time. It does sound very strict and a bit unworkable wherever you are.

[ElizabethShaw]

Is it due to a medical condition that he needs pureed food?

The food you've mentioned all sounds suitable for a 9 month old tbh, even if you need to mash some up. Its what he would be fed in a nursery for example. If he can't chew/handle lumps for a medical reason then I'd ask to see a hospital dietician - they need to provide food for his needs.

[Sooooooooooooooooooooo]

At 9 months your little one should be able to have mashed food. And I haven’t worked anywhere that provides HIPP. And I used it with my own dc.

[Afternooncatnap]

Oh poster that said - there is clearly a kitchen if there is a microwave - like she has caught me out.

I never said there wasn't. I said I felt hacked off that it's costing me a fortune to buy convenience food when other mums are getting fed for free.

They won't let me feed him homemade due to hygiene. They also won't let me make formula for the same reason. So I am giving him ready made formula and jar baby food which is expensive.

[Afternooncatnap]

Well done everyone that has 9 month olds that eat solid food. And thanks for pointing out my son is behind with his development.

I said he said he only eats pureed, is it really necessary to tell me my baby is not right.

Again this is a children's hospital and they don't provide baby food. That's not they can't cater for everyone, they are not providing for their patients. I'm sure he's not the only baby that eats baby food.