To expect my EBF newborn to be allowed to accompany me to a hospital appointment

[Poppins2016]

As the title says... AIBU to expect my EBF newborn (7 weeks) to be allowed to accompany me to a hospital appointment?

I've been referred to gynaecology due to a tear sustained during birth which is healing badly. When they contacted me to make an appointment I said I'd need to bring my baby with me, but I was told that it wouldn't be possible (despite me pointing out that my baby is exclusively breastfed and 7 weeks old - the appointment is tomorrow).

My GP is happy to allow my baby to accompany me to appointments. So is my local hospital. But this hospital isn't willing to allow it (stupidly, I didn't ask why, but will do at my appointment tomorrow)...

I'm considering making a complaint for various reasons (what if I was a single mother with no support network? What do they suggest I do if my appointment is delayed or runs over and baby needs a feed (leave and abandon the appointment - a waste of resources)? What about breastfeeding discrimination?)
According to this article, your right to breastfeed is protected in hospitals...

I'm wondering whether my expectation (and potential complaint) is reasonable, or whether I'm being unreasonable and my judgement is clouded by the stress of the situation...
I'm having to drive there, take someone with me, feed baby in the car and hand over, then go to my appointment which I was advised will be 30 minutes without a wait. Baby is completely reliant on me - no bottles whether formula or breast milk - so there's no back up. I'm going to have to keep my fingers crossed that the wait time is low otherwise the worst case scenario is leaving the hospital to feed and asking to re-book the appointment which is a complete waste of resources.

I realise I could ask to delay the appointment, but I've been triaged and they want to see me now, plus I'm in a lot of discomfort and don't feel able to wait.

I also realise I sound as though it's my PFB - it's actually my second baby - I just feel very strongly that my baby shouldn't have to (potentially) become hungry and distressed because his mother needs medical treatment.

Fingers crossed that it's a non-issue and baby sleeps through/is content!

[quote tickledtiger]@Strictly1 a generally well adult attending an outpatient appointment is unlikely to suddenly become acutely unwell to the point someone else has to take care of their baby. The op could easily be in the hospital for a whole afternoon so it’s reasonable to take the baby only she can feed with her. It’s not as though she has a planned admission for surgery and she’s rocked up with the baby expecting someone to take them.

You can’t compare it to a scenario concerning a parent and an older child, because in that case there’s someone else who can feed them.

Also having an EBF baby isn’t a “problem” it’s normal.[/quote]
This

@Bythemillpond

I successfully breastfed two children but during that time period went for solo walks, got my hair done, met friends for coffee, etc

I am presuming you had someone there to look after children.

Some people don’t.

I did as it happens but so do the vast majority of people - if not a partner then a family member or friend or even paid help. But that's not the point that was being made, it was that a baby and mother should on principle never be apart except if either were at risk. Which is frankly bonkers and a sure fire way of making sure breast feeding rates are even lower than they are now.

But sometimes that's the reality sometimes. Frequent feeder, total bottle refuser despite a daily bottle from birth.

Yes. We're told not to give breasted babies a bottle due to nipple confusion for what, 8 weeks? By the time they're "old enough" many will refuse.

First never took a bottle. With second baby I had to ignore advice and do bottle from birth. Feel like some who had it easy or who used bottles only aren't getting it

@theleafandnotthetree Yes these messages that if you are breastfeeding you can never be apart from your baby even for thirty minutes, are bonkers. Not many mums want to never be apart even for half an hour from their baby for six months or more.

Took my newborn to various similar appointments post birth without issue. (Except that I was slightly offended when the doctors didn’t coo over my pfb and were actually only interested in my recovery )

[quote julieca]@theleafandnotthetree Yes these messages that if you are breastfeeding you can never be apart from your baby even for thirty minutes, are bonkers. Not many mums want to never be apart even for half an hour from their baby for six months or more.[/quote]
It won’t be just half an hour, though, will it. It’s an NHS appointment. It will be late starting.

Nobody’s saying that every mother has to be glued to her baby 24/7 for 6 months. This is a 7 week old baby, not a 6 month old. Big difference.

It's not that mum and baby can never BE apart but they should not be KEPT apart without good reason. It comes down to reasonable adjustments. Services need to be able to accommodate them together unless good reason not to. It's equally not about forcing them to be together. Its about supporting them to be together if that's what they feel is right and not forcing them to be apart.

There's lots of experience delivering this in the NHS but not everyone that patients encounter will understand the details of it and as a result, people sometimes get given the wrong information. I hope the OP got to discuss it and received the right support for her circumstances.