to BF my 10 month old in A&E?

[SlightlyDoolally]

Took DS to A&E this morning as he'd nosedived off the bed and got a nosebleed. We were seen pretty quickly by the triage nurse, but then had another wait of an hour to see the paediatrician.

So in total, we were in the waiting room about 90 mins, during which time DS would normally have had a nap followed by a feed.

He was ok sitting on my knee for a little while, then understandably got hungry/tired and wanted a feed. So I fed him, discreetly where we were sitting in the waiting room.

Whilst I was feeding him, the paediatrician came to examine him, saw that I was feeding him, and rushed off embarrassed saying he would come back later. He returned 30 mins later and examined DS (who, thankfully, was fine).

Then the dr said that I shouldn't have BF DS in the waiting room as it was too public, and I should have asked for another room to feed in. I was and asked whether anyone had complained, and he said no but that it was inappropriate to feed "a child of that age" in front of everyone.

I was utterly appalled that he, of all people, had said that. Surely paediatricians should be supporting BF mothers, or at least should be in favour of anything that is comforting and/or nourishing to little ones who've had an accident. FWIW, all the other staff in A&E were brill - the receptionists gave DS a teddy bear, and some other patients were playing peekaboo with him to keep him happy. No-one seemed to bat an eyelid when I fed DS, so I was shocked when I was taken to task for it by the Dr.

So, was IBU?

YANBU and wouldn't matter how old baby was
imo

Please, do complain. Imagine how many other mums and babies that doctor will get the chance to offend and embarass. You should write a letter to the hospital, perhaps you could ask for a personal reply/apology by the idiot doctor. Does the hospital have a maternity ward? Maybe there will be a breastfeeding specialist to address as well. Good luck!

MrsGok congratulations!

I was only asked to move once, feeding ds1 when waiting bloody hours for his xray appt when he was 10 weeks old, in... St Thomas's Hospital in London. I was made to feel so embarrassed, and I did move and I didn't complain and I bitterly regret it to this day. How completely outrageous in a hospital of all places.

OP have not read all of the responses

DO agree Dr was out of order to keep on at you to move

BUT also, am not sure it was wise to feed baby while waiting to be seen in A&E, especially after a bang to the head and vomitting - it could have delayed necessary treatment

I haven't read the thread - sorry guys am in a bit of a rush. But just wanted to say, of course YANBU. He is 10 months, that's not weirdly old or anything. I fed to past a year. You prob should complain if you can be bothered.

YANBU and if you have the energy you should complain.

i remember storming out of a appointment with a hv because she asked me why i was still bf ds at 18 months. i fed ds until he was nearly 3 and didnt give a shit who knew. ds has an op when he was 18 months old and i bf as soon as he came round the woman opposite me who had a child the same age was outraged and said it was not beneficial to him. when we left the hospital with ds two hours later because he was running around like a demon i went over to her as she was still waitinf for her dc to able to eat and said in a very smuggy smug way thats why i bf!!