Do I have any legal right to breastfeed in hospital?

[NAR4]

I have recieved a date for surgery to get my downstairs repaired, following the birth of my last child. My baby is 4 months old and fully breastfed. He refuses to drink from a bottle or a cup and just screams until he can be fed by me. I have been trying to arrange for my husband to be able to bring the baby to me, in hospital, for his feeds. I have checked that it is safe to do so after an anesthetic (drugs in breastmilk helpline, BfN) and it is. The hospital have refused on the grounds that other patients might find it offensive.

Do I have any legal right to be able to feed my child? The hospital have said if he is hungry he would take the bottle. I don't believe this at all and am finding the whole thing really stressfull. The operation is booked for 1st July.

Any knowledge or help would be greatly appreciated.

I'm wondering if its because it is the gynae ward...for example someone who is recovering from an ectopic, late MC or infertility related op might be upset to see a small baby - I would have been. Doesn't make it right obviously, but just a thought.

Just feed the baby - what are they going to do? They can dance up and down and moan but they're not going to wrestle the baby from you. If they start arguing film them on your mobile phone if they're spouting shit.

How long are you likely to be in?

Outraged on your baby's behalf. Perhaps a circle of mumsnetters could come and stand around the bed, holding up banners, to prevent any other patients seeing anything offensive.

Let your local MP know as well as the press, if you can.

Could you talk to your health visitor? They can be a bit hit and miss but if you have a good one then they might be able to sort things for you.

I think it is your right to be able to feed on the ward (as per the links above) but that might not actually be of practical help if the staff refuse so maybe think about ways you could leave the ward and feed in a hospital cafe or something at the very worst.

Ah I see it's a private hospital... in that case it might be different. I suspect that the rules might be about visiting times more than anything else then really, although it doesn't seem right that you can't have a four month old baby with you or at least brought for feeds!

This is horrendous!! I can't believe they have said that its offensive. Have you asked if the baby can be with you on the ward?

It may well be a private hospital but they are undertaking the work on behalf of a public body (the NHS) so I would expect them to have to keep to the same rules as any public body. The NHS can't outsource surgery and also outsource their obligations to patients. If you we're going in as a private patient it might be different.

I would think it's mood that the baby/Dh visiting might disturb other patients who are recovering rather than actually 'offend.'

It might depend on the surgery/ ward as to how many visitors they seem safe. They were very very strict about visitors during my lady hospital stay due to keeping infections under control.

I thought the same as you Shamey. I can't believe she meant my breastfeeding would offend others, as like other people have said, there will surely be curtains I could pull around the bed anyway.

They have told me that the baby cannot stay with me, which is why I said DH could just bring the baby in for his feeds. I am only going in for the day, so DH wouldn't be bringing the baby in at any odd hours.

After reading through the Equality Act, I think they could probably get round it by saying there was an infection risk either to other patients, from the baby or to baby from the other patients.

Also concerned that if I make too much fuss, they will simply cancel my appointment and tell me to reschedule when I have stopped breastfeeding.

Seriously considering just discharging myself after op, rather than stay the 6 hours they want to monitor me for.

Don't have a female friend who would be able to bring baby in for feeds instead of DH, as this may of been a way around it.

Sorry x posted OP

That's outrageous!

Not ideal, but as a very last resort could you get someone to take you in a wheelchair down to the reception area or cafe to BF?

I would be kicking up a major stink about it, have you considered contacting your local NCT and the local paper?

When ds was in scbu and I tried to bf for the first time a nurse brought a screen over in case one of the dads saw I told her I would imagine they were more interested in their own very poorly babies ! Bizarre as it's the one place that you would think it would be seen as acceptable to bf!

You have legal right to breastfeed anywhere that you would eat yourself.
The hospital is acting illegally by requesting you not to breastfeed.

You are legally allowed to breastfeed wherever you see fit. It is safeguarding in the sex dirscrimiation act. Also the equally act 2000 also made it illegal to prevent women from breastfeeding

How long are you in hospital for, from your second message i'm guessing you are a day patient.
Why did you bother asking if you could bring baby in, most hospitals, nhs or private usually allow spouse/next of kin to visit whenever. Surely your dh would just take you into hospital in the morning(with baby), disappear as necessary, come back when you are back from theatre (with baby) and stay on and off for the rest of the day.

If I've got it wrong and you are in for a few days please ignore.

I didn't think of that combine and it might also be why.

I would be more than happy to leave the ward to feed my baby, but don't know that I will be physically capable. That is why I phoned the hospital to make arrangements to facilitate me being able to breastfeed. Its not that I have stamped my feet and dictated how I wanted it to be. They don't want to discuss possible solutions though.

I did initially think that I would just feed the baby anyway and they couldn't stop me, but I don't think my husband would be able to get onto the ward in the first place. If I am able to get out of bed I think I will have to go to off the ward in order to feed. With the way they were on the phone, a nice nurse (with enough time) to wheel me off the ward when baby wants a feed and back again after, seems unlikely.

This is appalling OP and I bet there are professionals at the hospital who would be horrified. Yes, as has already been said the Unicef Baby Friendly scheme covers situations like this. Why not contact them and see what they have to say. www.unicef.org.uk/BabyFriendly/

There can be staggering ignorance and stupidity surrounding bf from some hospital staff whilst others slave away to promote it.

I was told I couldn't have my dd in hosp with me when I had mastitis - apparently there was no insurance for babies ?! And the advice I got from the (breast specialist) consultant was that I should pump and dump due to the 'bugs' in my milk - I just ignored it as I knew she was wrong. I was allowed to have her brought in for feeds and I was encouraged afterwards to write a letter of complaint.

Do not give in on this one, please!

I'm sure the person you spoke to was very much mistaken OP. Ring again and speak to someone else.

I don't doubt for one minute that you will be able to feed your baby in hospital. Of course you will.

Good luck with the op.

That is madness! I used to work in a private hospital (where we did NHS ops as well as private) and there was no issue at all with breast feeding mums - in fact it was only discussed in terms of the anaesthetic issues, I don't remember anyone asking permission to bring the baby in, they just did it!
Private hospitals are often locked up at night, so that could be a issue, but its easily resolved - your Dp would just need to call ahead so someone could go and let him in. I really can't understand why the hospital have an issue with this at all - are you willing to name and shame?

fuckwittery Can they not just say there are no private rooms available? Other than that I have printed out your post so I can take the letter up in person tomorrow (not much time left before op).

Iseeall I am going to be a day patient but the letter that came stated in bold capitals that visitors, including spouses, would not be permitted onto the ward at any time. They are to drop you off at reception at 7.30am and the ward receptionist will phone them when you are ready to be collected. I imagine it will be a gyne ward and that is why.