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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

I want to bf my 22 months dts when I am in hospital next week.

19 replies

Overrun · 06/09/2006 14:41

The hospital are being quite understanding, but the nurses on the ward are making noises about the risk of infection. It's a vascular surgery ward.
I can bf in a famiy room near the ward the nigth before, but might have to do it on the ward after the op.
Would any one have reservations about doing this?

OP posts:
misdee · 06/09/2006 14:42

who are the risks to? you or the twins?

let me go check up what vascular surgery is

bundle · 06/09/2006 14:42

I don't understand, infecting who? and how?

bundle · 06/09/2006 14:43

blood vessels, misdee

misdee · 06/09/2006 14:45

ah feed them. its not like your having boob surgery is it? just pull the curtains round if anyone looks like they may complain about it, or if you feel odd about it.

would you feed them if visiting someone in hospital? if yes, then do it. i did plenty of times.

Original poster
Overrun · 06/09/2006 14:53

I fully intend to feed them . They probabl mean msr etc, which you can probably pick up in any surgery ward. I suppose that worries me a bit, but more for me!

OP posts:
Original poster
Overrun · 06/09/2006 14:55

sorry about spelling. I think the well know one is called MSR, I think there are several. God I hope I don't get it

OP posts:
bundle · 06/09/2006 14:56

mrsa? it's often brought into hospitals from the community but I can't honestly see what "extra" risk feeding your dt's would make.

tiktok · 06/09/2006 15:02

So the nurses are worried about you getting MRSA? And then infecting twins (somehow)? Or are they worried about twins getting MRSA simply by being on the ward - in which case they would not want them anywhere near you, and it's nothing to do with bf. Or do they think your twins will infect you post-op?
I'm a bit mystified here....and highly suspicious they simply do not want the extra hassle of having toddlers on the ward, which is understandable, but I imagine someone is bringing them to you and all you would be doing would be feeding them....yes? Putting their worries about having to toddler-sit for you into a bf worry is underhand.

Of course I might have that wrong.

longwaytogo · 06/09/2006 15:05

How old are your dt's? I work on a gynae ward and we have had women who have had their babies stay with them because they are bf, so totally mystified unless they already have it on the ward and are afraid your lo's may get it. Do they not have any side rooms? Usually these are used for those suspected of being infected but if one is free then it could be a posibility.

Original poster
Overrun · 06/09/2006 15:05

Knew I hadn't got it quite right I know that visitors are supposed to bring it in with them, which is why visitors are now asked to wash their hands.
I think I will take the "risk", wondered if it was the wards way of trying to put me off to be frank.
As some one else says I will just draw the curtains. At least it will be a comfort to my twins and that is all that matters to me.
Still can't shake a fear that I might get superbug myself, but think that is tied up with anxiety about the surgery anyway.
Thanks for your responses, you have both confirmed my own feelings on the subject.

OP posts:
NotQuiteCockney · 06/09/2006 15:06

The guardian did a few pieces on how MRSA is nowhere near as common as the tabloids would have you believe. Apparently there's some bloke with no qualifications running a biology lab in a shed, and he just seems to say everything has MRSA in it. Please don't worry.

bundle · 06/09/2006 15:08

just use commonsense, get visitors to wash their hands and ask doctors/nurses to wash theirs (there are usually alcohol sprays/wipes all over the place on wards, in corridors for this) if you don't see them do it. consultants are apparently the worst culprits for not washing hands...

Mum2FunkyDude · 06/09/2006 15:14

I can remember the maternity ward saying, no other children allowed on the ward as they can bring disease to the newborns. Is it possible that they are referring to your twins bringing the bugs?

Original poster
Overrun · 06/09/2006 15:14

Twins are 22 months, and I only feed them three times a day, plan to do just the night feed and morning feeds while in hospital.
The nurses were not really clear, and suspect that it is the worry about having toddlers on the ward. We have it worked out,on the day of the op my dh will bring them to me at 7am and then I will be the first operated on so I can feed them in the evening.
I have tried to plan this all out with them, but am prepared for some consternation, just because of their age! I get this in other aspects of life, so never mind.
As I say, they are not stopping me, but just saying things like that, and "well we can't stop you" makes me feel it will be very grudging.
My limited understanding of superbugs, is that they are usually more dangerous to people who have had surgery.
NQC - I have read that there is a lot of scaremongering about MRSA, but even when I went in for my c sections, I couldn't stop worrying about it!
A slight digression, before it became medically necesscary for me to have the twins by c section I was encouraged to have a home birth on the basis that I wouldn't catch anything, then discharged prematurely from hospital afterwards on the same basis! It seems hospitals are learning to use these bugs to their own advantage

OP posts:
Original poster
Overrun · 06/09/2006 15:16

sorry, was encouraged to have my ds1 at home because of MSRA before it became necesscary to do c section

OP posts:
ComeOVeneer · 06/09/2006 15:16

I was wondering the same as M2FD, with regards to the toddlers actually being allowed on the ward as visitors.

Wisp · 06/09/2006 15:24

Hi
I went into hospital after a seizure in 2001 when my DS1 was 15months. They put me into a private room and bought in a cot from the childrens ward so he could stay with me, when I told them he was breastfed.
I think I was really lucky!! Tbh they were completely stumped at first, but very understanding of it when I explained.
I agree with misdee, pull the curtain and get on with it if they are not willing to accomodate you.
Maybe have a word with someone more senior?
All the best

Original poster
Overrun · 06/09/2006 15:37

Thanks wisp, your hospital sounds great. i don't know how long you were in for, but I hope to be only in for two days, so shouldn't be too difficult.
Comeoveneer and mum2funkydude, they are probably thinking about young children and the viruses that they pick up as well.With the start of term, my three will probably have colds. I don't know what I can do about though

OP posts:
PigeonPie · 06/09/2006 15:38

Well, I think it's fantastic that you're still bfing your twins at 22 months! All the best for the op

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