if you are a breastfeeding mum and need to stay overnight in hospital/ a few days can your baby stay with you?

11 replies

rainbow83 · 08/07/2007 21:30

hi, anyone know the policy in uk hospitals? if a mum is needing surgery and has a breastfeeding baby do they accommodate? anyone have nay experiences or knowledge to share?

OP posts:

sep1712 · 08/07/2007 21:53

Hi i broke my leg and need to have metal pins inserted. As i had a genral i couldn't breast feed till it was all out of my system. The hospital were great. I had a side room to myself and they got me a electric pump to keep my milk supply up. Ds had formula for 2 days then i was ready to feed again. Which was lucky as i had to lay in bed for 8 weeks. Hope this helps and good luck.

FrannyandZooey · 08/07/2007 21:55

They let me do it with ds when he was a few weeks old. We had a private room as they couldn't put us on the usual baby wards in case ds introduced infection to the other babies.

northender · 08/07/2007 21:58

I'm a physio and when I worked in an acute hospital we had a girl in with pneumonia who was bfing. She had her babe in a cot in her room, the staff doted on her as we were used to breathless 80 year olds! I'm sure hospitals must have to allow for this scenario.

SittingBull · 08/07/2007 22:03

This reply has been deleted

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Boco · 08/07/2007 22:04

I was in hospital for a week with a really bad asthma attack. They were brilliant, gave me my own room on a private ward - had free tv and an ensuite bathroom, and they looked after the baby while i slept - it was like a holiday, didn't want to go home!

SlightlyMadSalmon · 08/07/2007 22:04

I know it is a bit different. ut I know of twins where one of them had a hernia op at a few weeks. Mum and both twins stayed in as they were breastfed.

daisybo · 08/07/2007 22:49

i think as long as you can breastfeed, with regards the drugs you are on etc, i can't see it being a problem.
i had to stay 1 night in hospital with viral menigitis when dd was 2 months old and they put me in a side room and she stayed with me the whole time.
i think the hospital would get into BIG trouble if they didn't let you bring your breastfed baby with you to be honest

TheBlonde · 08/07/2007 22:56

no idea of NHS policy but just wanted to say I had a general anesthetic twice and didn't need to stop bf

1dilemma · 10/07/2007 00:25

As everyone says on here generally yes have you told them? They my want to plan surgery eg for a Monday etc.

1dilemma · 10/07/2007 00:26

Should get your own room too

cylonbabe · 10/07/2007 00:27

well, when ds was in hospital and breastfed, they accomodated me, even though he was tube fed, i, being the cow, supplied the milk.
i assume if the baby is under six months and exclusively breastfed then they would.

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