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Infant feeding

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

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Original poster

what to do about bf while I'm in hospital

46 replies

sestius · 17/03/2005 11:45

I have to have my gall-bladder out in a couple of weeks. It's only going to involve three days in hospital but they won't let me breastfeed while in hospital. I've not expressed milk before. Any tips/advice gratefully received!

OP posts:

pixiefish · 18/03/2005 17:36

Am disgusted and shocked by this. 6 weeks and they're forcing you to stop bfing. agree with others about insisting they accomodate you somehow

bobbybob · 18/03/2005 18:42

Outrageous - complain, complain, complain.

kama · 18/03/2005 19:08

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Original poster

sestius · 18/03/2005 19:28

Hurrah for all support - I'm feeling quite bolshie now and ready to tackle the world. Had a horrible flare-up last night, so for once I'm actually looking forward to having an operation. It seems along time till a week next wed...
Anyone catch the phone-in on Victoria Darbyshire's Radio 5 show this morning ? All about bf in public and vast amount of support, very few of the "Disgusted of Tunbridge Wells" brigade. With apologies to all nice people who live in Tunbridge Wells.

OP posts:

ghosty · 18/03/2005 19:32

I am another one who is shocked and disgusted by this ... especially as your baby is only 6 weeks old ...
I had to go to hospital for a couple of nights when DD was a few weeks old and there was never any question that DD couldn't come with me ... I just told them that I would be bringing my young baby with me and they arranged for her to have a cot next to my bed.
I would really question this sestius, if I were you!
good luck

HUNKERMUNKER · 18/03/2005 19:37

I would tell them that you've tried giving her a bottle and she won't accept it, so you'll be bringing her in with you. And if they say no, you'll be in touch with the media (especially with Breastfeeding Awareness Week coming up in May...). Glad you're feeling like you want to take this on - I think it's very important!

cornishbird · 18/03/2005 20:10

Agree with you hunkermunker,this is important. sestius, go for it, and make sure you get what you want, as i said before i wouldn't be seperated from my bf baby and would definately do the same. Maybe you could have the op at a bigger hosp so you can take baby?

Gem13 · 18/03/2005 20:17

sestius - someone on here (I did a search and can't find it) took their 10 (?) month old in to stay when they had to be in hospital and they were both put in a private room. Apparently the hospital had to as they had a 'support breastfeeding' policy.

(DS is from Tunbridge Wells, breastfed until 13 months too. Won't catch him being disgusted! )

ionesmum · 18/03/2005 21:23

Definitely threaten them with the media. If you need any support I'll happily send e-mails to anyone (media, hospital, politicians) to back you up.

Good luck!

PuffTheMagicDragon · 18/03/2005 21:26

sestius - firstly huge sympathies re the gall bladder problems. The pain is indescribable.

Just wanted to add my support and hope you get this sorted. You should not have to compromise. End of.

mears · 18/03/2005 21:32

sestius - there is absolutely no way that the hospital can stop you breastfeeding while in hospital. It is your right to do so. Tell them that you will have someone there to care for the baby for you.
My friend had her gallbladder out when her baby was 9 weeks old and she took her baby into hospital with her. She, infact, was nursed on the paediatric ward so the staff were familiar with caring for a baby. To be honest I don't think that was the best thing to do because the nurses from the surgical ward had to go to the paediatric ward to ensure she was alright.
The infection argument is a bit iffy really. Do they not have any single rooms at all?
Tell them you will be gringing your baby and how are they going to accommodate you.

Nome · 18/03/2005 23:09

I went back into hospital with mystery pains when ds was 27 days old and we were put back on the maternity ward. I was then sent home and admitted to a different hospital with the same sort of pains when ds was 5 weeks old and they took my gallbladder out the next day. It was never even suggested that I leave ds at home!! I pumped and threw for 12 hours because the surgical staff hadn't fully explained about all the drugs they'd given me to the ward staff who didn't want to risk anything.
A friend was admitted when her ds was little, just a couple of months old, and again, no suggestion that she leave her ds behind and she was in for months. They put her in a private room and got a cot from paediatrics.
You may not be in for three days. I had the gallbladder removed mid-afternoon and was evicted at lunchtime the next day.
Fight this, as they can cope with this if they want to. I think it is shocking that they would even suggest you leave a 6 week old behind.

bobbybob · 19/03/2005 01:00

I may have been the person refered to below, I had day surgery when ds was 5 months and overnight stay in hospital when ds was 11 months. Both times he was welcome, both times I got very dodgy advice about when not to breastfeed (which was all wrong), both times I needed another person with me for him as the nursing staff couldn't cope. BUT at least he was with me.

pooka · 20/03/2005 21:30

Absolutely terrible that you are expected to be separated from your baby
Kick up a stink - what on earth are they thinking of?!!!??!!!

bobbybob · 21/03/2005 18:49

Any news?

Original poster

sestius · 22/03/2005 20:05

Hi bobbybob, no real news, apart from over the weekend, milk started to dry up, which i thought would neatly solve the bf problem, ha ironic ha. Back on course now. Op is in a week's time, I promise to post gruesome details and can only say to everyone - if you have any funny pains in your tummy especially around the right hand side of your lower ribcage/upper abdomen GET IT LOOKED AT AND DON'T WAIT. Finally, for a really fun time, look around on the internet to find the "Pass-your-own-gallstones" advice. I really must get out more...

OP posts:

milward · 22/03/2005 20:16

Not being allowed to bf in hospital!! - absolutely awful way to treat a new mum - or any mum who is bf her baby. Do they allow babies to bf on the childrens ward?? The advice given out is to bf exclusively for 6 months - why do they go against recognised medical infomation??? The hospital wouldn't tell your partner to stop eating & drinking for 3 days that you're in hospital so why does it think it can say that to your baby?? What an awful situation - risk of infection worry - if they're that worried about infection I'd be seriously concerned about going there for an op! Tell them that you will be bf your baby if that's what you want - check the drugs you get are compatible with bf. When you see your baby you'll want to bf & this is part of your relationship with your little one - don't let someone get in the way of this. Good luck with the op

bobbybob · 22/03/2005 21:12

I sympathise because I had gall bladder attack (thankfully just 3 weeks worth). By the time they scanned me I must have passed it!

Why do you think your milk was drying up?

The risk of infection is pretty minimal I would have thought, as you would be passing on the antibodies to your baby.

From my experience of being in hospital I would say to state over and over again to absolutely anybody who works there (even the cleaners) that you are breastfeeding and they must not give you any drugs that interfere with that. Make them write it down and repeat every shift change.

La Leche League checked my drugs for me, maybe one of the helplines could too. Surgeons and Aneasthetist (sp?) don't seem to know much and just ban breastfeeding completely rather than just looking it up. Rule of thumb though is that if you are well enough to not drop your baby, enough of the drug has left your system.

Original poster

sestius · 24/03/2005 12:26

I love reading these posts ! The way everyone gets all militant on my behalf is really comforting.
bobbybob, I laughed at your definition of being fit to bf - reminds me of my midwife when our ante-natal group of first-timers nervously asked how to bath a baby. "There's no set way," she said briskly."You've succeeded if you get the baby clean without drowning it."
As for milk going on a go-slow, I put it down to not eating for a couple of days. btw, I can only admire anyone who passes a gallstone on their own!

OP posts:

Original poster

sestius · 02/04/2005 16:45

Out of hospital and they couldn't have been nicer to me. My nurse was an ex-midwife and very helpful on the drugs and how they would affect me. Now I've had the op I can see why they said "No breast-feeding" - it wasn't a case of not letting me at all, I simply cannot hold dd let alone lift her. Feel slightly ashamed that I assumed the worst about them.
So I am expressing lots and dh is getting lots of kudos for looking after dd ON HIS OWN (ie like we do all the time...)
Must go and have yet another nap, but thank you all of you for your support.

OP posts:

bobbybob · 03/04/2005 02:25

Glad you are on the mend.

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