Have just been talking to a friend who has newborn and was telling me that the women on her ward were not allowed to bf.

[wannaBe]

I realize that I am probably the last person who would be expected to post about this, but am somewhat at hearing this.

She had a c-section, and because it is her second child she essentially knows what she is doing and is bf.

But she said that she was the only woman on the ward who was breastfeeding, and that a number of women asked for help to bf and were told no, they had to give bottles.

Have said she should write and complain about this.

Am really because I was personally given very good bf support there six years ago, and although it didn't work out for me that isn't through any fault of the hospital.

so wtf?

gave birth to 2nd child several months ago. got lots of bf encouragement (and still do!)from mws but noticed that maternity care assistants seemed keen to get 'hungry' (ie bf) babies to take some formula in order to keep ward quiet. my dd is a bit screamy and in a moment of weakness i let an asst give her formula. next day a bfc said this was bad idea. just think that not all staff stick to the 'rules' re: bf

Well- I had a c-section last month, 2nd timer, only one bfing...
2nd night, ds fed for 8 hours and m/w told me to tuck him in at the side of me so I could get some sleep.
I wasn't bfing lying down though- I sat up v soon after op, as I wanted recovery to be superquick so I could go home to DD for her birthday.

I had both my children at GWH and they were really good. I had lots of support for BF first time - althought the midwives were very busy and stretched to their limit. One midwife sat with me for a little while and stressed that I should buzz everytime if I wanted to.

2nd time round, I didn't need help but it was offered.

Another friend had a C-section in GWH and still received BF support.

I know that the policy is not to have babies sleeping in the beds though... I did anyway

It is possible that the mums misinterpreted what they had. A friend of mine told me that she wasn't able to breasted as she'd had a caesarian and that makes you unable to bf. Now I had a section at the same hospital and I know that was not what mums were encouraged to believe. She took something she felt and turned it into a pseudo-medical statement.

Though then again, malpractice no doubt does occur. In which case, they should all complain in writing.

Have to say when i was about to be discharged from hospital i was tearful as i couldn't get DS to latch well at all. Had one successful attempt but really struggled. When i expressed concern i was told 'you have formula at home don't you?' I was . It was a health care assistant who said it and they were desperate for beds - so much so that we were all turfed out of beds and about 10 of us were sat in the day room with babies, bags and partners for about hours waiting for notes etc.

Sadly support does still seem to be lacking

I don't know why people think that you can only bf lying down after a c-section - the hospital beds have adjustable backs so you just adjust it up to a sitting position. I found bfing lying down on my side impossible after my sections - far too painful. Was much easier to do it sitting up with aid of the bed.

Some of the stories above are pretty shocking. When I had ds, the maternity ward was very very busy, but the midwives were still fantastic at supporting the mothers to bf. I guess we were lucky.