Mastitis and baby not allowed to stay with me..

[springinstep]

I have just spent 48 hours in hospital on IV antibiotics for mastitis. Tbh I think I would have been ok on oral antibiotics but I did feel pretty rubbish and I am now better so that much is good.

The problem is that 8month old dd was not allowed to stay with me. I understand the rationale for this (they cannot look after a baby if the mother is too ill, no paediatric resus equipment in case the baby suddenly becomes ill )but this made it all loads more difficult. DD still feeds a fair bit at night (co sleeps and feeds without really disturbing me)so I had to express at night, and then dump which was a bit soul destroying and much more tiring than my normal night routine. Plus Dh had to drive across town with the baby and elder daughter for each feed during the day - a pain for all concerned.

I was advised not to feed from the affected side until the infection had cleared (I suspect this isn't the 'correct' advice) but even so, surely keeping feeding from either side is a priority to prevent further problems and because it is generally a good thing!

At 8mo it wasn't a disaster - she could have water and solids etc. Plus I am not going to give up bfing because it is tricky for 48hrs. In different circumstances though (or in the early days of bfing) I might have given up, which would have been a shame.

I am going to write to the consultant, but wondered if anyone else had a different experience or what the practice is elsewhere?

That does seem ridiculous, the advice with things like that is to feed as much as possible, so surely they should be encouraging that for your benefit if nothing else?

Thanks, that's what I thought - anyone else know what hospital policies are elsewhere?

I am a nurse and recently had a patient admitted with her week old baby, she was in a side room and was allowed to have her baby with her.
On the resus trolley there is a small amount of paediatric resus equipment and there is a paediatric resus team if needed.
Dad was allowed to stay most of the time to help with baby, and we also had the lady reviewed by the hospital breastfeeding coordinator when she had a few problems with feeding.
I think unless there is no paediatric team in the hospital, they are being unreasonable.
Maybe speak to the hospital PALS dept and find out if they have a hospital policy on children staying with parents?

HTH

Thanks littlemefi, that is a useful perspective - I was in a side room too so it wouldn't have been massively disruptive.

Tbh I don't really get the resus argument. It surely is highly unlikely to be needed (I was the patient after all, not the baby, she was absolutely fine) and we manage pretty well at home with no resus equipment! I suppose they have a duty of care to us both though....

It was a highly respected breast unit (albeit mostly oncology) and I was surprised they were not more geared up for breastfeeding.

Good idea re PALS.

springinstep, firstly I hope you are feeling better and your mastitis is improving. I dont have enough details to comment on your treatment but I can share my experience.

I got mastitis at first when DD was 1 week old. Antibiotics didnt clear it and I was admitted to a surgical ward for treatment. The whole time I was told to feed from both sides and to favour the 'bad' side as the infection feeds on the milk (according to the breast specialist I was under the care of).

I had surgery under GA, they made an inch long incision at the top of my breast and removed as much infection as they could. DD was to stay with me at all times, she stayed with her dad and the nurses when I was in surgery. We were given a side room to stay in overnight.

I then had two further stays as the infection returned and it had to be removed. She stayed with me at all times and I fed from both sides.Seems a bit like a contradiction of your care, perhaps it is different when babies are older?

I hope you are feeling better now and taking care of yourself, its pretty horrible. I remember eating lots of cake to help me through

hopefully this sort of thing should change in the future because you will be able to be treated (and in some areas this already happens) at home with iv antibiotics.
Not much use to you at the moment I know.

However as well as writing to your consultant also write to your pct and express how difficult this situation was you and how being treated at home would have been so much better for you and your family

If anyone finds themselves in a situation whereby they need admitting just for iv antibiotics ask if they have a community iv team. some areas do but hospital staff can be slow to refer sometimes.

Hope you are feeling much better now. This is the NHS Direct treatment advice if this is of any help?