Hospital refusing to discharge mum and baby?

[babsie007]

So I just had my baby on 27th at 4am. I have given breastfeeding a go but she just isn't latching and I don't seem to be expressing much colostrum to feed her with anyway.

I was under the impression that I would. E going home on 29th (advised by doctor that they were happy with the preeclampsia postpartum for me to go home), but one of the midwives on the ward has just told me that she would be surprised if I would be allowed home tomorrow when breastfeeding isn't established???

Tomorrow was going to be the last day I would be attempting to breast feed - I am already supplementing with formula on their advice as baby wasn't latching.

Can they stop my husband taking us home? If so, is there a way that I can discharge myself and daughter?

I had a similar experience to you (but had no pre eclampsia). I could not latch DD on at all. I have flat nipples, she was delivered using ventouse so had sore head, and she had a very small mouth (apparently). The hospital was really busy, I was stuck in a room not normally used post natally, missed lunch as they forgot to tell me, support was patchy. They said I could not go home until bf established, so after one night I discharged myself. They advised against it. I never did establish bf but expressed exclusively for 6 months which was horrendous. If you were planning to remain with bf I would advise stay, but otherwise if medically you around baby are ok, discharge yourself.

The problem is, obstetricians and paediatricians don't see the whole picture. They are happy to discharge where they are concerned.. Ie. PET is obs and general baby is paeds. If the paed is happy with baby they may say fit for discharge, and same for you from obs if you are high risk. But the midwife is the one who deals with the other issues, ie. feeding. If there is not a feeding plan in place, or breastfeeding is not established then you are not fit for midwifery discharge, but are always welcome to take a self discharge which is against HCP advice.

Thanks for those links paintyfingers - pleased to see that finger feeds was mentioned as I had started to wonder if I dreamt the whole thing up! Thanks everyone actually for the help and advice. It can be really difficult with all the conflicting advice around. Even the advice my mum loves to give me is much different to how we are advised to do things now. I know I have a lot to learn but I just want to do the best for my daughter.