Breastfeeding support in the hospital? (Kingston)

[star6]

I'm giving birth at Kingston Hospital (kingston upon thames) and have read on past posts/threads on MN regarding this hospital that the after birth care support has not been good there at all.

I am determined to breastfeed, however I know that I will need to be "taught" how to do it, otherwise I will be too anxious that I'm doing it wrong (especially if it hurts as everyone says it does).

Has anyone experienced what sort of support they offer at kingston hospital in particular? Or others? Or should I look into another option for help or support with this? I'm 33 weeks, starting to get really nervous about this.

Support wasn't great (thinking back to first time). They were very keen for me to do it but practical support was lacking.

Are you doing NCT classes? There should be a breastfeeding class in there if so.

Unfortunately, no. The only NCT course I was offered was at the time of my due date! I tried and tried and tried to get on another course, but she kept giving me the same information about the same all day course on my due date! I wasn't about to pay that much money for something that would likely happen too late...
they have since emailed me an apology for this, but I know how crowded the waiting lists are.

Whereabouts are you, roughly? (obviously near-ish to Kingston, but that's a fairly wide catchment)

I know. I said i would consider a wide radius and would travel... but she just kept sending me the same silly form with the same date. I started inquiring from 8 weeks pregnant. I'm sure it was all just a big mistake and as I said, they did apologize... but now I'm 33 weeks, all courses are totally full and can't get in.

You could look into Breastfeeding Workshops here -- there's one on 13 September, by the looks of things.

Thanks! I'll email the contact to ensure there are places this weekend. Was hoping to go somewhere in Surrey (where we could drive), but at this point I'll go anywhere!
Thank you so much, PortAndLemon.

Star6 I think the fact you realise you need ot learn is huge step to you having a successful bf relationship with your baby.

IME most hospitals are all potentially hit and miss when it comes to BG support on the post natal ward as few midwives are actually trained in BF (mad but true) and they're all busy and overworked.

As far as Kingston is concerned one of my friends is a La Leche League Leader and following the crap time she had there when her daughter was born three years ago has recently worked with midwives there to improve things. Hopefully this will be the case for you. Have you actually asked midwives at Kingston if there is a BF workshop? St George's do a fab one but they seem to like to keep it a secret and I only found out about it by accident! Kingston might be the same?

I can't recommend La Leche League meetings enough though. You can start coming before your baby is born so that you have a ready made BF support network in place for when your baby arrives. Where are you? There are monthly meetings in Wimbledon lllswlondon.blogspot.com/ and Leatherhead but currently nothing in Kingston.

I'd also be very interested to know how you get on if you do Geraldine's course. I used to know her years ago and I didn't realise she'd branched out into this area. (She's lovely btw)

I did think that the midwives were a bit hit and miss at Kingston.

I was there post-natally for a week so my experience is actually in the hospital IYSWIM. They were very keen for me to write everything down and seemed more concerned about this than anything else! I also had one strange midwife who would wake me up to look at DS, kept asking for cuddles from him and was always trying to give him a bottle.

However, my 5 NCT people all breast fed and all had babies at Kingston.

Whereabouts are you? I'm 36 weeks with my second now and would be happy to meet if it'd reassure you.

I'm in Surbiton. That would be great!
mw was trying to give him a bottle and would wake you for cuddles with him? weird!

I had my ds at kingston almost a year ago, was in for a couple of nights after c-section and found mws very helpful with getting bf started, they made me call when i was trying to get him to latch on so they could give advice, and made sure that i was doing ok before i left (exactly 48hrs after section which was earliest they would let me go!)
Saying that as with anywhere i think it depends on which mws are working as a couple of my nct friends did come across some less helpful individuals. We all managed to bf though.
There's an nct bf adviser around in surbiton somewhere called hilary something, i wonder if she would see you individually?

There is a bf drop in centre at Bourne Hall in Ewell Village (think it MOn & Thur mornings but check), you just turn up and wait to see someone, they are fantastic, and will give you all the help and support you could ever need.

thanks krpc! Is that for after I have the baby, I assume? Or can nervous first timers go in for some advice in advance to calm their nerves?

I had dd there 3.5 years ago (Waves at PortandLemon !).

I had a difficult delivery (3 days of failed induction ending in middle of night c-sec) and then struggled to BF. My dd was only 4lbs 9oz so obv there was pressure for her to put on weight. I was encouraged to breastfeed but was completely put off by the breastfeeding counsellor who didn't really show much understanding of my emotional state.

I have to say though that both my community midwife and HV both said to me if I wanted to try and establish bfing they would give me all the support they could (but didn't pressure me into it).

There did used to be a breastfeeding cafe/clinic at hawks road but don't know if this is still running.

This was 3.5 years ago though so hopefully things have improved (and in all other aspects I found Kingston v good).

glad to know you found it to be good in all other aspects as well - that is certainly comforting to hear I've been reading a book about breastfeeding that has been very helpful, although admittedly, DH has read it more thoroughly than I have... I REALLY wish men could breastfeed... I'm sure he'd be far more successful!

Star have you read the Sheila Kitzinger book, "Breastfeeding"?

It really inspired me when Iwas hving probs feeding DS1. I had him at Kingston and the BF support was not good, but I've also had other DCs at West Mid and QC and the support at those hostpitals was equally lacking

I found the NCT BF counsellors invaluable and also the Baby Cafe at Richmond Hamlet Health Centre at 10.30am each Monday is fabby - a drop in where you can sit with other Mums who are also learning, with two BF ounellors on hand to help you. A bit of a treck from Surbton I guess though.

I think you are very wise doing your reserach now - you can arm yourself with a few contact numbers etc to help you in the first few weeks

Hawks road bf cafe does still run, v.close to surbiton, i went when i had my 3rd episode of mastitis in 6 weeks and very helpful counsellor talked me through where i was going wrong. Can't remember what day it is, its a bit difficult to find how to get in to the car park.

Breastfeeding can be very difficult and does not come naturally to all mums. However you may be one of the lucky ones and find that your baby naturally latches on easily.
I recently gave birth in Kingston hospital. I found that while the midwifes offered to help with breastfeeding the didn't always have time to come to me when my baby needed to get on the breast and when they did come they didn't help me but just pushed my breast into my baby's mouth.
If you have difficulties my advice would be to get help outside of the hospital as soon as you can. I found a lactation consultant online who was very helpful. Unfortunately by the time I tracked her down it was too late, my nipples were ruined and I was readmitted to hospital with mastitis. I was actually hopeful to go back in as I thought this would be another chance to get help from the midwifes. Unfortunately they didn't have time for me yet again. My baby is bottle fed now and is a healthy bouncy baby. Whilst I believe breast is best (and felt like a failure at first) don't stress if you can't breastfeed. As a friend said to me your baby needs a mummy not a milk bank, and I believe I did the right thing for my baby.

I had both my babies in Epsom GH and found that the breastfeeding support was good. Not all the midwives were that great, but when I was having problems getting started, they sent a BFC to my bedside who gave us lots of her time and support.

And I definitely second the recommendation for the BF clinic at Bourne Hall. They sorted out my second daughter's tongue tie in double-quick time and got us set up really well.

Smithagain - that is great that they sorted your daughter's tongue tie. My son was also born with a tongue tie and Kingston hospital didn't help with that. I called a lot of clinics and hospitals in my area over the week after I got out of hospital and eventually the lactation consultant I referred to was the person to help with this. She was able to snip it for us. The operation takes a second so I don't understand why there wasn't anyone at Kingston available to perform this for us. The person who usually does this was on holiday for 2 weeks at the time. Unfortunately when the baby has tongue tie it can find breastfeeding difficult. My baby still has difficulty feeding even from a bottle as I think he formed bad habits in his first two weeks.

star6 I live v close to Kingston Hospital and my next door neighbour is training to be a breastfeeding counsellor. She is particularly interested in helping women who have just given birth in hospitals. If you CAT me I can pass on her details to you and I'm sure she wouldn't mind meeting before or after the birth to help you. She does have two children herself so probably most available during school hours but is very keen to help with breastfeeding.

Another great help would be to go to some of the local La Leche League meetings. LLL Leaders are always very happy to have pregnant women coming along, and once your baby is born, and you feel up to going out again, you can visit and there will be loads of help with whatever stage you are at. I'll try to dig out my details for the next few meetings but I have a feeling there may be one coming up in New Malden.

I have to say, personally, I didn't find the Hawks Road Baby Cafe very helpful at all. On the few days I attended it was only 'manned' by the health visitors and I was not impressed by their knowledge or advice.

Also, have just remembered, if you're interested in Active Birth you could go to one of Ruth Armes's classes (birth preparation, not the yoga ones) and she always covers breastfeeding, plus hands out a list of breastfeeding counsellors and their numbers.

mammafran - at the time it was surprisingly hard to get a tongue tie sorted, which is why I was so pleased with the Bourne Hall clinic.

I believe they are now doing them within a few days of birth - not sure whether it's at Epsom hospital or in the clinic - but it's a lot better than it was.

Epsom is a UNICEF Baby Friendly hospital - very pro breastfeeding, automatically promote skin to skin contact straight after birth etc. Also surprisingly relaxed about letting newborns sleep with their mummies if that's what they want to do!