Has anyone told the Hospital that u wanted to breastfeed only to discover?

[Muppity]

Oh good - thanks Sherie.

I got a little worked up when I read that they don't have it available at all and was hoping that this wasn't the case because I can see that nomatter what peoples intentions were there were situations where it would be needed and I was hoping that the medical system hadn't got to that point.

What you are saying makes absolute sense to me.

[Visitor9]

When I had Eliza I was in recovery for along time 4 hrs waiting for my blood presure to re establish a "healthy range" due to a haemorrage. She had nothing in that time except cuddles from DH and never did they ask about formula or getting something off me. She was also a GD baby so feeding was important for sugar levels. As for asking for formula we went to day 6 before I requested formula and was told there was none on site, we lived a couple of hrs away from the hospital and DH wasnt with me all the time.
They found the formula its amazing the amounts of jugs filled up in the fridge at the nurses station for no formula, they also pinched it from SCN where she ended up anyway so if the feeding was going to make her better quicker rather than a poor feeded that ended up having to be formula fed I would say ok .
Bec

[becmc]

This is slightly off topic (sorry) but with regard to hospitals not providing formula - I assume that they still have some in stock somewhere as I can imagine situations where for whatever reason a mother had every intention on breast feeding but then can't.

I don't think it is necessary to have it on hand for that reason because quite often a mothers milk wouldn't have even come in before she left hospital anyway, even one that continues breastfeeding. Obviously they would need something for 'emergencies', such as really prem babies, but then again (in IMO) it would be ideal if hospitals had their own milk banks where donated breast milk could be used in emergencies. If a mother is planning on not bf, then she should be responsible for organising her own bottles and formula(IMO) because I believe that the nurses have a duty of care to that baby which includes supporting and encouraging the mother to breastfeed.

[*noni*e*]

taffylou - my hospital has told me that if i can't bfead someone will have to go to the chemist for me because the government cut funding for formula and they do not have it in the hospital anymore.. so if u need to formula feed u have to supply everything urself except a sterilizer which they will provide u with..

[little sprocket]

Wow isnt that amazing about the no formula in the hospitals now. My cousin new that she would be bottle feeding so she new to take the tin in. With my daughter they supplied the formula and there was about 10 to choose from (they suggested S26-Gold which I had at home anyway).

It makes u want to go out and buy a tin of formula to take to hospital just in case thus making it more tempting to give up if u are having difficulties breast feeding if u know what I mean.

[Yael]

I don't think it is necessary to have it on hand for that reason because quite often a mothers milk wouldn't have even come in before she left hospital anyway, even one that continues breastfeeding. Obviously they would need something for 'emergencies', such as really prem babies, but then again (in IMO) it would be ideal if hospitals had their own milk banks where donated breast milk could be used in emergencies. If a mother is planning on not bf, then she should be responsible for organising her own bottles and formula(IMO) because I believe that the nurses have a duty of care to that baby which includes supporting and encouraging the mother to breastfeed.

I think its necessary to have it on hand... If you know is advance you are bottle feeding, its up to the hospital to decide if they will provide it or not, the same as if they provide nappies, but there have been cases of medical emergencies afterwards where women are either in extensive surgery or something a lot worse and aren't around to breastfeed. I would think the hospital has a higher duty of care to provide formula, than to give milk from a milk bank without express permission of the parents, as some people are not comfortable with that, just as some people refuse to have injections that are from blood products etc (either blood transfusions, anti-D).

I support b/f, but i also think its the parents right to choose what they feel is right for their child for whatever reasons, just because the hospital is a pro-b/f hospital does not mean that the have the right to choose for those parents.

[Pandora]

My hostpial said they don't provide formula, and that mums wishing to formula feed needed to provide everything themselves.

When I was at the hospital day stay (on day 4 after having DS) the LC was telling me that if my milk had not come in by day 5 or 6 and I felt that I needed to top up DS over the weekend, to use X brand of formula, 'cos thats what they use here at the hospital in the SCN'

So maybe they do not provide it to mums who choose to f/f from the start, but they do in some circumstances?

[becmc]

I did say that they should have something else available for those rare emergencies, and the part about having donated breastmilk is just my opinion only. The hospital should have express permission from the parents no matter how/or what is given.
Hospitals that are 'baby-friendly' state explicity in all their info. when you book in that that is how they work, therefore indicating they will support and encourage bf in most circumstances. If people want to ff of course that is their choice, and their choice only, but my point is that formula should not be available just for anyone that 'chooses' to use it at hospital, imagine the hundreds of thousands of dollars that could be spent on life saving equipment that is possibly being spent on having formula on hand 'just in case'. Definately have it there, or available for emergencies, or for example if it is a country hospital that has no access to pharmacies, supermarkets, or whatever, but it is the parents responsibility to feed the baby, not the hospitals.
And don't most hospitals use cloth nappies? Surely they wouldn't supply disposables as well.

[Patooties]

Becmc - when i had my girls, the hospital supplied Huggies disposables for us to use. This time around we have to take our own in with us.

[Yael]

We also got disposables provided when i had my son, and i know from friends at a few others hospitals they did also.

I agree permission should be gained no matter what is given, and i would probably go with a milk bank personally, but i understand why people aren't comfortable with the idea, so i would think the hospital is probably better off legally giving formula then milk bank milk if permission can't be gained for whatever reason

[little sprocket]

The hospital where I had my daughter in 2005, supplied huggies new born nappies. The nurse actually said to me that they dont use cloth but if I wanted to use cloth I could bring them from home and have someone take them home and wash them. Its the same this time around too. The nurses actually told me to fill my nappy bag up with disposables before I go home (its amazing how many of those u can cram in a bag).

They did have cloth nappies there but they called these "spit rags" and that has now stuck at my house. I had them there for when Leah chucked up a bit cos she used to guts her bottles heaps.

[becmc]

That does suprise me about the nappies. I would have thought that all hospitals would use cloth, even just from the money perspective. Unless they get funding for that maybe. But I just love cloth nappies!!

[doulacara]

Yep i would make a formal complaint against the hospital if I was your SIL.
I had it in my birthplan that under no circumstances was my baby to be given formula unless it was at my request and by me.

My niece was born at a very bf- friendly hospital, but was rushed to Special Care because of breathing difficulties. Although the staff came around to collect colostrum from her, she later discovered that her bub was given formula first, without permission, for no apparent reason other than someone couldn't be bothered to walk down the corridor to see if she wanted to express or go to the nursery to feed.

So, yes, put it on your birthplan that no formula is to be given, but make sure that if you are separated from your baby (another issue in and of itself) your partner follows up with the staff looking after your bub who will probably not have read your birthplan.

C

[beckles]

if this happened to me i would begin legal action, a complaint to the hospital under these circustances is not enough. I would hit them where it hurts and they could also pay punitive damages for assaulting my son's gut.
i feel very strongly about this.
beckles