Almost 9 years ago I had my first son and the hospital I delivered at didn't even mention breastfeeding. Six years ago I had my second son at the same hospital, they said I couldn't breastfeed cause my older son had an allergy to milk. Also both boys spent time in nursery. Six weeks ago I had my third son at the same hospital. No nursery and they advocated breastfeeding before the cord was cut! I am breastfeeding, but not because they pushed it on me. The hospital said that more and more hospitals (especially on the east coast) are making it harder to formula feed while in the hospital and rooming in with baby. I'm thankful that my hospital had a great lactation consultant and helpful nurses to help me when I needed it. I'm sorry you had such a horrible experience.
I was 17 when I had my first and I chose to breastfeed. So I had a double whammy. They kept calling me amanda...My name is Meagan. Lol
They gave my daughter a bottle while I was sleeping and claimed they "didnt want to wake me". They kept taking her out of the room too until it was time to feed. So with my 2nd I was a heinous b***h
And told them I would "have problems" with any one who ignored my wishes. It went much more smoothly. So I second your post! Take charge!
I would have changed hospitals had I had a choice. My doctor doesnt practice at any other hospitals. Thankfully I had a great night nurse who was very supportive of my wishes, but the daytime nurses were pushy and inattentive (which pisses me off because I tried hard not to bother them for much). I wanted to cry when my colostrum ran out.
Thank GOD that in the hospital that im going to deliver they are really into breastfeeding, they let us know that if you wanted to bottle feed you would have to bring your own formula because they don't supply you with any.
I feel for you mummies, here in the uk it is positivley pushed by all those caring for you through pregnancy and after the birth. With most midwives placing the babies to the breast at birth. It is not always an easy thing to learn so I wish you all love and luck and whatever you choose do not allowv them to pressure you x
It's very disappointing you were treated like that. I hope they had someone you could talk to about the inappropriate behavior of the staff.
I'm having my second at the same hospital as my first, fortunately they do have consultants and they're willing to try as hard as mama is to take care of baby, even if it means being in and out of the room several times.
Don't let them make you feel bad or change your mind, if your baby doesn't do well with breastfeeding or needs formula to supplement, a pediatrician will let you know.
Dont be afraid to be ferocious, mamas. Good luck, OP and congrats on having a pair big enough.
I am so glad that the hospital I am using encourages breastfeeding and they have a lactation consultant there. I just finished with my prenatal classes and our teacher was actually the lactation consultant at our hospital. Sorry you had to deal with that.
So I guess I agree with you lol - but all hospitals are a lil different, and it always helps to be informed
It seems to vary region to region, and hospital to hospital. There are hospitals in my area that are awful (county hospitals) and a couple that are award-winning in their maternity wards (a kaiser one). I'm in CA, they generally seem bent toward what's best for baby (breastfeeding). In the Midwest where my sister is, they're not a friendly in a few of them toward new moms and seemed to push her toward whatever they wanted, not really listening to her.
I would research both breastfeeding (in medical books, not blogs lol) and the hospital you'll be giving birth at. Both will be very helpful.
Agreed on doing research. Im not sure how this hospital is going to be but my first was wonderful. They even had puppets to explain how to latch baby on correctly with inverted nipples which I hear a lot of women are concerned about and dont breastfeed because they dont think they can. They even let me stay an extra night at the hospital because we were having trouble with breastfeeding. This time around I dont think they will be so accommodating from things I heard (like they just started doing skin to skin apparently).
Mine was very supportive. They even woke me up Evey 2 hrs to pump. Too bad they can't support whatever mom wants :(
Im sorry you had such a bad experiance. It seams to be like that at some hospitals where I am. I did my resurch and found Calgary foothills to be the best, they are also able to deal with just about aanything as they specialise in high risk babies. Dispite all my resurch and had a baby there before. My second was not as wonderfull as the first time. Especially when it came to one nurse. I just requested to not have her as my nurse again. It was granted.
I fully agree got to do your resurch and speak out to your needs. I hope baby and you are home now and enjoying your baby moon.