29/11/2020
Posted • Day 6 of being separated from my 6 week year old baby. My partner sent me this photo of little Leo holding on to my dressing gown last night 😭 the one I usually breastfeed & cuddle him in. I’ve been smelling & holding on to his sleepsuit during my hospital stay to help stimulate milk production & comfort ❤️
If you’re a Mum or you care about this, please share this post to raise awareness. This is a picture that no Mother should ever have to post! Mothers & babies are being separated in hospital, due to Covid restrictions. This goes against NICE guidelines to separate a Mum and her baby under 6months, especially if breastfed. However hospital trusts have introduced these rules recently, yet they DO NOT offer the right support, guidance & options for Mums.
Separating Mums and babies at such a young age can be extremely distressing for Mum & baby. There are so many factors to consider;
* How the baby is fed?
* Who will look after the baby?
* Single parent support?
* Pumping to keep up milk supply
* Risk of clogged ducks, mastitis & postnatal depression
* Medications suitable for breastfeeding
* Baby not feeding well due to sudden change
* Baby distressed because Mum isn’t there
* Dad/partner not able to take on a full time role due to work or nervousness looking after baby
While Mum is unwell, she is having to stress about all of these factors. It’s a lot to digest & figure out while feeling so unwell.
There is a HUGE gap here & it needs to change. Especially when maternity wards still have babies and partners. It’s another ward that manages it during Covid.
* It’s been an extremely upsetting experience. When I arrived I told staff I was breastfeeding & I was told I had to pump & give the expressed milk to my partner. Yet in reality this was extremely difficult to do. Pumping is NOT the same as breastfeeding!
* I have asked for specialist help on what to do about feeding. They sent down a pump from maternity ward, but no one has turned up to give me guidance or help. I’ve been left over the weekend with no answers and no support about what to do re feeding my baby. We just have to figure it out!
*CONTINUED
