Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Mom Denied Food at Hospital For Not Breastfeeding

Mom Denied Food at Hospital For Not Breastfeeding

A mom in Australia, who wishes to remain anonymous, is nevertheless making headlines after claiming she was denied free hospital food because she isn't nursing.

B-Fing

The mother of three recently says she was shocked when she accompanied her five-month-old son to the pediatric ward, where he was treated for a lung infection.

When the staff was made aware that she wasn't breastfeeding, they informed her she could have some toast, but beyond that, she'd have to pay for any food.

That, she says, is not the case for mothers who nurse.

"Because you're not breastfeeding, you won't get meals here," the mom, who says she had to leave her son alone to go get some food, was told.

"For me to go and get some decent food, I have to leave my child. I understand they are busy but that's why I think there's more reason to feed us so we don't have to leave our children."

"It's not so easy on a mom who cares about her children to go and get herself some nutrition when you come back to an anxious, upset baby," she said.

Also frustrating for this particular mom? She wanted to nurse. Quite badly, actually, but it just didn't work out, due to severe food allergies and reflux.

Bottle-feeding the newborn with prescription formula was the option she said made the most sense for her family, even if it wasn't her first choice.

If this is true, and the mother is being punished because breastfeeding didn't work for her - by a hospital - perhaps they should reexamine their policy.

No matter how many studies tout the benefits of breastfeeding, not everyone is going to do it, and there must be better ways of increasing awareness.

What do you think? Is punishing those who don't breastfeed, however slightly, an arbitrary measure and contrary to what should be hospitals' goal?

The Hollywood Gossip

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