Mother of critically ill baby denied hospital meals as she was not breastfeeding

Mixed · 2Sophie Price, 22, from Newport, says she was refused hospital meals while her baby daughter Florence was critically ill on a paediatric ward at Grange University Hospital in Cwmbran, Torfaen, because she was not breastfeeding. 1 2 Centre · 1She had given birth at the same hospital five days earlier, and was told she was no longer classed as a patient and so would not be provided with meals. 1 Mixed · 2Florence was diagnosed with bronchiolitis, rhinoviruses and a blood infection, which meant her lungs could not work on their own, and was given breathing support through a mask. Her parents were told she might need to be put into a coma at any point. 1 2

Mixed · 2Ms Price said she had gone about 28 hours without eating when a food trolley came round the ward. Staff asked whether she was breastfeeding. She said she had not been able to after Florence's first 24 hours and that the baby was on formula, and was then told she could not have food. 1 2 Mixed · 2She said she was in pain after her hips, dislocated in childbirth, had to be put back in place, and that fluid build-up in her feet left her unable to walk from one corridor to the next. With her husband Ryli's paternity leave ending, she relied on relatives to bring food after work. 1 2 Mixed · 2The family say they spent more than £1,000 on canteen food and takeaways during the three-week stay. 1 2

Mixed · 2Ms Price also said she was told she would have to bring in formula herself, although the health board says it provides formula as needed. Formula was supplied after her mother contacted the hospital. 1 2 Mixed · 2On maternity wards, mothers and babies are both patients and receive meals whether or not they breastfeed. On paediatric wards only the child is the patient, and the policy is to give meals to breastfeeding mothers because this directly supports the baby's feeding and nutrition. 1 2 Mixed · 2Aneurin Bevan University Health Board said it was sorry to hear about Ms Price's experience. It said ward teams can provide basic food items and refreshments to parents who cannot reach the canteen, have limited support or cannot leave the bedside, and that parents can get a discounted meal through a ward voucher scheme. It said requests are considered case by case. 1 2

Mixed · 2Ms Price calls the policy "outdated" and discriminatory towards formula-feeding mothers, and thinks hospitals should provide meals for all mothers however they feed their babies. The Daily Mail adds that she has launched a petition and campaign calling for this, and that she praised the care Florence received. 1 2