Mum of critically ill baby denied hospital food as she wasn't breastfeeding

A first-time mum was denied hospital meals while her baby was "fighting for her life" because she was not breastfeeding.

Sophie Price, 22, was "shocked" when staff refused to give her a meal while her daughter Florence was being treated on a paediatric ward at Grange University Hospital in Cwmbran, Torfaen.

Despite giving birth in the hospital five days earlier, she was told she was no longer classed as a patient as she was not breastfeeding, so she would not be provided with meals.

Aneurin Bevan health board said it was "sorry to hear about Sophie's experience" and was "committed to supporting families throughout their child's stay".

"It was just an awful experience. I just needed a hot meal to keep going for my daughter," said Sophie, from Newport.

Her family said they spent more than £1,000 on food from the canteen and takeaway meals during their three-week stay at the hospital while Florence was treated.

Sophie had only left the hospital - which earlier this week denied online claims it was "dangerous" and "dreadful" - for 24 hours before she and her husband Ryli Price had to return when they realised Florence was not able to breathe and the "colour started to drain from her".

"Florence started to make some really harsh grunting sounds, it sounded like a death rattle coming from her chest up into her mouth," she said.

Sophie ran into the A&E department screaming "she's not breathing" and credited the quick response of medical staff who helped save her daughter's life.

Florence was diagnosed with bronchiolitis, rhinoviruses - which causes the common cold - and a blood infection, which meant her lungs could not operate on their own.

She was placed on a machine that pumped air into her lungs via a mask.

Sophie said despite being "hungry and exhausted" she was denied a meal while her daughter was "in intensive care fighting for her life".

"Imagine being in a hospital with your seriously ill baby on breathing support monitors, overwhelmed with worry, anxiety and stress, only to be told you aren't entitled to a meal because you're formula feeding instead of breastfeeding," she said.

Sophie said she was bleeding through her clothes and "in a lot of pain" as her hips had to be put back in place after being dislocated during childbirth.

She also had a build-up of fluid in her feet called oedema, adding: "My feet, they were the size of elephant trunks to the point where I couldn't even walk from the one corridor to the next."

Sophie said she and Ryli were told Florence may need to be induced into a coma at any point and it was "so touch-and-go the whole time".

At one point, Sophie said she realised she had not eaten for about 28 hours and remembered seeing a food trolley being brought round to mums on the ward.

She said: "I remember them saying to me 'oh hi mum, hope you're OK, are you hungry?' And me saying 'oh yeah, I'm absolutely starving, I haven't eaten in ages. What have you got'?'"

Sophie was asked if she was breastfeeding, which she had not been able to do after the first 24 hours of Florence's life as she was no longer taking to her breast milk.

She explained this to staff and said Florence was being given formula, only to be told she was not able to have any food,

"I remember just being so shocked. It was so horrific," Sophie said, adding she already felt "disappointed" at being unable to breastfeed.

Due to her husband's paternity leave coming to an end, Sophie said she had "never been in such a vulnerable situation" and relied on family members to finish work and bring her food while she stayed at Florence's bedside.

Mothers are provided meals while under the care of hospital maternity services as both them and their baby are classed as patients, whether they are breastfeeding or not.

On paediatric wards only the child is classed as the patient, but the hospital's policy is to provide breastfeeding mums with meals as this directly supports the baby's feeding and nutrition.

For babies who are formula-fed, the health board said formula was "provided as needed" by the hospital, but Sophie said she was told she would need to bring it in herself.

Sophie's mother contacted the hospital about the issue, so it continued providing formula for Florence.

Sophie called the policy "outdated" and said it discriminated against formula-feeding mothers "who are doing their very best in difficult circumstances".

She thinks all hospitals should provide meals for mothers, regardless of how they are feeding their babies.

The health board thanked Sophie for her feedback and said it understood "how difficult and stressful it can be for parents when their child is in hospital".

It added: "Where parents are unable to access the hospital canteen, have limited support, or are unable to leave their child's bedside, ward teams can provide a selection of basic food items and refreshments to help meet immediate needs.

"Parents can also access a discounted hospital meal through a ward voucher scheme and where a family is experiencing financial hardship, support can be discussed with the ward team.

"Requests are considered on a case-by-case basis to ensure help is provided fairly and appropriately, taking account of the family's circumstances and the needs of the child."