Newham Hospital: Respect Mothers' Feeding Choices!
The Issue
Join us in our fight for mothers' rights to feed their babies HOW and WHERE they want to in hospital, free from discrimination or shame.
Following several complaints, last week two mothers from Newham met with hospital representatives to resolve this issue and it has come to light that hiding and shaming breastfeeding women behind screens on the Neonatal Ward is standard practice (due to a man's complaint about seeing a boob). Mothers (and their babies) who refuse screens are then strategically moved and hidden in the corner of the room.This is not the first time a mother has been asked hide whilst breastfeeding at Newham Hospital; and now mothers come together to say we are proud to feed our babies and we need support to feed our babies!
It is against the law to treat a woman unfavourably because she is breastfeeding (The Equality Act 2010). This includes asking her to move or cover up.
Newham Hospital: abide by the law!
Mothers of Newham are also petitioning for doctors and staff to seek consent to give formula to their babies. For years, mothers have been sharing stories of their babies being given formula without consent or even explicitly AGAINST their wishes. This practice undermines and violates a mothers feeding choices. We understand that formula may be needed for some very poorly babies. What we are asking for is a policy and dialogue with parents to consent to formula, underpinned with informed and encouraging breastfeeding support, if that is what the family chooses.
Newham Hospital: STOP giving formula and risking babies' short and long term health WITHOUT speaking to parents first!
SIGN THE PETITION TO HELP US MAKE MEANINGFUL CHANGE IN NEWHAM!
Find our stories in the local and national press: https://www.newhamrecorder.co.uk/news/health/mothers-grievances-with-newham-intensive-care-for-babies-1-5919861
Further details of our complaints and resolution demands:
1. Mothers are pressured into using screens on the ward to breastfeed their babies. Opting out of the screens is difficult and traumatic, and mothers who do succeed in opting out are placed in the corner of the ward and hidden. According to the neonatal representative, this standard protocol is due to a man's complaint about seeing a breastfeeding woman on the ward. The outcome of the meeting last week indicated no intention to change current procedure; quite the opposite. This is shaming, it is discrimination, and violates the Equality Act 2010 (https://www.laleche.org.uk/breastfeeding-public-spaces/
2. Formula milk is given to new and poorly babies without the expressed consent of mothers; sometimes explicitly against the mother's wishes. This is potentially dangerous (for example, it increases the serious risk of Necrotising enterocolitis (NEC) as well as other well conditions such as SIDS and diarrhoea and vomiting https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/benefits-breastfeeding/ ) and undermines a mother and baby's human right to feed how they wish, and for these wishes to be respected. As with any medical procedure that has associated risks, consent needs to be sought.
These complaints remain unresolved. Myself and other mothers who have experienced these violations would like to engage in further talks with the hospital. Moving forward I would expect a genuine apology in person and in writing to myself and all mothers involved. I would also expect the following:
1. A policy to be written protecting mothers' rights to breastfeed on the NICU ward free from shame or discrimination (screens to be purely optional for those who wish privacy).
2. A policy to be written ensuring that parental consent is sought before feeding any amount of formula, and for this to be accompanied with appropriate breastfeeding information and support for parents on the neonatal ward.
3. For a policy to be written whereby babies are labelled clearly on the ward with their feeding method, to ensure there is no confusion at change of shift or otherwise.
4. For staff on the ward to be fully trained in these policies in order to encourage an understanding of the legal, moral and ethical reasons for these policies.
572
The Issue
Join us in our fight for mothers' rights to feed their babies HOW and WHERE they want to in hospital, free from discrimination or shame.
Following several complaints, last week two mothers from Newham met with hospital representatives to resolve this issue and it has come to light that hiding and shaming breastfeeding women behind screens on the Neonatal Ward is standard practice (due to a man's complaint about seeing a boob). Mothers (and their babies) who refuse screens are then strategically moved and hidden in the corner of the room.This is not the first time a mother has been asked hide whilst breastfeeding at Newham Hospital; and now mothers come together to say we are proud to feed our babies and we need support to feed our babies!
It is against the law to treat a woman unfavourably because she is breastfeeding (The Equality Act 2010). This includes asking her to move or cover up.
Newham Hospital: abide by the law!
Mothers of Newham are also petitioning for doctors and staff to seek consent to give formula to their babies. For years, mothers have been sharing stories of their babies being given formula without consent or even explicitly AGAINST their wishes. This practice undermines and violates a mothers feeding choices. We understand that formula may be needed for some very poorly babies. What we are asking for is a policy and dialogue with parents to consent to formula, underpinned with informed and encouraging breastfeeding support, if that is what the family chooses.
Newham Hospital: STOP giving formula and risking babies' short and long term health WITHOUT speaking to parents first!
SIGN THE PETITION TO HELP US MAKE MEANINGFUL CHANGE IN NEWHAM!
Find our stories in the local and national press: https://www.newhamrecorder.co.uk/news/health/mothers-grievances-with-newham-intensive-care-for-babies-1-5919861
Further details of our complaints and resolution demands:
1. Mothers are pressured into using screens on the ward to breastfeed their babies. Opting out of the screens is difficult and traumatic, and mothers who do succeed in opting out are placed in the corner of the ward and hidden. According to the neonatal representative, this standard protocol is due to a man's complaint about seeing a breastfeeding woman on the ward. The outcome of the meeting last week indicated no intention to change current procedure; quite the opposite. This is shaming, it is discrimination, and violates the Equality Act 2010 (https://www.laleche.org.uk/breastfeeding-public-spaces/
2. Formula milk is given to new and poorly babies without the expressed consent of mothers; sometimes explicitly against the mother's wishes. This is potentially dangerous (for example, it increases the serious risk of Necrotising enterocolitis (NEC) as well as other well conditions such as SIDS and diarrhoea and vomiting https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/benefits-breastfeeding/ ) and undermines a mother and baby's human right to feed how they wish, and for these wishes to be respected. As with any medical procedure that has associated risks, consent needs to be sought.
These complaints remain unresolved. Myself and other mothers who have experienced these violations would like to engage in further talks with the hospital. Moving forward I would expect a genuine apology in person and in writing to myself and all mothers involved. I would also expect the following:
1. A policy to be written protecting mothers' rights to breastfeed on the NICU ward free from shame or discrimination (screens to be purely optional for those who wish privacy).
2. A policy to be written ensuring that parental consent is sought before feeding any amount of formula, and for this to be accompanied with appropriate breastfeeding information and support for parents on the neonatal ward.
3. For a policy to be written whereby babies are labelled clearly on the ward with their feeding method, to ensure there is no confusion at change of shift or otherwise.
4. For staff on the ward to be fully trained in these policies in order to encourage an understanding of the legal, moral and ethical reasons for these policies.
The Decision Makers
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Petition created on 11 March 2019