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Mixed experience with NHS Lanarkshire infant feeding team

Posted By Petunia2024

"Mixed experience with NHS Lanarkshire infant feeding team"

About: General practices in Lanarkshire Maternity Care / Infant Feeding Team

(as a service user),

I had quite a bit of contact with the team due to challenges with breastfeeding. I presented with low milk supply and concerns about the amount of milk my baby was getting. The service was very responsive and would come out to the house the same day or next day or offer telephone support. The staff were all friendly and polite and helped greatly with breastfeeding positioning advice.

However, in my experience they tend to work out with the limits of their competence. I was given incorrect advice regarding formula feeding my baby, which my GP later corrected. This contributed to me over supplementing with formula, which compounded my diffculties with low milk supply. I was also told quite early on that I may need to accept that breastfeeding is not for me, which my GP also corrected and gave me the support I needed to continue breastfeeding my baby. Were it not for my GP, I would not have persisted as long as I did. In summary, I think they are a well-intentioned team but unwittingly contributed to my difficulties and I think they need further training to truly support women who are struggling with breastfeeding. 

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Responses

Response from Jennifer Montgomery, Improvement Coordinator, Quality Directorate, NHS Lanarkshire 9 months ago
Jennifer Montgomery
Improvement Coordinator, Quality Directorate,
NHS Lanarkshire

Operational Lead for Care Opinion in NHS Lanarkshire

Submitted on 03/01/2025 at 18:17
Published on Care Opinion at 18:17

picture of Jennifer Montgomery

Dear Petunia2024,

Thank you for sharing your experience of the Infant Feeding Team.

I am so sorry to hear that you have received incorrect information from this team. I am very surprised by this and have highlighted to our Infant Feeding Team lead. I am glad your GP was able to give you reassurance and support with breastfeeding so that you could continue.

I hope things are going well now and wish you all the best in your breastfeeding journey.

Kind Regards,

Jenni

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Response from Anne Marie Bruce, NHS Lanarkshire 9 months ago
Anne Marie Bruce
NHS Lanarkshire

Submitted on 06/01/2025 at 08:55
Published on Care Opinion at 09:09

picture of Anne Marie Bruce

Thank you for your valuable feedback Petunia2024, I am sorry that you feel you did not get the correct advice from the team, this is really not our usual standard of care and we would really like to address it. Your home visit would have been carried out by a breastfeeding support assistant who is supported at base by a member of very experienced and specialised infant feeding nurses and midwives who would usually provide additional and more specialised advice if required, particularly around supplementation and in complex cases. I would really like to be able to look into your case more thoroughly to identify any training needs. Would you be kind enough to contact me by either email at wgh.maternity@lanarkshire.scot.nhs.uk or by telephone on 01698 366290 or by contacting patient affairs on tel:0800 1223135 so we can give you a full response and explanation.

I hope things are going well now in your journey and hope you would call into the team if you need any further support.

Best Wishes

AnneMarie

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