A Sydney mother is considering legal action after her newborn baby was given to a stranger to breastfeed.
Seven News says both mothers were devastated to discover the mix up, which occurred at Gosford Hospital in August.
A report in the Sydney Morning Herald says the two mothers were sharing a hospital room after giving birth. Their babies were taken to the maternity nursery so they could rest.
When baby Ellie woke for a feed, she was taken to the wrong mother, who breastfed the baby girl while her own daughter remained in the hospital nursery.
Stephanie Phillips. Photo: Twitter.
“A midwife broke the news to Ellie’s mother, Stefanie Phillips, who was devastated to discover her newborn had been breastfed by a stranger,” the report says.
“[I was told] the other mother has breastfed your daughter for two hours and got photos with her,” Ms Phillips told Seven.
“Skin-on-skin, did everything I wanted to do with her.”
Ms Phillips has not been able to get Ellie to take her breast since the incident and has been bottle feeding her formula.
Both families have received apologies in-person from senior staff of the Central Coast Local Health District.
