Mothers given wrong babies to breastfeed in NSW hospitals

Babies were potentially exposed to serious health risks when a NSW hospital mix-up saw newborns given to the wrong mothers to breastfeed.

Seven babies were affected by the incidents, which occurred in public hospitals between 2011 and 2015, but the NSW government has admitted that more babies could have been impacted because it does not have records for the private system, The Daily Telegraph reports.

NSW Health has not revealed the hospitals where the mix-ups occurred.

As well as the risk of transmitting diseases through breast milk the mothers could have also been left distressed.

Opposition Health Spokesman Walt Secord called the situation "every new mum's worst nightmare" and called on the government to release the names of the hospital's responsible.

"The community has a right to know. This is the human cost of the massive cuts to the health and hospital system," he said.

Western Sydney University Professor of midwifery Hannah Dahlen said the risk of diseases being transmitted through breastmilk was low but the psychological impact cold be significant.

"It can be everything from 'oh my God, I was feeling connected and attached to this child that wasn't mine, what kinds of mother am I?,'" Professor Dahlen said.

Have you been affected by a similar mix-up? Send an email to contact@9news.com.au with your details.

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