TWO newborn babies have been mistakenly given to the wrong mothers who breastfed them at a Geelong hospital.

The babies spent more than eight hours with the wrong mothers, after they were handed to them at 6.30am last Friday at St John of God Hospital.

Premier Ted Baillieu said he was horrified to learn of the bungle.

"It is entirely unacceptable and it is a matter that needs to be investigated,'' he said.

"Obviously I was horrified and shocked.''

Hospital chief executive Stephen Roberts told 3AW a family member alerted the hospital staff to the mix up at 3pm.

It is understood during the eight and a half hours the mothers breastfed the babies, and played with them.

The incident may have occurred after the babies identification bracelets were not checked against those of the mothers.

"Human error'' has been blamed for giving the babies to the wrong mothers.

In a statement issued today the hospital said it "deeply regrets'' the incident which occurred in the maternity unit.

Hospital chief executive Stephen Roberts and nursing staff had apologised to both families and had been supporting them throughout the weekend, the statement said.

The hospital has also been investigating how the mistake occurred.

"As soon as the mistake was discovered, the babies were returned to the correct mothers and the women's obstetricians advised," Mr Roberts said in the statement.

"We have also offered counselling and pastoral care to both parents.

"Protocols are in place to ensure mothers are given their own baby but it seems that in this instance human error was involved.

"We deeply regret this mistake and will be reinforcing to all staff the importance of abiding by hospital protocols at all times."

The mothers and their babies are still being cared for in the hospital.

Do you know more about this incident? Have you had a similar experience?

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Originally published as Mums given wrong babies to feed