anyone going baby friendly??

In what way are you required to discriminate against someone who chooses to bottle feed?

I really think that, unless you are "mommy friendly", there could be some problems. I am a staunch advocate of breastfeeding. I think that patients should be informed of the benefits of breast feeding, and that they most likely have made their baby feeding decision prior to admission. We had a staff ped who, I'm sure had the best intentions,but she sometimes tried to "guilt" new moms into breastfeeding...very seldom successful, but we had some very upset moms, following rounds. This is one of the biggest decisions that new parents need to make-our position should be inform, and support...NOT discriminate...

I will say that when I came home from the hospital the first day of breastfeeding was so hellacious (my milk had not come in yet) that if I had formula in the house I would have used it. I was SOOOO close to running into the office where I work to get some. My husband really guilted me into NOT doing it. And I am forever thankful for that. 8 mos and my child hasn't had a taste of formula.

So I am all for no formula to be sent home with these breastfeeding moms.

and if mom is exhausted , and does not want to nurse the baby, and baby is hungry...you let baby scream? Not mommy or baby friendly, I'd say..been there, done that. Are pacifiers also forbidden?

Glad that breastfeeding wored for you-it is a wonderful relationship between mom and baby. As much as I advocate, there are those moms that choose not to breastfeed. In essence, they are sent home from the hospital NOT having the food that baby has eaten for 3 days or more...

Some women want to breastfeed and can't. I attempted to breastfeed and I was not producing enough milk. I was young and not well informed about breastfeeding. (was not a nurse yet) My son wanted to nurse all the time, always seemed hungry and I was just told- " You will make milk to meet his demands." This is not always the case. I got the flu when he was 1 month old and was given medicine by an MD and after the 1st 2 doses called the pharmacy w/ question and was told in no uncertain terms I could not breastfeed after taking this med. When we tried my son on formula, he only drank 1- 1 1/2 oz every 3-4 hrs!!! Tried water, etc, finaly took him to the ER and MD said try pedialyte. He drank 2 oz q 4 hrs for the 1st 2 days, then started developing an appetite! I know that it takes a while for babies to acclimate to formula, but MD at ER said that I was not producing enough milk at all!! So what about those moms who would LOVE to breastfeed, but can't? I feel that is very discriminatory and very pushy of the hospital to attempt to push the issue! It should be left to the parents to decide after getting all the facts.

You make some very good oints. New parents confidence is kind of shaky already, no sense throwing guilt into te mix..One of my daughters atempted to nurse both of her babies..he ended up in the er dehydrated-and looked like a failure to thrive baby. When breastfeeding wrks, great...but there remain some women who can't, or don;t choose to

Like with a car seat, isn't that something they should plan for?

OTOH, I don't see what the big deal is giving a mom who chooses to bottlefeed formula. If the formula companies want to give away their formula, and the moms want to give their babies the formula, what's the issue?

I feel queasy taking home a big bag loaded with pro formula crap and formula just in case! But who can make cash off of breastfeeding moms so much so that they want to market to them? Whomever that is, tell them to give us cool bags, too.