Are "Baby Friendly" hospitals dishonoring cultural diversity

As a formula feeder, I will tell you that I had none of the above problems. My daugther did well and is healthy and happy, and incidentally did not "smell bad". I'm sure I haven't scarred her for life because I gave her formula. If you're going to use examples to try to back up your opinion you should at least have some research to cite with it (although, I'm sure you can find something to back up anything on the internet these days).

And you're right, your judgemental viewpoint about formula-feeding probably wouldn't mesh well in OB.

I don't think that anyone here is arguing that breastmilk is not better, but to belittle the choice of women you don't know and whose situations you have not experienced is just rude.

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I don't believe that if WIC cut funding formula, parents would dilute it etc etc. I believe it would give more moms the initiative to breastfeed...Moms just aren't educated enough about the benefits of breastfeeding...for her and the baby and the dangers of using formula. It's pitiful and won't change for a long long time I'm sure. Especially with the way we've sexualized breasts. :/

Studies have shown that most mothers do know that "breast is best", but that knowledge isn't enough to encourage mothers to breastfeed. The many barriers to breastfeeding have to be addressed, including short (or no) maternity leave. Additionally, mothers need support beyond the mother/baby unit.

I used to think that cutting funding for WIC formula would help more mothers consider breastfeeding as an option. I soon discovered that may be true for some mothers, but the majority who use WIC have chosen formula just like the majority that don't use WIC have chosen formula, and their choice isn't likely to change because the funding is no longer there.

I personally think that the recent changes in WIC, including the modified food packages and increased support for breastfeeding, are steps in the right direction.

I understand your point and others that share your same thoughts...I really do. I just don't think like that. I think new babies are entitled to breastmilk...not crap in a can. And they are considering we have boobs and make the milk. Makes sense to me. My friend had a baby in Germany when her husband was stationed there....they had to bring their own pain meds. It's not that far off to have moms bring their own formula. Breastfeeding moms bring their own...

And in the UK, mothers bring their own formula if that is how they choose to feed. This is the USA, and that doesn't fly. We must provide food to our patients. If a mother isn't breastfeeding, then her baby will be given formula. I don't think not providing formula in the hospital will change anyone's mind about it, anyway.

IMHO, we should be looking at ways to stop the influence of formula manufacturers (such as removing formula advertising from hospitals and clinics), educating parents about the differences in breastmilk/formula and how those differences can affect health, and providing long term support for breastfeeding mothers. Those things will make a difference in breastfeeding rates, not limiting access to fomula.

Yes, breastfed babies can have acid reflux, but it's not as common as formula fed babies. Often times it's something the mother is eating. Dairy is the main culprit. Limit dairy and the problem may disappear. Babies need breastmilk is my point and a mother shouldn't have to switch formulas constantly (I had to as well), if the baby was getting what he/she is suppose to, that wouldn't have to happen. Soy? Not healthy at all, I wouldn't give it to my dog (if I had one).

That's a really simplified way of looking at the issue. MANY babies suffer from reflux because of their immature digestive systems. The cause of the reflux is usually not what the baby is fed. Research has shown that breastfed babies fare better if they do have reflux, which is important to know.

Referring to formula as "food" like it's some kind of poison is just not helpful. Millions of babies have "survived" the horrors of being given formula and lived to tell about it.

Considering there's an ingredient in formula that is poisonous to rats, then yeah I can understand why some would refer to it as a poison. Survived? Yes and look at all the health problems we have....hmm! You can also survive on burger king.

I would like to say that this is not the kind of attitude that will encourage nurses to promote breastfeeding.

First of all, formula does not have an ingredient that is poisonous to rats. I was around on the bfing forums years ago when the story that started the "rat poison" argument first started circulating. A mother had all this formula sitting around from the samples she received in the mail. She wasn't going to use it, so she thought she would mix some up and leave it out for the stray cats in her neighborhood. The next day, she went to refill the bowl and found a dead rat in there. The conclusion was that the formula killed the rat. Formula is nothing more than dried milk powder (or soy protein), oils, vitamins, and minerals. There is nothing poisonous in it.

It is true that there can be manufacturing errors with formula. Babies have died or have been seriously injuried because of metal shards in the can, too many or too few vitamins, or even dangerous bacterial contamination. YES, parents and health care providers should be aware of that risk. They should also be aware of the risks due to not breastfeeding (differences in gut flora, no immune factors in formula, etc). They should also know how to mix, store, and feed formula and to lessen the risk. Telling a mother that formula is poison or "crap in a can" is not going to benefit anyone.

Not to mention formula fed babies smell bad, lol.

Yes, formula fed babies have a different smell to their vomit and stool. However, I don't see how it serves our cause to go about telling others that their children smell bad.

Giving facts is not being judgmental. I have an educated veiwpoint.

Let's share facts and research and leave the judgement out of it.

Breastfeeding is the biological norm. Our bodies begin the work of producing milk during pregnancy, and our bodies produce milk after birth (even if we choose not to breastfeed, LII begins because it's hormonally driven). Newborn babies instinctively know how to search for the breast. The mother's body is the ideal extrauterine environment for the baby. There's so many WONDERFUL things to talk about--the research in the last few years has been amazing! There's so much we're just learning about breastmilk, the mechanics of breastfeeding, and the mother-baby relationship. IMHO, we should be sharing that wonderful information instead of bashing women who choose to (or need to) feed formula. That serves no purpose other than to make a few people feel superior for their choice.

Thank you, Marymoomoo (I love your name!) for a really great post. And thank you for presenting the kind of approach that acknowledges the benefits and wonders of breastfeeding without any condemnation. Much more effective to inspire rather than insult, scare or shame mothers into breastfeeding.

I'm reading a book called "Bad Mother" by Ayelet Waldman about the ways we mothers judge each other and beat each other up. She has an entire chapter on breastfeeding and the agonies and bad reactions she suffered when her youngest child couldn't latch due to a misshapen palate. She tried all kinds of measures--pumping (which really hurt), different kinds of nipples, finger feeding with a syringe-thingy attached, gentian violet for breast infections, before she finally, after six months of suffering, said, "Enough!" Even when feeding her son EBM, she felt compelled to explain herself to onlookers. This softened her own thinking and made her sad that we women, who can be so supportive and strong and encouraging, withhold that so easily from one another.

If a woman chooses to bottle feed and isn't made to feel like a selfish witch, who knows? Precious seeds might be planted for breastfeeding a subsequent child.

Breastmilk is the preferred food for babies, but everyone needs (and deserves!) the milk of human kindness.

I would like to tell you that when young mothers do not get enough formula from WIC they do not breastfeed they make formula. They take condensed milk and mix it with karo syrup. I was one of those young moms and that is what we felt we had to do to feed our children. A lot of girls in my area did that. We did not give our kids formula because we were "selfish" as Crunchy says. We did it for many reasons. I did it because I was young and told that bonding with my child was "wrong" (by nurses at the hospital). You really can't judge people for how they choose to feed their children because you have no clue why they are making these choices.

I am very pro- BF and educated myself very thoroughly during my pregnancy. After an incredibly scary labor where my son went into distress twice and had a code called on him before having an emergency C section, I delivered a 9 lb 14 oz baby boy with an insatiable appetite. I exclusively BF for the first 10 weeks while I was on maternity leave. On returning to work I pumped religiously several times a shift, reducing my productivity at work and putting myself at a disadvantage to my coworkers (commission based pay) Despite pumping frequently at work, feeding my baby in his sleep after coming home at 10 oclock at night and again in the middle of the night and in person during the day I still could not keep up with him. I took fenugreek and brewers yeast. I made sure that I was drinking 10-12 glasses of water a day. I gave up any and all caffeine.

I was a wreck! I was constantly worrying about breastmilk. I was hungry all the time and I wasn't sleeping (despite the fact that my baby had started sleeping through the night I had to get up and feed or pump just to keep up anough milk production). I had to supplement with formula as my son would still be hungry after eating. Just before six months I had a string of incidents that caused me to lose a large supply of expressed breast milk. After the third instance in a weeks time I sat in the floor and broke down in tears. After alot of discussion with my husband we decided that it was time to switch to formula.

I cried. I grieved for what I thought would be the loss of my bonding with my son. I felt like a BAD MOM. Within days I realized that instead of giving up, this was the best thing I could have done for myself and for my baby. I bonded MORE with my son. I finally had the time and energy to actually ENJOY my baby rather than just focusing on FEEDING my baby. I began to not feel tired, run down, and sick constantly.

I was finally starting to go back to being myself, yet, somehow I still felt like a failure. Why, after giving my child a loving home and all of the support and comfort and care that a parent possibly could, did I feel like a failure? Because of self-righteous, self-important, know-it-alls. Because of that militant group of women out there who had long before conception decided what was going to be right for me and my child. Is breast milk best for baby? Absolutely, but what is even better is a loving mom who is able to make parenting work in her life as she sees her and her childs' needs. Better yet is when we have a society where moms don't have to worry about feeling "weird" BFing in publice because someone might look at them funny or about bottle feeging in public because someone might be around the corner ready to lecture us on how we are abusing our children by doing what we feel is best for our own families. Everyone's story is different and you don't need to know what their story is. Have enough respect to assume that they have one and that, if provided the proper education, that they have made the best decision for themselves and STAY OUT OF IT!

I think everyone needs to take a minute and relax.

I am a OB nurse at a Baby Friendly Hospital and this is taken directly from our Website:

Baby-Friendly care focuses on keeping the mom and baby together. This practice helps to stabilize the baby more quickly, enhances bonding between mom and baby and supports successful breastfeeding. These practices include:

• Minimal separation of mother and baby
• Sacred Hour after delivery for undisturbed bonding
• Skin-to-skin contact immediately after birth
• Rooming In 24 hours a day
• No pacifiers given to breastfeeding babies
• All staff trained in breastfeeding support
• Ongoing support available after discharge
• Education of families on bonding with baby

We do have formula for moms that choose to do so, we just do not take the freebies from the formula companies. Not one nurse at my hospital makes anyone feel bad for chosing formula.

Prior to coming to OB I worked in public health with the WIC program. I can tell you with 100% certainty that if a mom wants to breastfeed she will and if she doesn't she will do formula. She will not breastfeed if her WIC is in danger of being cut, she will formula feed and find the money from somewhere.

This breastfeeding debate ranks right up there with the stay home or work issue. You have to do what is right for you and your family, period, period, end of discussion.

As nurses, we are impartial and support our patients with their decision and if you are trying to persuade them, you are in the wrong profession.