Baby Friendly- getting a tad over the top

[PeepnBiscuitsRN]

My hospital is working toward becoming baby friendly. This entails that we promote rooming-in and breastfeeding, which I have no problem at all with- what I do have a problem with is how we are being presented with it- and how we must now interact with our patients. Our patients come from a very diverse spectrum of cultures who are set in their ways and I guess I don't really feel it's my place to be like "well welcome to America- this is how we do it, too bad so sad."

We have been ordered to move all formula, nipples and pacifiers to the back room of the nursery (which has also undergone a name change to make it less accessible and friendly sounding) so that NOBODY sees it, patients or family. We don't want them to think we promote formula or artificial nipples. We are instructed now to council every mother who has chosen to formula feed, or do breast/bottle combo on the "dangers of feeding formula to your baby". Yes, these very words were uttered and in writing. There's serious talk of making the mother sign an informed consent before giving the baby any formula- acknowledging that she is aware that she is causing harm to her baby by giving him/her formula, and that they understand that breast milk is superior to formula.

We must extensively chart WHY mom is choosing formula. We have to now keep all the shades in the nursery down so that people don't look in, and THINK it's a nursery and again to make it an in-accessible place.

This really seems out of hand to me. I love where I work, I love the field but boy, we are in for some troubles when a mom from another culture other than white-upper class wants to put their baby in the nursery so they can sleep, or can go for a walk, or wants to formula feed and then gets a 20 minute lecture implying that they're a bad mom for choosing this method. Is this true of any other hospitals out there that are baby friendly or are in the process? I feel like they're trying to brainwash us, or like it's becoming a cult-like atmosphere!

[Not_A_Hat_Person, RN]

Think about what would happen if formula was not provided by the government/WIC.

A few states have tried that. It led to babies being fed stolen formula, adulterated formula, diluted formula, and homemade formula, not more breastfeeding.

[klone, MSN, RN]

A few states have tried that. It led to babies being fed stolen formula, adulterated formula, diluted formula, and homemade formula, not more breastfeeding.

Do you have any information or articles about this? It was my understanding that as a federal program, individual states could not just decide to withdraw a major component of it. I've never heard of individual states ever trying to get rid of formula distribution to WIC participants.

[txerrn6942]

Just a quick question from a non L&D/neo nurse..... When I had my babies 25 years ago, I was told we had an ABO incompatibility and that I needed to alternate breast/bottle feeding. I was not a nurse, and frankly didn't know better. I tried, but ended up bottle feeding. Is there any truth to the ABO incompatibility situation? I do realize that nursing/medicine has changed in the last 25 years....just wondering if this was an actual problem with breast feeding.

[LibraSunCNM, BSN, MSN, CNM]

Just a quick question from a non L&D/neo nurse..... When I had my babies 25 years ago, I was told we had an ABO incompatibility and that I needed to alternate breast/bottle feeding. I was not a nurse, and frankly didn't know better. I tried, but ended up bottle feeding. Is there any truth to the ABO incompatibility situation? I do realize that nursing/medicine has changed in the last 25 years....just wondering if this was an actual problem with breast feeding.

Nope, no truth to that whatsoever. The only connection I can make is that ABO incompatibility puts your baby at increased risk for jaundice, which some practitioners use as a reason to encourage supplementation with formula. But just for the blood types alone? That sounds crazy. But maybe other posters are familiar with this practice from years ago and I'm not.

[klone, MSN, RN]

I'm sorry they told you that. I'm surprised they did 25 years ago, they must have really been in the dark ages! When my older sister was born (45 years ago) my mom was told she could not breastfeed d/t ABO incompatibility. By the time I was born 5 years later (so, 40 years ago), they knew better and she was able to breastfeed me. I'm surprised to hear that some hospitals still practiced that, 15 years later.

[IrishIzCPNP, MSN, RN, APRN, NP]

Just a quick question from a non L&D/neo nurse..... When I had my babies 25 years ago I was told we had an ABO incompatibility and that I needed to alternate breast/bottle feeding. I was not a nurse, and frankly didn't know better. I tried, but ended up bottle feeding. Is there any truth to the ABO incompatibility situation? I do realize that nursing/medicine has changed in the last 25 years....just wondering if this was an actual problem with breast feeding.[/quote']

ABO incompatibility increases the risk for hyperbilirubinemia. That doesn't mean formula. It means work to establish breatfeeding and ensure it is going well and monitor baby.

I had a 34 weeker with a large hematoma from a vacuum extraction and abo incompatibility....he had everything going against him. He was 100% breastfed.

[IrishIzCPNP, MSN, RN, APRN, NP]

My mother BF all of her kids to 1 year. However she thought it was crazy that in the hospital they interrupted me in the middle of the night to feed the baby. Because in the 80s and 90s when she had kids, they gave the baby bottles of formula during the night to let the mother sleep. And clearly, it did not affect the breastfeeding relationship. Why has it become SUCH a huge issue now?[/quote']

We know through studies that one bottle can disrupt breastfeeding. One case of it going well isn't evidence that one bottle is fine. We also know that there are risks with formula. One mom having a good outcome doesn't make for evidence to what we should be doing.

http://www.naba-breastfeeding.org/images/Just%20One%20Bottle.pdf

http://www.co.missoula.mt.us/healthservices/EatSmart/pdfs/Infant%20Formula,%20Not%20Even%20A%20Drop.pdf

[wishiwereanurse, BSN, RN]

To be honest I thought rooming in was a great idea until I gave birth...a few times I wished someone would take the LO so that I can get rest esp after all that pushing during labor....

[Marymoomoo]

Do you have any information or articles about this? It was my understanding that as a federal program, individual states could not just decide to withdraw a major component of it. I've never heard of individual states ever trying to get rid of formula distribution to WIC participants.

You're correct. This hasn't happened.

WIC does not cover the full amount of formula needed in a month, and I'm not sure that it ever has. When their vouches run out, WIC participants have to find a way to pay for the rest of the formula that their baby needs.

WIC also doesn't routinely provide formula in the first month. Perhaps that is where the confusion lies? If a mother is formula feeding exclusively, she receives formula as soon as baby is signed up for WIC. If she is partially breastfeeding (and she wants a partially breastfeeding package), she doesn't get formula in the first month. Exclusively breastfeeding mothers never receive formula, but continue to receive food for themselves the entire first year (partially breastfeeding mothers do, too, but in lesser quantities). Exclusively breastfeeding mothers are also eligible for special supplies such as a full-size double electric breastpump if they're returning to work or school.

You can read more about the food packages here: TexasWIC.org - Food Packages

[hecallsmeDuchess]

When I had my baby some months ago, I told the doctor and nurses that I would be breast feeding and also supplementing with formula but curiously only the breast-feeding option was circled on the white board in my room. I told the nurses that my baby just kept crying as if she was hungry even after I had just taken her off the breast after 15 minutes on each side, I was told to keep breast feeding and that baby was getting fed so baby went back on the breast. After a while, I squeezed my breast to see if anything would come out and to make sure I wasn't suddenly losing it by insisting that my baby was hungry, nothing came out from both breasts but the nurses insisted that my baby was getting milk. No one listened when I asked if she could be fed formula, they kept saying to breast feed. Well, I was breast feeding but my child was still crying and had not slept. Finally, my husband and I decided that he would go buy some formula to feed our baby, we did and sure enough she relaxed and promptly fell asleep.

While I support breast feeding and its benefits, it's unfair to use ignore/passive-aggressive tactics on a new mom just to push breast feeding. I honestly feel there is a better way to get mothers on the 'breast feeding is best for baby' band-wagon; one way is to listen and then offer the best help needed by mom and baby at the time they need it.

[IrishIzCPNP, MSN, RN, APRN, NP]

When I had my baby some months ago I told the doctor and nurses that I would be breast feeding and also supplementing with formula but curiously only the breast-feeding option was circled on the white board in my room. I told the nurses that my baby just kept crying as if she was hungry even after I had just taken her off the breast after 15 minutes on each side, I was told to keep breast feeding and that baby was getting fed so baby went back on the breast. After a while, I squeezed my breast to see if anything would come out and to make sure I wasn't suddenly losing it by insisting that my baby was hungry, nothing came out from both breasts but the nurses insisted that my baby was getting milk. No one listened when I asked if she could be fed formula, they kept saying to breast feed. Well, I was breast feeding but my child was still crying and had not slept. Finally, my husband and I decided that he would go buy some formula to feed our baby, we did and sure enough she relaxed and promptly fell asleep. While I support breast feeding and its benefits, it's unfair to use ignore/passive-aggressive tactics on a new mom just to push breast feeding. I honestly feel there is a better way to get mothers on the 'breast feeding is best for baby' band-wagon; one way is to listen and then offer the best help needed by mom and baby at the time they need it.[/quote']

But see your post shows the big problem...lack of knowledge about breastfeeding. You should have gotten more support but it's clear you don't have a clear understanding of breatfeeding either. We need to push the support and removing formula is supposed to help push the support.

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

But see your post shows the big problem...lack of knowledge about breastfeeding. You should have gotten more support but it's clear you don't have a clear understanding of breatfeeding either. We need to push the support and removing formula is supposed to help push the support.

While breast feeding ids the "natural choice" it isn't everyone's cup of tea. Nor is a mother who is unsuccessful at breast feeding a failure as a parent. If a mother want to supplement formula fir her own child...the hospital, UNICEF, and the government should stay out of it.

I breast fed both of my children but it was MY CHOICE! But I had to stop my daughter at 7/8 weeks old.... I found myself pregnant with my son because she refused to breast feed....for almost 2 days she screamed so I called my pedi convinced there was something horribly wrong with her. He told me to buy a pregnancy test. I had to bottle feed her then she refused breast milk even on a bottle....my pedi told me some babies are very sensitive to the hormonal changes. She is a beautiful, intelligent, confident young lady.

To shame or bully someone into something is just plain wrong. To make our fellow women feel badly about themselves and not supporting each other because someone "believes" it's better is just another step towards a policed state and loss of our freedoms. Plain and simple...removing formula, refusing to give babies pacifiers, forcing breast feeding down someones throat because of personal beliefs making mothers sign papers that they are a bad parent and hurting their baby when they want to have their baby returned to the nursery so they can be afforded what little rest their BRIEF DRIVE THROUGH hospital stay affords them is just plan wrong.

Period.