Breastfeeding Question for L&D nurses

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My pediatrician isn't very supportive of my bf efforts. From the beginning she has been trying to make me supplement with formula. DD is growing very well w/o any formula and I think she just doesn't approve of bf. We went in for the baby's two month appt today and the pediatrician had no complaints about her growth but she did ask me what formula was I giving her. She looked very surprised when I said none at all and she actually said "Your STILL bf?" Uh yes I am...she is only 2months old!

I am looking for a new pediatrician of course.

Anyway I am not making this post to toot my own horn or knock anyone who does not breastfeed. Rather I was doing some Internet research and I came across this statment in regards to nurses and doctors practices in regard to breastfeeding and I want to know if any of you experienced ob/gyn nurses have witnessed this. When I was in the hospital I found the nurses to be really helpful and they did not try to interfere with my bf efforts at all. Rather it was the CNA's (no offense I was once a CNA too) who kept telling me to send my baby to the nursery and to give her formula because she was "hungry" when there were no nurses around.

Thanks in advance!

BTW, this is from the ProMom website.

Doctors and nurses charged with the care of post-partum women and their newborns are showered with gifts, including a full year's supply of free formula to any nurse or doctor with a new baby. This is a particularly brilliant marketing gimmick, since this greatly increases the chances that the nurses' and doctors' children will be formula-fed and a health care professional who has formula-fed his or her own children is hardly going to be able educate his or her patients about the dangers of artificial feeding.

Another gimmick is a contest with valuable prizes -- run by a formula company -- to see which of the nurses in the post-partum ward can collect the most formula can tops. Obviously, this puts the nurses' interest (to win the contest, she must have more patients who feed formula and do not breastfeed) directly in conflict with the health interests of his or her patients.

Formula advertising directed to parents is rampant in hospitals and doctors' offices on prescription pads, pens, growth charts, pamphlets and posters. Doctors and hospitals routinely send personal information about pregnant women to the formula companies so that direct mail advertisements can be directed to them. This can have tragic results. as the mothers of stillborn babies continue to receive cases of formula in the mail for months after they have buried their children. Those formula companies that have been unable to penetrate the medical community as effectively, such as Nestle-Carnation and Gerber, advertise their products directly to the public on TV shows directed at new parents and in parenting magazines such as "Parents," "Child," "American Baby," and "Parenting," again, all in violation of the WHO Code.

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Yes, find yourself a new doc.

I have found that older folks do still go with the information they received 30 years ago about formula being superior to breast milk. One of the nurses I used to work with who is 55 told a new mom that her baby needed formula because her milk wasn't in yet . . . :rolleyes: umm, the colustrum is there for a good reason and if you don't nurse your baby, then you won't make alot of milk.

There are just alot of old wive's tales regarding this issue. I think you are doing fine - just find a more knowledgable doc.

Congratulations on your baby by the way.

steph

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The only hospitals i've worked in are in the process of becoming "baby friendly" hospitals which DO NOT promote formula feeding unless the parents choose to formula feed. Before my hospital started the quest to becoming "baby friendly" we provided formula to any mother that asked, and yes our free diaper bags that we gave to parents did contain free formula. We no longer do that. I have not seen "incentive" programs for nurses who can collect the most formula lids or anything of the sort. As a nurse, I ABSOLUTELY would not push formula feeding just to benefit myself. I would hope other nurses out there caring for new moms and babies could say the same(i'm confident most would).

I have seen pediatricians that don't promote breastfeeding. I think its sad considering the benefits of breastfeeding for both mom and baby. I think its great you're standing your ground and continuing to breastfeed your baby. More power to you!!!:pumpiron:

Having said that I do know nurses who accepted free formula for their babies from the formula company rep. I really don't see anything wrong with it. The free formula didn't effect how the nurses cared for their patients. I don't believe it changed how they supported their breastfeeding patients. I'm glad your experience with the nurses in the hospital was positive, that's how it should be.:heartbeat

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

You have every right to find a dr who supports your breastfeeding efforts.

Good luck to you.

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Specializes in Looking for a career in NICU.

I had a preemie, and one of the first things they asked me, "Are you going to breastfeed?"

I said, "Absolutely!"

They said, "Good, because we spent alot of time with Mom's that don't want to breastfeed preemies, but you would have to work here to understand how much better the breastfed babies do."

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STAT!! New pediatrician!

Also, get in touch with La Leche League. Had I not read and read and read their book "The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding" while pregnant and while nursing, I would have given up. BF is natural but it doesn't always come naturally. And no one really encouraged me to BF, except hub, but I had made up my mind and did it for about 2 years with each child. I know of lots of women who did it longer than that.

You just do what is right for you and your little one and fooey on that pediatrician, who ought to go back to school, since she hasn't learned muc of anything about infant nutrition, it seems.

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Specializes in NICU.

Just an FYI -

That info from the ProMom website about healthcare workers in the obstetrics field getting a free year of formula is a thing of the past.

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Specializes in psych,emergency,telemetry,home health.

i just want to share to you this even if i'm not an l&d rn.i breastfed my 2 boys.firstly, they were not born in us and they came in here at the age of 4 and 1 1/2.i breastfed my first baby for more than 2 yrs.full breastfeeding until almost a yr.i stopped working when i gave birth and when i was about to work again,there came my problem.i would leave him for job interview and he would not even dare taste formula milk.when i get home,he would be very hungry as i breastfeed him.the 2nd baby,i did breastfeeding until 10 months although at the start, it was already mixed feeding because of our previous experience.it is really advisable to breastfeed because of the antibodies that they can get from us and i also witnessed how they love me and the bond is really there.but there is always a cons for every pros so it really depends on you.goodluck!

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Specializes in OB.

Regarding the article quoted - where are all these goodies supposedly passed on to the nurses and why haven't I gotten my share?? All I've ever seen are pens and notepads - I'm not selling myself that cheap! Yes, this is written with tongue firmly in cheek, but I truly don't think many of us are naive enough to be that easily persuaded to push formula.

As for your doctor, while I think changing to a pediatrician more supportive of you is probably a good idea, I'd also suggest asking your current doctor what her reasoning is in suggesting formula when your baby is obviously thriving without it. May give her the seed of something to think about if she has to verbalize it.

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I actually can't seen to even get a new Enfamil steth tag. I had covered the logo with matching flower stickers and my peds pts loved the bunny. One used to sign "bunny" whenever it was time for assessment. After my steth was stolen she would sign "where bunny?" I was more angry about that tag being stolen than the expensive scope! I guess if I still did couplet care I might get one but even 4 years ago there was a decline in the rep visits. I honestly think the last time I talked to reps was when they started adding ARA/DHA! When I had my baby even the aide was a great BF supporter/teacher (but my baby was the best) I did get a diaper bag but they've become rather discreet, too. 3 cans mailed from Similac went right to the food pantry box 2 given from Enfamil went to a friend. Oh and one of my peds is a very experienced nurser! Everyone there says Oh, good! You're breastfeeding.

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Specializes in primary care, pediatrics, OB/GYN, NICU.

Hi, I have worked as a nurse for many years and also worked several years for WIC where breastfeeding was truly encouraged. I breastfed all three of my kids as well, and only wish I had been able to for longer (I rushed back to work and knew nothing about pumping 15 years ago!) Anyway, I started working on an OB/LD unit a few months ago. The nurses are real good about not pushing formula and supporting Mom's who want to breasfeed. We don't give out free formula or items with formula company names. However, I was shocked when I heard one of our female pediatricians tell a patient "don't even try to breastfeed if you aren't going to keep it up at home - I don't want you stressing yourself out!" This doctor pulled me aside later and told me all about what a horrible experience she had had when she tried to breastfeed. Obviously she was imposing her personal experience and opinion on patients. Please find a doctor who is supportive of you.

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Sorry your ped is an a$$. I've never heard of one discouraging bfing but I'm sure they're out there.

I have never heard of all that free stuff for nurses either. And me and my non nurse friends have never recieved free cases of formula after we had our babies.I feel cheated!! (joking!)

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