"We'd never tolerate the thought of hospitals giving out coupons for Big Macs on the cardiac unit," said Dr. Bartick, an internist. Since lack of breastfeeding is clearly associated with multiple adverse health outcomes in children and mothers, distribution of formula marketing materials by hospitals and health care providers has been recognized as unethical since at least 1981, when the World Health Organization approved the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes.
Breastfeeding is a commitment. In all my years in the NICU, I have yet to see a mother give up breastfeeding because she was given a free sample of formula & a diaper bag.
Moms who are unable to breastfeed or have no desire to breastfeed should be supported in their decisions to bottle feed as much as the mom who breastfeeds. They did not arrive at their decisions hastily. We all have different gifts and/or talents to offer our children, & we should celebrate those differences. That's what makes us all unique.
To take away a service that supports a portion of the population seems to me to be sending the message that "we think you are a second rate parent because your choice is different than mine."
To take away a service that supports a portion of the population seems to me to be sending the message that "we think you are a second rate parent because your choice is different than mine."
The *only* reason that the "service" of dispensing samples of formula exists is so that formula companies can sell more formula. It's not about "support" at all.
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
I think it would be supportive to have it available, as needed but unadvertised and NOT discussed by staff unless it becomes necessary. There ARE cases where supplementation and/or formula ARE medically necessary. But these are really relatively rare. If a mom has her mind made up to bottlefeed, despite educating her about breastfeeding, I refuse to make her feel guilty or wrong for her choice.
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
Breastfeeding is a commitment. In all my years in the NICU, I have yet to see a mother give up breastfeeding because she was given a free sample of formula & a diaper bag.
Moms who are unable to breastfeed or have no desire to breastfeed should be supported in their decisions to bottle feed as much as the mom who breastfeeds. They did not arrive at their decisions hastily. We all have different gifts and/or talents to offer our children, & we should celebrate those differences. That's what makes us all unique.
To take away a service that supports a portion of the population seems to me to be sending the message that "we think you are a second rate parent because your choice is different than mine."
However, some are missing the point of the law. It's not about shame, judgement, or support/non-support. It's about making hospitals accountable to quit doing the formula companies marketing at a sensitive (at least) time. What if ambulance drivers were asked/required to sign up vehicular traumas with lawyers?
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
We should not be their marketing tool, anyhow. I don't see your analogy to the ambulance scenario. We are not deciding not to provide formula based on need/choice. But what I see this means is we, as nurses and doctors will:
Not giving out formula company-embossed diaper bags in the hospitals or doctor's offices
Not be carrying around pens that have their logo on them
Not be wearing tags with their logo on them
Will not be allowing them (formula reps) to buy us meals or give other "goodies" to listen to their spiel......
Are we ready for that? Personally I am! However.......
From what I see, even with such a law, formula would still be available for medical need or mother's choice. Providing formula for medical need or choice is NOT being anyone's marketing tool or dummy. It's not even about marketing. It could be prescribed even, if need by, by a pediatrician, if there were medical need for a breastfeeding baby (I often see our peds write this order, even down to number of ML to give per 2-3 hours).
I mean, there are ways to comply easily, and yet still have formula available to those needing or requesting it that do not involve "marketing"!
From what I see, most of us are not missing the point at all. We get it. And we agree.
We have to remember, in seeing these responses, people feel emotional about their feeding choices and so you will get anecdotal posts about guilt or shame involved in them. IMO, there should be no "guilting or shaming" any mother into breastfeeding, ever.
I support it, too. I think we should have formula on hand as needed, but I would be very happy NOT to peddle it as a choice to people who are already choosing to breastfeeding, or are undecided.
Exactly. I see this digressing into a breastfeeding versus bottle feeding post. This is all about marketing, not whether the choices moms make for feeding are right or wrong.
:angryfire I totally disagree with you on this one. I am the mother of three and tried to breast feed knowing it is supposed to be the "best" . I thank god daily for formula because my daughter had to stay an extra 3 days in the hospital due to weight lose because of breast feeding. I continued to breast feed for 3 months. Even then I was only getting 1oz from both breasts combined after pumping for 45min each breast. Some people are just not ment to breast feed no matter what they try.:angryfire
:angryfire I totally disagree with you on this one. I am the mother of three and tried to breast feed knowing it is supposed to be the "best" . I thank god daily for formula because my daughter had to stay an extra 3 days in the hospital due to weight lose because of breast feeding. I continued to breast feed for 3 months. Even then I was only getting 1oz from both breasts combined after pumping for 45min each breast. Some people are just not ment to breast feed no matter what they try.:angryfire
Who exactly are you disagreeing with? I'm pretty sure they aren't doing away with formula anytime soon, merely not marketing formula to new moms via free diaper bags.
And technically, all women are "meant to breastfeed" or they wouldn't have breasts. :chuckle
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
:angryfire I totally disagree with you on this one. I am the mother of three and tried to breast feed knowing it is supposed to be the "best" . I thank god daily for formula because my daughter had to stay an extra 3 days in the hospital due to weight lose because of breast feeding. I continued to breast feed for 3 months. Even then I was only getting 1oz from both breasts combined after pumping for 45min each breast. Some people are just not ment to breast feed no matter what they try.:angryfire
First off- it's a sensitive issue with me. I BF my DD, thinking all was okay (other than a fussy baby). Went to the ped after one week and my 8lb 11oz baby was 7lb 2 oz (despite nursing every hour or so) I nursed, supplemented, pumped (about 1/4 oz total), took fenugreek, tried Reglan, ate plenty of protein, etc for 12 weeks and had to stop. When my DS was born I started the Reglan right away, drank Mother's Milk tea, took Fenugreek, pumped between feedings, drank about a gallon of water a day. When he was a week old he was jaundiced, dehydrated, not peeing, and hadn't had a bowel movement in 2 days. I started formula and didn't even experience engorgement or leaking when I quit BF cold turkey.
It's a great disservice to assume anyone can breastfeed. I took breastfeeding classes, Bradley classes, and joined La Leche League. I saw several lactation consultants. Next time I have a baby I will probably nurse initially and see if if baby is satisfied, but will most likely plan on bottlefeeding.
My question is, will I have to bring my own formula to the hospital? Will I have to pay hospital prices for some formula? What will I do as a bottlefeeding mom in the hospital?
nicunana
90 Posts
Breastfeeding is a commitment. In all my years in the NICU, I have yet to see a mother give up breastfeeding because she was given a free sample of formula & a diaper bag.
Moms who are unable to breastfeed or have no desire to breastfeed should be supported in their decisions to bottle feed as much as the mom who breastfeeds. They did not arrive at their decisions hastily. We all have different gifts and/or talents to offer our children, & we should celebrate those differences. That's what makes us all unique.
To take away a service that supports a portion of the population seems to me to be sending the message that "we think you are a second rate parent because your choice is different than mine."