Some hospitals getting in way of breast-feeding

Re: Some hospitals getting in way of breast-feeding

The hospital where I had my kids gave us samples of formula. Big deal! I breastfed Emily for 13 months. To breastfeed or not is a PERSONAL choice. No woman should be bullied into breastfeeding or into bottle feeding, and I do not see how hospitals giving out free samples of formula is endorsing it. They are allowing mothers to choose how they feed their babies. Also, the nurses at the hospital where I gave birth would ask if I wanted them to feed Emily or Travis formula throughout the night instead of bringing them to me to breastfeed, but I always declined and said to bring them to me. Neither Emily nor Travis roomed in with us after birth, and Emily loved breastfeeding and did great and Travis did not. I think breastfeeding is a wonderful thing, and I encourage everyone to try it, but it is not for everyone, and no one should be made to feel guilty for not breastfeeding or made to feel like they HAVE to breastfeed. Eliminating the options listed in this article makes it so that moms would not have the full picture when it comes to feeding their babies and could make it seem as though breastfeeding was the only option.
I remember when I decided to bottle feed Travis. There was one nurse at our pediatrician's office who gave me a really hard time about it. She went on and on and really gave me what for about stopping breastfeeding, even though Travis was not gaining weight and I was nursing him for hours and hours each night, literally. The pros and cons of each should be presented, and then the mother should be allowed to choose. It's that simple. No situation should be manipulated in favor of breastfeeding or formula feeding.

Re: Some hospitals getting in way of breast-feeding

I do see how hospitals giving out formula can get in the way of breastfeeding. Some mothers haven't yet decided, are unsure about their decision to breastfeed, try and decide it's too hard the first day, etc. and having the formula there I think would encourage many women to just throw in the towel and give formula.

At the hospital I gave birth at, they asked if I wanted the formula or breastfeeding diaper bag. So it was my choice. They were also very pro-breastfeeding and were always there for advice and the lactation specalists there were wonderful as well. So my hospital gets high marks for promoting breastfeeding!

Re: Some hospitals getting in way of breast-feeding

Having the formula in the room available for the patient to TAKE HOME (not ready to feed at the moment) is not pushing formula feeding on Mothers. It's only FORCING formula on a person if she does not have a mind of her own. If Mom's don't want the formula bags, have the RN take them out of the room. Simple fix.

"A study suggested they are smarter than formula-fed babies, too."

I have no doubts about the intelligence of my BOTTLE FED children. However, I have SERIOUS reservations of the intelligence of the "researcher" who even suggests this.

Re: Some hospitals getting in way of breast-feeding

I agree with you that there's a difference between having it there and forcing it on someone. But I still think having it there will influence some. And I didn't read the article so I obviously didn't know about the smarter comment. I have one child out of four that did not nurse (and I did not pump for) for many reasons and he is a VERY smart child! He is in the gifted program at school but I guess he would be in college by now had he nursed!

And let me add that I don't think hospitals should stop giving out the formula. I think it should be there for the moms that choose it, whatever their reason may be. But I would support a program like my hospital does where they don't just bring it to you but ask you first.

Re: Some hospitals getting in way of breast-feeding

If you are interested in BF, a sample gift of formula is not going to change your decision. However, if you are on the fence, NON BIASED education needs to be done quickly for the patient and her HUNGRY infant. That is why pregnant women need to be PERSONALLY RESPONSIBLE to get the information they need for their decision and make it BEFORE they get to the hospital. Perhaps this needs to be included in prenatal visits along with all of the other health questions. I know when I interviewed my pediatrician, this was one of the things he mentioned to look at and make a decision. No pressure either way... just look at the info and make an informed decision BEFORE the child arrives.

Re: Some hospitals getting in way of breast-feeding

I agree with you but there are so many women who are on the fence when they arrive at the hospital to give birth. Also, most have been handed formula at their OB's office from their first prenatal visit as well and I don't see that practice getting bashed. I'm sure it also has a lot to do with women choosing formula over breastfeeding.

Re: Some hospitals getting in way of breast-feeding

Yeah it bothers me a bit, I think it should only be given if the mother asks for it. Even when I got my "breastfeeding" diaper bag from the hospital, it had a nice big can of formula. I tried giving it to the nurses there but they were like "Oh keep it in case you need it, you never know when you might want to get out of the house." That really pissed me off. I ended up selling it, if someone really wants or needs it I have no trouble giving it to them, but I have no use for it. If I'd have wanted that crap I would have asked for it, and why the heck was it in a breastfeeding bag? Why not give me a pump instead?

Re: Some hospitals getting in way of breast-feeding

Please explain to me how including formula samples in the bag is forcing mothers to choose formula over breast-milk? Does that also mean that because I got Pampers in my bag that that is the only brand of diapers I will use? And what about the Desitin sample? God forbid I should A&D ointment instead (which I did)! Including samples for the mother simply increases her options. It's not forcing her to DO anything.

Yes, breast feeding is something personal that mothers-to-be should decide upon before their child is born. But then again, some of us tried and tried and tried and it just didn't work out. In my case, I HAD to put Drew on formula - I wasn't producing enough milk and he actually started losing weight. Because of those problems, I didn't even try with Ally because she was so small to start with (even though I wanted to). I wasn't forced to use formula, but it was a choice I made - an informed decision. And it had nothing to do with the samples I received or didn't receive.

When I was at the hospital with Tisha this past January, the hospital was wonderful! Tisha told them that she wanted to breastfeed and the lactation consultant was in her room 5 or 6 times a day for the 3 days she was there. And there was still formula in the bags they gave her (2 different types of bags, too). No one pressured her one way or the other and they were supportive of her decision - period.

As far as breastfed being smarter than bottle fed - that's a bunch of horse manure! Both of my kids are smart. Drew's IQ is 135 (although you wouldn't know it from his failing grades), yet he was bottle fed. Imagine that! Of course, they would probably blame his grades on formula. Ally makes good grades, too. Whoever did that research twisted their results. It's a known fact that most research can be turned to read the way you want it.

That researcher was probably forumla fed!

Re: Some hospitals getting in way of breast-feeding

That is exactly why I point out that women need to be PERSONALLY responsible, do their research and make their own decision BEFORE getting to the hospital. If you have done your research, you can stand up for what you want. It seems people can decide on how to decorate their nursery, but can't do the research for one of the most important decisions for their children.

I was NEVER handed formula at my OB's. Never. Prenatal vitamin samples, yes. Formula never.

Re: Some hospitals getting in way of breast-feeding

You should have chucked the formula can right in the garbage to make a point. Perhaps talking with the lactation consultant or the nurse manager of the OB unit you could make changes in the "Breastfeeding" diaper bags. Maybe you could suggest a pump instead of the formula.

And as a Mom who did bottle feed, I really don't appreciate your calling it CRAP. It is not crap. I had no choice but to bottle feed my child as I could not breastfeed while on LIFE SAVING medications. It is just a different choice than what you made. It is your choice NOT to have formula anywhere in your house, which we all know and respect. But you need to not "down" formula because it's not YOUR choice. You need to respect the choice of others who did bottle feed. I think breastfeeding is a wonderful thing. But people who bottle feed formula are NOT the "Anti-Christ". It is just a different choice, this is America and we are allowed to make different choices.

Re: Some hospitals getting in way of breast-feeding

Re: Some hospitals getting in way of breast-feeding

I didn't mean to offend you with my comment, Kim...it's just for me, it is crap because it is useless to me. I understand it's not crap to everybody because some people need it, but I don't, so for me it's junk. I know it's not junk to some though

Re: Some hospitals getting in way of breast-feeding

WOW. I bottle fed Alyssa (no questioning her intelligence) I got tons of formula to take home (between cans & RTF bottles) from both the Hospital bag and my midwife.

However - With Kaitlyn & Peyton I NEVER saw a can of formula. Once my Midwife knew I was BF she never brought it up (other than to ask how it was going) There was none in my room and none sent home.

I got free samples in the mail from formula companies but I just donated those to the food pantry.

I guess I don't see the big deal. The only thing I agree with is if the mom WANTS to BF but for whatever reason is having issues having formula in the room might cause her to give up sooner out of pure frustration or exhaustion.

Re: Some hospitals getting in way of breast-feeding

It was hard for me to get the hang of it with Emily, but I stuck with it. I had plenty of people telling me to just give her a bottle. The hospital where I had Emily has lactation consultants, and my friends and my sister and my husband were all very supportive. The bottom line is, whatever a woman chooses, it's her choice. There is no crime in bottle feeding a baby.

Re: Some hospitals getting in way of breast-feeding

I got some at the hospital with my oldest, but not the youngest. I signed up for the free samples and got tons of the stuff with Kate. I gave most of it away and the rest I fed to a sick cat. Worked like a charm too. People baby formula is pretty expensive, but kitten formula is through the roof!

Having a lot of formula didn't effect my decision or determination to breastfeed at all. Having the kitchen staff call up and accuse me of not feeding my baby really irrated the heck out of me though.

Becca, if they give you formula this time around just save it for the WIC office or any sick animals you may have. It heals up sick cats quite well.

Re: Some hospitals getting in way of breast-feeding

Tammy, where did you deliver?

Re: Some hospitals getting in way of breast-feeding

I had both Emily and Travis in Newnan at Newnan Hospital, which is now Piedmont Newnan.

Re: Some hospitals getting in way of breast-feeding

Okay, as I am delivering at Northside, which is why I ask. Thankfully, my doc knows my wishes, the practice knows my wishes, and since then, I haven't seen nairy a thing of formula.

I was in Newnan on Sunday!