Our OB office has started handing out formula samples to us at every visit now that we're 3rd trimester. I plan to breastfeed and only suppliment if he's having nutrition problems. I know they do it to try to be helpful, but I thought it was weird to be getting them this early! I'd expect it from the hospital, but from the OBGYN? If they try to offer us anymore, I'm going to politely decline and tell them we have enough free samples. I'm not planning to use them except as a last resort.
What do you ladies think about getting formula samples from the OBGYN? How about getting them from the hospital when they've been told that I intend to EBF?
Re: Formula Samples
They've been giving me ready to use bottles. All we'd have to do is unscrew the top of the bottle and put on the provided nipple. They try to make it as easy to possible to grab and use so we'd be more likely to buy that brand again. They do it for a marketing ploy.
I like the idea of donating unused samples though. The oldest ones don't expire until June, and we'd probably know by March or April if we're really going to use them or not.
I would find it slightly offensive. It's like they are saying I won't be able to or I probably won't even try. Rude.
They should at least ask if you are interested in them...
What's funny about that is they give the disclaimer while they hand the samples to us that the practice isn't necessarily advocating formula feeding over other types nor that they are promoting a certain brand. She said companies give them the samples to give out, so they do to get rid of them.
If nothing else, I may start declining just so it isn't being wasted on us. Knowing us, we wouldn't get around to donating it before it expired.