How to keep nurses from giving new baby formula

Todd&Laura · July 2012

When I had my son, we had MAJOR issues with the nurses pushing formula. I had one extremely supportive nurse who helped me with breastfeeding and my lactation consultant, but most of the nurses (especially the night nurses) really pushed formula. I mean, pushed to the point that they were crossing out my feeds and writing "attempt" instead on the input/output chart and pushing a formula bottle up next to my boob when I tried to feed my son.

After this experience, I sent a long written complaint to the hospital and was contacted to discuss the matter. I received an apology, but am really nervous that I am going to have a similar situation again. Changing hospitals is not an option, as I love my doctors and lactation consultant. My doctors only deliver at this hospital and my LC works there. Can you give me some ideas of how I can make it extremely clear that this new baby is not to have any formula? I don't want to be "that mom", but I also don't want to feel the way I did last time.

Jenny952 · July 2012

Wow, I'm sorry you had such a negative experience. I can't imagine having pushy nurses like that to deal with. My DD had to go to the NICU after she was born and they were SOOOO pro-bf! It was awesome. It sounds like you were really adament about not giving LO formula, so you'll need to do that again. You could also try keeping your LO in your room so you can tend to him/her without getting your nurses involved. Could you ask your doctors for advice on how to handle this issue?

Todd&Laura · July 2012

My lactation consultant and I have remained close since my son was born and I have been meeting up with her about once a week to walk. I think I will talk to her about how I am feeling tomorrow. She is a hospital employee, but she knows how my experience was and recognizes the issues in the pp department.

Honestly, it is beyond me that they have this issue there. When I had my son, I never expected to run into trouble with pp nurses pushing formula. I just took it for granted that they would support me in bfing. It is so obvious that it is the preferable choice!!

SunAndRain · July 2012

Oh, I fought tooth and nail not to give my baby formula when I was in the hospital. You just have to be confident in your position as the mother and in your knowledge that breastfeeding is best and it is what you have chosen for YOUR daughter. And unless and until they can give you a medical reason why formula is necessary beyond "it'll be easier..." then no one may give your daughter formula.

My milk hadn't come in by day 4, my daughter had to be admitted to the ICU for jaundice and she had lost weight. It wasn't until the second day of weight loss that I finally agreed to supplement her but ONLY after I breast fed her for 20 minutes. By then she had been admitted to the NICU and I would have done anything to get her discharged from that hospital.

I also complained at the hospital because on day 3 I was supposed to see the lactation consultant but she never stopped by. Apparently she went home sick early in the day, which is understandable, but my frustration was that I NEEDED support and they should have had a backup. After all, I was struggling with breastfeeding and the health of my daughter was deteriorating because of it.

None of the ICU nurses were supportive and a couple were downright nasty. But I held my ground. I didn't bother trying to reason with them. I just said no and ignored their comments and attempts to sway me. They were their to give the treatment prescribed by the pediatrician, not to share their opinions so as far as I was concerned they could shove it.

We did have a night nurse in the NICU who was simply amazing. She was the silver lining to the whole experience and actually sat with DH and I and gave us a ton of helpful pointers on caring for our baby.

lanbob · July 2012

Wow! I would tell the nurse NO formula ever and please pass it on at shift change. If they ask why you can explain your previous experience. I'm sorry that happened to you.

alimaried · July 2012

If they are that blatantly out of line again, I'd say you should go ahead and be 'that mom' with no shame about it because they obviously aren't in the most rational frame of mind, so who cares how they view you! Also, if possible, request a different nurse, perhaps one with more bf experience

Todd&Laura · July 2012

All good tips, ladies!! Thanks again for your input:)

sjones10 · July 2012

When DS2 was born 3 weeks ago I was trying to BF and had support from most of our nurses but did have a night nurse that told me we would have to switch to bottle feeds overnight cause they had 6 patients per nurse and didn't have the staff to come help me tube feed my son with formula. We had to supplement with formula because of his jaundice and 10% weight loss. I told her no I wasn't going to do that and I would do it on my own. I sure did do it on my own that night. I complained to the charge nurse who was very upset that this nurse did this.

red240chic · July 2012

When I had my son, they asked if I wanted to BF. When I said yes, they put a sign on my door, above my bed and on the bassinet saying no bottles, no formula, no pacis. Maybe you could print your own, and if problems arise, tape them everywhere!

tokenhoser · July 2012

The magic words in a medical setting:

I do not consent.

I do not consent to formula.

If they continue doing whatever you have explicitly not consented to, they open themselves up to being sued. Generally, it's a phrase that stops doctors and nurses in their tracks. Say it loud, be "that mom", and stand up for yourself and your baby.

Obviously, there are times when formula may be medically indicated, but that should be a call involving a doctor and time to make a decision, not lazy pushy nurses.

aniflower21 · July 2012

That is so not cool. I don't have any advice because at my hospital the nurses were very hands off when it came to feeding my baby. They would ask if she was eating and that's about it. The only time DD was away from us was when she was checked by Dr. I can't imagine having someone come in & try to feed or help me feed unless I asked. Just ask them to leave. Good luck!

drcolleen · July 2012

Along with a statement that you do not consent, maybe make it a bit humorous and take some newborn shirts and write "booby baby" or the such on the front so that if the baby has to go to the nursery for anything - hearing screen, nightly weight, etc- it is still obvious what your desires are without checking the chart. You can also request they write BREASTFEEDING ONLY on the card they put in the bassinet so that anyone looking to see which baby they are taking also sees the reminder.

greeneyed_bride · July 2012

What??? Oh my gosh, I would be livid!! I would maybe talk to your lactation consultant, OB and pediatrician beforehand and see if they have advice or can talk to the nurses. I know that the nurses at the hospital where I delivered are scared of my OB (she's AMAZING to her patients and will be really hard on anyone she thinks isn't taking good enough care of her patients), so if she were to tell the nurses to absolutely not push formula, it would mean a lot more coming from her than from me. I don't know about your OB, LC, or pedi, but since they've probably dealt with all of the nurses before, the nurses may be more likely to listen to them.

Seriously, though, I have never heard of nurses being such jerks about breastfeeding!

Want a personalized experience?

How to keep nurses from giving new baby formula

Re: How to keep nurses from giving new baby formula

Choose Another Board

Search Boards