Opinions.....

cateyes543 · February 2014

So I was wasting time instead of working browsing the bump (gasp) and came across this article

https://blog.thebump.com/2014/02/19/should-hospitals-ban-formula-from-the-maternity-ward/

Basically the article is saying that formula should not be allowed to be used in the hospital when a baby is born because it decreases the chance moms will BF/continue to BF. This seems like a horrible idea to me. While I know the importance of BF (my job is working with pregnant moms until their baby turns 2), moms have the right to choose. I work with many moms who can't breastfeed for many reasons ranging from addictions to HIV to just not wanting to for personal reasons and they should not be forced to BF (IMO) just because they would not have access to formula.

What do you ladies think of taking formula out of hospitals? Opinions????

[Deleted User] · February 2014

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[Deleted User] · February 2014

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anitad84 · February 2014

That is insane. I tried to breastfeed when DD was born, but couldn't(flat nipples). I tried the nipple shield thingamabobs and anything else I could find. Nothing helped. It was an absolutely horrible experience for me, and for her. When we do hopefully get our next BFP, I am gung ho on trying to at least breastfeed in the first couple days for the sake of colostrum. But the second it gets to be too much for me or the new LO, I'm done and formula can take over. If that happens in the hospital, then so be it. There is NO WAY formula should be taken out of hospitals.

MoreThanSparrows08 · February 2014

I agree that it's mom's right to choose, so I don't think it should be taken out of hospitals altogether. I do, however, believe that each hospital needs to create it's own program to encourage new moms to BF, and they should make sure that when a mom does choose to EBF, they DO NOT give formula without the mother's consent. With my first, I told the hospital I wanted to EBF. DS was groggy from the birth and wasn't interested in eating. I tried nursing and he just didn't want to wake up. I tried everything the nurses suggested and he just wasn't hungry. So instead of the nurses being patient and waiting for him to wake up and be hungry enough to eat, they bottle fed him in the nursery without my consent. I was so pissed, and I made sure not to go to that hospital for the birth of my second son.

Long story short, I think hospitals should highly recommend and encourage moms to BF, and should only give formula when A) mom chooses to formula feed or

the baby is not nursing correctly or often enough AND the mom consents to supplementing with formula. Never should the hospital give formula without mom's consent.

KatzKiss · February 2014

When DS was born, his stomach was terribly distended. The only way to remedy it was to push the gas out by feeding him formula since I couldn't produce enough yet to do it myself. He was in pain! Thanks to formula, he didn't have to suffer long.

meld42 · February 2014

I think everyone just gets to this hyper judgmental state when it comes to breast feeding. An outright ban on formula is absolutely ridiculous! While I can see how easy access to formula can make it easier to give up in breast feeding in those early days, if someone wants to breast feed they're not going to give up just because it's available! I'm imagining that there's a lot more thought that goes into deciding not to breast feed.. And I second the motion that it is just going to make mothers feel like crap if they can't breast feed for any reason!

In the same vein, I think there could be something done to try to increase the number of moms who decide to stick with breast feeding.. But I think it should just be increased education. That way the mom is armed with knowledge and can make an informed decision.

I've had a few experiences with women who claimed they weren't producing enough, but didn't want to try to increase supply by changing their bad diet or follow any of the advice given by their lactation expert... But I think that's an odd situation/ the woman I'm thinking of is a victim of everything and I think she just wanted to whine about something else. EVERYTHING was just the worst with her pregnancy and her baby.

I can't help but think that in those early days, when emotions run high, if you had someone really giving you great education on things you can do to help breast feed it could be an inspiration/confidence boost!

DoubleUp8 · February 2014

Ths author is described as "the Editorial Assistant at TheBump.com with an affinity for weird news and celebrity gossip", so this article is really and opinion piece not a scientific piece.

I wish the bump was more clear about the pieces they write. Some authors have no authority or experience to back you their statements, but the articles are written or presented as fact. Many women will just accept what they read with out double checking the source and could be miss led by the information.

AlfiesMOM · February 2014

E had jaundice and would not latch, I have THREE lactation nurses trying to help me and she refused. I had to get fluid in her or they were going to have to put her under the lights. So for the first day of her life she had formula while I got pumping worked out. Its very hard to BF and there a lot of situations where it doesn't work, esp. right away! Taking formula out would be a horrible choice!

RayRay007 · February 2014

kmfred said:

HAHA Taking formula out of hospitals. What a fucking joke. Did it ever occur to any asshole that some moms can't produce? And shit like this just makes them feel ten times more guilty that they are not being a good mom. I work with moms every day who struggle to produce even half of an oz. There is absolutely nothing wrong with giving your baby formula. It is a parent's choice. This is just ridiculous I'm sorry to get bitchy but it pisses me off.

Eat a snickers, you sound hangry.

mommy2C · February 2014

This is like opening up Pandora's box lol. I couldn't breast feed due to my own health issues and you know what? My dd is freakin awesome. I think there should be support for both breast and formula feeding moms. After all, what is important is that baby is well nourished and everyone involved is happy and healthy.

RayRay007 · February 2014

I didn't read the article or all of the responses and I'm not going to go on a long rant one way or another. I will say I don't think moms should be handed formula as a matter of course the minute they have a baby (like, goodie bags in the hospital). This is a very touchy subject so I'm leaving it at that.

[Deleted User] · February 2014

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nikiz628 · February 2014

I BF til DS was 16 months. My sister only made it 3 weeks in with her DS. My cousin absolutely refused to even try, it wasn't what she wanted to do. I don't think they should remove formula from hospitals because some moms just don't want to BF, and that's perfectly fine. And for those moms who struggle with latching, lactation, etc...imagine how much added stress that would put on them knowing "Hey, there's no formula here for my kid to drink as a supplementation."

BF/FF is such a battle between moms and I never understood why. BF if you want. FF if you want. Do both if you want. As long as you are feeding your kid, why does it matter????

JocelynB0911 · February 2014

lissydee said:
I work on a Baby Friendly unit. We do not give out formula samples to our patients. We keep our formula locked up and sign each bottle out. On admission we ask moms what their feeding preferences are--breast, bottle (formula) or both. If they say bottle or both we ask them if they ever considered breastfeeding and/or if they have any concerns about breastfeeding and the logistics. We do as much education as we can.

If a mom says she wants to breast feed, then we support her on that. If baby NEEDS to be supplemented, we have her sign a consent--she can choose either formula or human donor milk because we have that as well. Note: this is only for medically indicated supplementation (significant WT loss, jaundice, low blood sugar for example).

Now if a mom who originally said she wished to breast feed and now wants to give the baby a bottle, no consent needed. But we do address any concerns she has with breastfeeding and assist her through those.

Anyway, that's how WE practice. There is always a place and reason for formula/contraindications to breastfeeding, so IMO, blanket "bans" should not happen. But I do agree that we should not be shuffling moms out the door with samples either...especially mommas who are breastfeeding.

Now if you want my personal opinion, I will say that I think how we do it is correct. Am I anti formula? No. I believe that its a mother's choice how she feeds her infant. Me personally? Its breastfeeding. Both my boys were exclusively breast fed past a year.

But for those who wish to breast feed NEED to know how it works and that yes, a supplemental bottle CAN POTENTIALLY damage her supply. Especially if she is not expressing her breasts (manually or via a pump) for the infant's supplemental feed. Trust me, I get being so exhausted int he middle of the night and having a baby that is constantly attached to the breast. I've been there personally, and as a night nurse, I see this almost every shift with patients. In those instances I give support and get her partner involved. If momma is nursing, then daddy/mommy2 gets to diaper changes and put baby back to sleep. I teach them that this stage will not last forever. I let them know that babies cry and nurse
nurse nurse non-stop in the begininng, and that them doing is is not
necessarily indicative of a supply issue--especially if babe is peeing, pooping and not losing too much weight or gaining weight.

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I wish more hospitals took that approach. I ebf my twins but had zero support from the hospital. The "lactation consultant" walked in and handed me a nipple shield and said good luck with all three of my deliveries. This time around I asked her specific questions about bfing and she couldn't answer them.

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