New York hosptials banning bottles?

Question

The New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation (HHC) announced that its 11 public hospitals will exclude free baby formula samples from gift bags to new mothers, will ban formula promotion materials from labor and delivery units and will encourage initiation of breastfeeding in the baby’s first hour as part of a campaign to increase exclusive breastfeeding and improve infant health.
Do you think it's right for them to do that?

Answer 1

It may seem like an issue of bottle vs breast (that is the cause of it), but it is really an issue of do the hospitals have the "right" to do this. Of course they do! If hospitals decide they no longer want certain private companies to disperse their products there, then they can do this. It's like them saying they no longer will allow McDonalds to sell food in the cafeteria. Of course they will continue to provide formula for babies that need it, they wouldn't let babies starve and die!

From what I read, these sounded like Government run hospitals, too. You have to understand that the government health department has set a goal of increasing the number of woman breastfeeding to up to 75%. They have calculated that they will save millions in healthcare costs if they can acheive this. With that being said, promoting formula at their facilities probably seems counter productive in their minds.

Pretty much, if its their facilities, they don't have to hand out these products if they don't want to! If you don't like it go to another hospital, or just sign up for free samples online. It's not that big of a deal.

If you owned a business and felt strongly about healthy food choices and decided to get rid of the chips in the vending machine, you would feel you had the right to do this, I'm sure. That doesn't mean that you are taking away anyones rights to each chips.

Really, bottlefeeding mothers might just be a tad oversensitive on this subject. I know you feel judged, and I'm sorry. I've bottlefed, too. But there is nothing wrong with the healthcare industry trying to encourage more mothers to breastfeed. Our numbers are really sad in this country. If there is a lot of woman sitting on the fence, or experiencing difficulties, those free samples, given to you by a NURSE, will start to look really attractive.

Anyways, Just my opinion . . .

Answer 2

The formula companies actually pay doctors and hospitals to give away their promotional items and put up their posters and such in the halls. I don't think a doctor can effectively encourage breastfeeding while being paid by the formula companies. It's a conflict of interest. I was given bags of formula and stuff even after I told the nurses I was only going to breastfeed.

I think it is a good idea for them to ban what is effectively just advertisement from the delivery room. It is hard to make an informed decision about what is best for you and your baby when you are having formula samples shoved at you left and right. I think that is a good idea to do more to encourage breastfeeding BUT they should also be careful not to condemn women that choose not to or cannot. I think they should still stock formula in the nursery to give to the babies while in the hospital, but ditch the brochures and samples the formula companies give them.

Answer 3

I think it's just fine. They don't have gift bags and marketing materials for other types of patients. I'm sure moms can write the formula companies for their 'freebees.' Also, contrary to what some gals have said, hospitals will continue to provide formula for babies 'in house'. This campaign is about sending freebees home.

I do think that if the mom makes known prior to or during labor that she will not be breastfeeding, that her needs will be met. New York has a much higher rate of women on WIC than many states and a disproportionate number only use formula. This is really a disadvantage to babies as well as costly to taxpayers in terms of both health care dollars and formula costs (based on statistics, individual babies vary, of course). You also need to understand that many nurses think breastfeeding is disgusting and will not, in any way, promote breastfeeding. This campaign hopefully will have a positive effect by at least getting these nurses to zip their lip.

Our local hospitals, which have a high breastfeeding rate, provide both a decent breastfeeding bag as well as a formula bag and that won't change. They are, however, stressing to formula feeding mothers that no one brand is BEST. They are just getting the one currently in their bag. However, they also provide free lactation consultants (up to 2 weeks after birth).

Answer 4

The right to choose breastfeeding or bottle feeding is a woman's right. There is evidence to support breastfeeding as the healthier option, but formula is also a relatively safe choice. Die hard breastfeeding supporters are going to say how horrible formula is, bottle supporters are going to have their arguments.......it really comes down to what is going to work best for each person and their child. It's no one else's choice. You can provide education on the options, but you can't force someone to choose.

I breastfed all three of my kids because it's the healthier option, but breastfeeding twins is a lot of work. I will be the first person to tell you that breastfeeding is not always the wonderful, quality time bonding experience they portray it to be. It can take a while to get the hang of it, and to get into a workable routine. Some women are in situations that they aren't going to have that flexibility, women who statistically are less likely to breastfeed......low income single mothers, may be in a situation that they have other children they are taking care of, they have to return to work relatively soon after delivery. Breastfeeding is going to present a challenge for them. Who are we to say they can't choose formula?

Answer 5

I'm very happy to hear that. I think that if the big manufacturers of formula aren't allowed to interfere with the first couple of days of a baby's life in the hospital then maybe mother's will try a little harder to do what's best for their babies instead of just giving up because it's easier to give formula sometimes. I think it's best for our children so why shouldn't we encourage it. It's natural. It's the babies right to get the immunities. It protects them from some serious diseases. So, how can this be a bad thing????

Answer 6

I personaly am a breast is best kinda girl but I feel that it's completely up to the parents what they feel is best for their child and feel it's wrong for them to push one way or the other...I think that they should make it to where you don't get a formula sample if the mother decides to breastfeed and should find any way they can to support the mother's who are breastfeeding and make it an easier transition into breastfeeding by giving free clinics and classes and stuff like that but you shouldn't discourage mother's who want to formula feed either and if they want to formula feed then give them the free sample

Breastfeeding isn't for everyone and the choice shouldn't be taken away

Answer 7

Not much is going to really change- they are not sending home the free packets, they are not going to advertise formula. If a woman wants to formula feed- she is free to do so and the hospital will provide it.

I think it is a great idea too.

Unfortunately, the media- like the chick on The View has it all wrong and they have blown it out of proportion. Another reason I refuse to watch that program.

Answer 8

They aren't banning bottles altogether, people, get a grip! It's not like they are coming into the rooms and forcing the moms to breastfeed like some Nursing Gestapo! If mothers want to bottlefeed, they can take their own formula and bottles with them to the hospital. Why should formula companies have access to this captive audience to advertise to so blatantly? I say it's about time they stopped this practice.

Edit to add: I second BraxOwls comment. If you are offended that mom's aren't given free bottles, formula, and coupons for formula, I am offended that I wasn't given free nursing bras, a pump, a free coupon for a lactation consultant, nursing pads, lanolin ointment...

One more edit: I had a hard time breastfeeding my first, just because I was an idiot. She was in the NICU for 3 days and the nurses said my 1 oz of expressed colustrum for her first feed wasn't enough - so they stuffed her full of formula. Then the next time I came in to give her a feed, she was already full of formula. When we finally left the hospital, after 3 days, she'd had a whole 3 oz of me and God knows how much formula. And I had a diaper bag full of formula. And when I got home and - surprise surprise - had a hard time getting her to latch, my husband whipped out one of those handy little bottles of formula and made me feel like **** for not being able to take care of my own child. I threw them all out after he went back to work, and my daughter and I spent the next day teaching each other how to breastfeed.

My second and third - I had NO problems. When the nurses came into the room and tried to supplement with formula because "they might not be getting enough" I pitched a fit and threatened everything from leaving against medical advice to getting them fired.

With my fourth, things had finally changed a little. I was at a private Catholic hospital, for one thing, and they had NO formula supplements unless you specifically asked. It was much better that way.

Answer 9

No, NYC hospitals are not banning bottles. They are simply not handing out the free samples and the coupons, etc. There is a difference.

They will ENCOURAGE breastfeeding. It does not say that they will not allow a mother to choose not to do so. Again, there is a difference.

I think that it is a great step towards increasing the awareness of the benefits of breastfeeding, and not making it seem like formula is the better option (after all, if the MEDICAL FACILITY is handing it out, it must be good-right? WRONG, actually. Breast is ALWAYS best. Formula is simply an alternative for the relatively few women that CAN NOT breastfeed, and an easy way out for the women that DO NOT WANT TO breastfeed. Again, there is a difference.

EDITED TO ADD: I think it is also discriminatory to hand out free samples of formula and coupons for such. Why do nursing mothers not get free breast pumps and coupons for breast pads, etc? The free samples are simply a marketing ploy by the manufacturer's of baby formula. BTW, even THEY admit that formula is not as good as breast milk.

Answer 10

Wow-times have changed, huh? Although I breastfed til my baby was 11 months, I think that sucks. Some mother's don't have the patience, time or money to afford those 1st few weeks of formula. And breastfeeding is a HUGE responsibilty and not for the light-hearted...you know how many people have seen my D-cup breasts on the #3 train? I was mortified, but baby had to eat. And the acceptance factor sucks because although breastfeeding is the most natural thing, people still rudely gawk at you and give you yuck-faces which can make an uncomfortable situation even worse. I don't regret breastfeeding, but when I have another child, I think I may have to consider all I went through before doing it again....anyways, I don't think they should do that-you should have a choice....