Bloomberg banning bottle feeding?

[Pollyanna]

I've had 6 babies in 4 different hospitals over the last 18 years. Not a single hospital ever forced or suggested formula and all of my physicians (obs and peds) discussed the options. The only time anything was given to one of our babies was for hypoglycemia and dh fed him glucose water. So I don't think you can presume breast vs bottle isn't being discussed.

[Pollyanna]

Alison, you have good posts, no reason to delete!

[ides]

I haven't read all the responses yet but there is no way this will happen. A LOT has to change within hospitals before something like this will even get traction. Bloomberg is a tool & suggests all sorts of things that never come to fruition. I think to Bloomberg this would be money saving besides healthy. Less money to spend on formula, bottles, nurses, etc.

I gave birth in nyc. I had to request that O be kept in my room and that he not be given bottles, repeatedly. The breast feeding kit I was given was bottles & formula. There wasn't a lactation consultant on hand the four days I was in the hospital because there was only one for the hospital, she leaves early on Fridays, doesn't come in on the weekend & took Monday off. Ummm, not breast feeding friendly and we all know how difficult it is to change anything in hospitals & how they operate.

[alison]

I'm not in the mood to fight.

[Pollyanna]

I'm not in the mood to fight.

Lol, fair enough

[Deebs]

Well, I'm the mom that had the threaten THE Ohio State University and tell them I would consider them giving my son formula assault on my child, and I would press charges. My nurses decided that my DS had lost too much weight (because he had a circumcision and was too sleepy to eat- all very normal), so they were going to supplement. There was no physician involvement, and when I told them I wanted them to talk to my pediatrician, I was told it was a "nursing decision" but not to worry because they'd give me sample from the formula company, so it would be free. Having been a second time mom who had worked in prenatal education, I knew that I didn't want him supplemented for no reason, but I think my background is pretty unique.

What Bloomberg is saying is that formula should be somewhat controlled. I don't disagree with him. I think the way he presents his message is poor, but when people realize that formula companies are wining and dining nurses, coming up with better diaper bags, etc filled with swag, and that this is all done to sell more formula, they might agree. I also don't want babies on WIC getting very expensive formula that my tax dollars are paying for unless there's a good reason. Let the pediatrician and parents decide that reason, not some nurse working in a nursery who wants a baby to sleep longer.

[TulipsAndSunscreen]

Also, why is formula the only thing provided free by hospitals to mothers/other patients? Seems odd to me that this is the ONLY medical thing that hospitals willingly help advertise (other than themselves). There are lots of choices as a parent and a patient, I just think it's odd that formula companies have gotten so cozy with hospitals. Why not free diapers? Why not free vaccines? Why not a free outfit sponsored by Carters?

[mommax3]

when people realize that formula companies are wining and dining nurses, coming up with better diaper bags, etc filled with swag, and that this is all done to sell more formula, they might agree. I also don't want babies on WIC getting very expensive formula that my tax dollars are paying for unless there's a good reason. Let the pediatrician and parents decide that reason, not some nurse working in a nursery who wants a baby to sleep longer.

ITA with this. I gave birth in three different hospitals in two different states. Formula was pushed and ignorance about bfeeding was rampant at all three. It takes a lot of support for some women to bfeed successfully (I was one of them) and the truth is that babies who are formula fed meet the "benchmarks" faster and tend to sleep more....makes life easier for nurses trying to cover multiple patients. Studies show that breast milk is better (if possible) for babies and some is better than none. It is stupid for hospitals to ignore that and offer formula at the first sign of difficulty.

[Thirteen]

So, rhetorically, would you be ok with this if it were a female mayor who had carried a child? Would her BFing status (even if 20 years prior) have mattered to you?

Again, I think we have much bigger fish to fry in this country but I do always wonder when men are not allowed to voice parenting opinions. My DH definitely has an opinion on whether I BFed - now if I couldn't/didn't want to do it, he has no right to make me but he is very supportive and he does have an opinion. A man can't BF but they can still have an opinion on what happens to their child and do everything he can to support his partner in BFing.

It's a "FRIENDS" show quote. Rachel said it while pregnant. Made me chuckle.

The other part I was serious about - it bothers me that the majority of persons making and discussing these laws (regarding women and women's bodies) seem to be made up largely of men.
That just doesn't make any sense.

What you (collective you, not T&S) do on an individual basis, within your household/parenting, is your own choice. I support people choosing what works for them. I do not support boards of men in positions of power, meeting behind closed doors, making decisions for women, without any input from a woman.


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[SoonerTexan]

While you may have felt pressured you must realize that the nurses were being hypervigilant because they were trying to prevent a hypoglycemic seizure in your baby. I promise that they were not interested in pressuring you to give your child formula and interfere with breastfeeding.

I understand...I guess my point is this was the crunchy, pro-breastfeeding hospital and I was DEAD set on getting a good start to breastfeeding...imagined what could have happened elsewhere to someone else.

I also think we have to remember that this group of women on the whole is going to be more educated about breastfeeding and health issues than the general population. I hope I don't piss anyone off by saying this, but I think it has been pretty well established that breastmilk is better in regards to nutrition, immunity, and maternal benefits. We have the knowledge to make an educated decision weighing the pros and cons as to when breastfeeding is worth it vs. when a baby needs to be supplemented or formula fed.

Now consider a mother who whose breastfeeding education might have consisted of the phrase "Breast is Best" if she is really lucky. She has no role models around her to get advice from, and no one has explained to her the benefits of breastfeeding vs. bottle feeding. If she doesn't have help and knowledge, she is likely to choose formula because breastfeeding is FREAKIN HARD in the first few days and weeks. And heck, the formula is free! The sticker shock at the grocery store probably will not come until her supply has already been compromised and then she is stuck. All I'm saying is let her have a real, fighting chance and she can make the decision later.

I do not support boards of men in positions of power, meeting behind closed doors, making decisions for women, without any input from a woman.

I don't know if this is really accurate, though. I think a lot of the pressure to make these changes has come from "lactivists."

[SuzySunshine]

Then instead of saying you can't pass this out - force the nurses to be better educated about this! Come on! I gave birth to both of my kids in an excellent hospital, I took the breastfeeding classes, the lady who taught my breastfeeding class happened to be my nurse the 2nd night I was in the hospital. But NO ONE told me that my PCOS could affect my milk supply, the nurses I had were nursing nazis and instead of trying to help me figure out what was going on with my supply they basically ignored me when I decided to supplement. After HOURS of trying to nurse A was sent back to the nursery with a bone dry pallet, she was getting NOTHING and even when I pumped I was getting nothing, no colostrum, nothing. If the nurses had been more helpful instead of having the "breastfeed or forget you" mentality maybe we would have been more successful and been given some more options. When I had #2 a friend of mine was my LC and I made sure she knew my entire history with #1, I still had to pump and bottle feed and still couldn't keep up with him but felt better about the whole process because I had come to terms with the fact that I may not be able to breastfeed him.

My point is - instead of vilifying the mothers maybe education across the board needs to be changed. Instead of telling a brand new, freaked out mother, no you can't have formula, educate her about her options, about the fact that colostrum is enough for the first few days, etc. etc. Bloomberg's bill isn't going to do that - AT ALL!

[Pollyanna]

ST, no my point was that your child was being protected by the nurses and a hypoglycemic seizure is far worse than a baby getting a few oz of formula. While you may think, what would happen if someone wasn't as dedicated to nursing, I think, what could have happened to a child if a parent refuses supplementation when medically indicated.

Cheri makes excellent points. My experience has only been with boob nazis, I've just never had anyone suggest formula at the hospital. I did miss my free diaper bag this time around dang it!

[alison]

I think he's trying to target moms, not unlike the ones dh encounters, who simply say breast feeding is gross and formula feed from the get go. Dh came across this more often than not during residency in inner-city Chicago.

[diggitydot]

I think he's trying to target moms, not unlike the ones dh encounters, who simply say breast feeding is gross and formula feed from the get go. Dh came across this more often than not during residency in inner-city Chicago.

This was DH's experience with MANY moms during residency. Also, not far from Chicago and their patient population was very low-socioeconomic.

[SoonerTexan]

Pollyanna, you are right and threatened was too strong of a word, but it is honestly how I felt at the time given there was little explanation other than your baby is large by our predefined criteria so we must do X. And I could easily see how a nurse could take the leap to "let's give some formula just to be on the safe side" even though nursing managed whatever glycemic issues she did or did not have.

I agree with Cheri about the nurses and LCs. I didn't really like mine either, though it must be a tough job to have with opinionated hormonal exhausted women as your customer, so to speak.

I learned way more from the LC I found and paid on my own.