Only about 5 percent of babies are born in hospitals where mom isn't sent home with a big bag of formula coupons and free formula upon discharge. I was lucky enough to have my kids in one of those few, but many people aren't. And lactation advocates say it's just the first of many steps the formula companies take to undermine breastfeeding.
It seems silly, right? Moms have the right to refuse the bags and they help the moms who do want to use formula. But that is exactly where they get you. One bad night with a baby who won't nurse and mom will be eyeing that free formula and think, "Well, as long as I have it ..."
The formula companies, of course, say otherwise. Haley Stevens, a scientific affairs specialist for the International Formula Council, told USA Today that not offering new moms formula samples "is really irresponsible." She said:
We agree breast-feeding is the best, when you can do it. There's no question. But if one size doesn't fit all, it's good to have a backup.
She's right. And formula is expensive, so it's good for moms to have some that is free. But therein lies the problem. It's free. But it's finite.
The free formula and the coupons only feed baby for a few days at best. And once that runs out, then mom is on her own and must pay for the rest. Formula isn't cheap. But breastfeeding is. And as one lactation activist said: Giving free formula is like handing someone "divorce papers at their wedding."
Maybe I wouldn't go that far, but we all know that feeding formula even once, especially in those crucial first days of breastfeeding, sets up a poor supply. It's like a domino effect for breastfeeding moms.
Breastfeeding ought to be assumed. If a mom can't or chooses not to for whatever reason, then sure, she can have free formula. But they should be the ones to ask. The hospital shouldn't decide for them.
For many women, this is a very touchy subject and there is no judgement if a woman chooses not to breastfeed. But to undermine the moms who are on the fence? Seems wrong. And if this is a financial thing, women should be taught early on that the cheapest way to feed a baby is through the breast. It's free all the time!
Did you get freebies from formula companies?
Image via nerissa's ring/Flickr
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Comments 70
I swear my OB's office is sponsered by a formula company! All you see around the office is the brand name and NOTHING about bfing.
Oh, for God's sake. These hospitals do something nice by putting together these "goody bags" for people and then they get slammed for doing it. We are all our own person, if we don't want to use the formula samples, then guess what? It's really easy not to use them. Donate them, throw them in the trash, do whatever you want with them. It's always so lovely to have something to complain about though, so lets throw the common sense out the window and just bitch that the hospitals do something thoughtful for us.
My five year old was formula fed and guess what? He wasn't starving, or unhealthy, or below (or above for that matter) his average weight group. He is a pretty strong, very healthy young boy now. He doesn't have any limbs falling off, nor is he growing a third eyeball on his body. I think what needs to happen is women need to stop putting down other women for their personal choices regarding their children. As long as these children are happy and healthy and not abused that is all that matters. Formula feeding does not equal abusing your children or feeding them drugs. Mind your damn business.
I am assuming that this ia 5% of AMERICAN babies. In Australia hospitals are very pro breastfeeding and don't offer formula in their goodie bags. They assume a mother will be breastfeeding and provide a lot of support to make that happen. They also don't have a nursery where mothers can dump their kid because they are too tired. Rooming in has a greater chance of breastfeeding success and less chance of someone sneaking in a bottle of formula.
I was never forced or encouraged to use formula by any hospital employee. They knew I wanted to breastfeed, and that was that. Just because the formula is available doesn't mean a mother has to use it.
I never got any formula freebies from the hospital (I was breastfeeding for that brief period), but once I realized that breastfeeding wasn't going to work (I hated it- aren't I a terrible mom!?) I signed up for every free sample and coupon that I could find. I had never paid full price for a can of formula and I really didn't find it that expensive. Free samples are fantastic!