AdventureDad

NYC hospitals are making  headlines with their decisions of banning baby formula.  11 NYC hospitals have decided to ban free samples of baby formula in an attempt to boost the number of mothers who choose to breastfeed.  Is this a good way to increase breast feeding percentages?  Or are the hospitals taking it too far?

The push toward breastfeeding means a ban on freebie formula when you leave the hospital.

"It was just the diaper bag and formula information and formula and we don't do that here anymore," Nelson said.

You won't see any posters or promotional materials for formula. They've been banned at this hospital and 10 other New York City hospitals.

The move worked for second-time mom Lisette Velez.

"With my first one I did (breastfeeding) for a week," Velez said. "With this one, I'm going to stick it out for the year for his health."

Free samples doesn't sound like a big deal to me but after reading more about it, it appears many women are influenced.  Maybe they are still in shock after the delivery?:-)

My own views on this subject are simple, I think breastfeeding is a great idea. Even though I'm very much pro-breastfeeding, I'm no breastfeeding Nazi.  You know the type, hating everyone that doesn't choose to breast feed.  Formula can play an important role for many children when mothers are unable to breastfeed. 

And it doesn't have to be either or. Formula can be a good complement to breastfeding if the mother isn't producing enough milk.

If a woman doesn't want to breastfeed, that's a personal choice. All I ask for is making a logical and educated decision based on  correct information.    The problem is people who are choosing not to breastfeed often make stupid, illogical, and uneducated decisions based on incorrect information. 

You don't get cancer from breastfeeding(!), formula doesn't "make  kids healthier", formula is not better because it's "factory made", formula will not magically make your baby sleep through the night, and some formula brands don't cure colic.  These are just some of the things some parents actually believe.

Breastfeeding statistics in NYC (and U.S.) are really sad.

However, a recently released study conducted by the New York City Department of Health revealed that 68 percent of the mothers who gave birth in all types of city hospitals last year planned to use infant formula

The figure rose to 82 percent in municipal hospitals, where most of the maternity patients are lower-income women. Infant formula is popular with some low-income women because they see it as ''a kind of status symbol,''

About a quarter of women who deliver at city hospitals choose to breastfeed. City officials want that number to triple by 2010.

That some women see formula as  ''a kind of status symbol,'' is a bit scary.  To me that's a sign the decision is not based on facts and real circumstances, it's a premeditated choice.  It doesn't seem these mothers are aware of the health benefits, or perhaps they don't care.

There's a recent lengthy article in New York Times on this subject. Among other stats it talks about research done by Allan Cunningham:

But Allan Cunningham, who had been a pediatrician for a tribe of Sioux Indians before moving to Cooperstown, became aware of something odd about his new patients at Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital: Nearly all of the sick infants he treated were formula-fed.

Dr. Cunningham's subsequent investigation, published as two studies in The Journal of Pediatrics showed that illness occurred twice as often among babies who were not breast-fed; in the first two months of life, the difference was 16-fold.  

Statistics should always be taken with a grain of salt but I think few mothers who choose not to breastfeed are aware of just how good it is for their baby. 

Banning formula samples does seem like a panic decision to me.  I would much prefer that mothers were given correct facts far ahead of the delivery and had time to  think about what's best for the baby. It all comes back to education, about knowing the facts and making logical decisions.  But it's clear that prenatal care in U.S. leaves a lot to be desired.

Sweden, our current location, is known for fabulous prenatal care and women who are well educated about what's best for a baby.  The percentage of mothers who breastfeed is just amazing. 

99% start breastfeeding.  After 6 months, 75% of all children are still breastfed.  The Swedish babies are some of the healthiest in the world, I would like to believe that's at partly due to breastfeeding habits but probably also because of our excellent prenatal care and gender equal society.

For mothers having problems with breastfeeding, there is plenty of support.  All of course free of charge, we know the long term benefits and want mothers to breastfeed. 

Our own experiences have been great.  Our son was breastfed around 12 months and has been incredibly healthy.  Our daughter is soon turning one year and we plan on stopping breastfeeding soon.  She has also been very healthy unless we count the acid reflux and colic which was not breastfeeding related.

My own experiences as a child would also heavily support breastfeeding even though I wouldn't read much into it.  My mom tried to breastfeed but was struggling a bit so they advised formula almost straight away.  Things were different back then….

I was very sick the first few years of my life, how about having 14 ear infections in my first 12 months?  All requiring anastethia.  I don't know how my parents endured that but things turned around and I've since been extremely healthy.

Categories: Family, Food
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