General Discussion

Eugene

(61,811 posts) Mon Apr 9, 2012, 08:31 PM Apr 2012

Hospitals pressured to end free baby formula [View all]

Source: Reuters

Hospitals pressured to end free baby formula

By Susan Heavey

WASHINGTON | Mon Apr 9, 2012 4:50pm EDT

(Reuters) - New parents leaving U.S. hospitals often take home a corporate gift along with their babies: a tote bag filled with infant formula. Consumer advocates want to end the giveaways, which they say undermine breastfeeding.

In a letter to more than 2,600 hospitals, dozens of consumer and health organizations called on the facilities to stop distributing free samples of formula that they say entangles healthcare providers in pharmaceutical and food manufacturers' marketing and could be seen as an endorsement.

Giving formula to new parents discourages some new mothers from breastfeeding, the groups said on Monday in the letter sent by the advocacy group Public Citizen. They are also petitioning the $4 billion infant formula industry's leaders - Abbott Laboratories, Mead Johnson Nutrition Co and Nestle SA - to halt the practice.

Hospitals aim "to promote the health of infants and mothers, but the ongoing promotion of infant formula conflicts with this mission," Public Citizen President Robert Weissman wrote in the letter to hospital chief executives.

[font size=1]-snip-[/font]

133 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Hospitals pressured to end free baby formula [View all] Eugene Apr 2012 OP

I could not agree more. CaliforniaPeggy Apr 2012 #1

If a new mother doesn't want to use it, she won't HockeyMom Apr 2012 #2

The free formula I was offered stayed at the hospital... Kalidurga Apr 2012 #3

I had a friend who just didn't have the milk. YellowRubberDuckie Apr 2012 #4

Thank you. enlightenment Apr 2012 #5

+1. I have thyroid disease. I pumped after each feeding for a year. gkhouston Apr 2012 #41

Mine would have starved too Crunchy Frog Apr 2012 #92

I tend to believe that enlightenment Apr 2012 #96

We had latching problems - by day 2 the nurses said I really needed to feed the baby TBF Apr 2012 #72

Latching is not necessary by day two TBF vanlassie Apr 2012 #77

Thank you - TBF Apr 2012 #82

When my cousin gave birth about 8 months back she was sent home with a bunch of premade formula Justice wanted Apr 2012 #6

If a woman is going to breast feed, she's not going to NOT breast feed because gateley Apr 2012 #7

Amen! likesmountains 52 Apr 2012 #8

Gately? Don't believe everything you think. vanlassie Apr 2012 #21

That's a ludicrous comparison. Making such over-the-top proclamations gkhouston Apr 2012 #53

Apparently vanlassie doesn't think women are capable of making an informed decision. ceile Apr 2012 #61

The Marlboro is for the after-feeding smoke ... Bake Apr 2012 #63

My little sis went dry after 3 months FrodosPet Apr 2012 #73

and then there are those poor adopted babies blueamy66 Apr 2012 #81

Blueamy? You didn't know adoptive mothers sometimes bring in a milk supply??? vanlassie Apr 2012 #88

mine didn't blueamy66 Apr 2012 #113

So women are morons? jeff47 Apr 2012 #93

A lot of first time mothers give up because it becomes "too hard". Luminous Animal Apr 2012 #71

Because they are unable to get to the grocery store and buy their own? (nt) jeff47 Apr 2012 #94

Some things are difficult. Consistant support from hospital staff Luminous Animal Apr 2012 #95

Again, they aren't able to get to the grocery store to buy their own? jeff47 Apr 2012 #101

You are confuzzled. But that's okay. I have better things to do. Luminous Animal Apr 2012 #103

No, I'm not confused at all. jeff47 Apr 2012 #105

Yes you are. NO I'M NOT. Yes you are. NO I'M NAWWWWWT. Luminous Animal Apr 2012 #106

No. It gets hard, they see the freebie tempting them, they use it.... AND THEN.... vanlassie Apr 2012 #120

Milk production level isn't one-way. jeff47 Apr 2012 #130

But you're forgetting that women are mindless victims WolverineDG Apr 2012 #85

I get so frustrated that the free formula samples are blamed for our low breast feeding rates. likesmountains 52 Apr 2012 #9

Agreed. nt avebury Apr 2012 #10

Amen. Yo_Mama Apr 2012 #12

Yes, that is being addressed currently. vanlassie Apr 2012 #22

Well I work at a hospital that gives free samples Horse with no Name Apr 2012 #33

You believe mothers who smoke can't breast feed? vanlassie Apr 2012 #38

Would love to know YOUR training Horse with no Name Apr 2012 #40

Horse, if you work in a hospital and would discourage mothers who smoke vanlassie Apr 2012 #58

It's not "inflammatory". It's complete and utter bullshit. gkhouston Apr 2012 #67

Um it'sUNICEF and W.H.O., not me who say that a million babies a year DIE- because of formula vanlassie Apr 2012 #69

Because of a lack of clean water and impoverished mothers who gkhouston Apr 2012 #78

Remember that essay I posted a while back? REP Apr 2012 #79

Yes. n/t gkhouston Apr 2012 #83

AGAIN....what do you tell adoptive mothers blueamy66 Apr 2012 #86

??? I'm not telling mothers who are unable or unwilling to nurse that they're inadequate. gkhouston Apr 2012 #87

I tell them not to get advice from people who don't know enough to advise them... vanlassie Apr 2012 #89

I definitely agree with the medication reason rebecca_herman Apr 2012 #98

You can easily check on the meds. vanlassie Apr 2012 #121

I agree that the 6 wks is ridiculous laundry_queen Apr 2012 #25

Uh....no. jeff47 Apr 2012 #100

In your experience. laundry_queen Apr 2012 #107

In your experience. jeff47 Apr 2012 #111

Um. Not so. vanlassie Apr 2012 #122

Good to know my daughter doesn't exist, just on your say-so. (nt) jeff47 Apr 2012 #129

I agree Canuckistanian Apr 2012 #70

I don't think it does Yo_Mama Apr 2012 #11

It does get old, doesn't it? Mariana Apr 2012 #17

But mothers breastfeed when sick. They always have. vanlassie Apr 2012 #24

I just don't agree with that Yo_Mama Apr 2012 #50

In my extensive experience Horse with no Name Apr 2012 #34

I am very thankful for the formula my wife and I received when we had our first baby. ZombieHorde Apr 2012 #13

We have WIC for that. vanlassie Apr 2012 #26

Not true. n/t Horse with no Name Apr 2012 #35

Really. REP Apr 2012 #80

Yep. Really. vanlassie Apr 2012 #90

why would "consumer advocates" want to restrict choice? ecstatic Apr 2012 #14

Because some women make the "wrong" choice. Mariana Apr 2012 #45

I don't believe this is true. Alenne Apr 2012 #15

Statistically they do. laundry_queen Apr 2012 #27

If you are supported and believe you will succeed...sure vanlassie Apr 2012 #28

This should be an OPTION, and only after LadyHawkAZ Apr 2012 #16

Good suggestion. blue neen Apr 2012 #18

IIRC, the tote I got all those years ago *did* contain leak pads. gkhouston Apr 2012 #84

So exactly how stupid are women? jeff47 Apr 2012 #97

A new mom with a first baby? LadyHawkAZ Apr 2012 #112

I'm having trouble believing that you think women are so stupid they need to be protected jeff47 Apr 2012 #115

where did all this weird come from? LadyHawkAZ Apr 2012 #116

Because your argument requires that women have no agency jeff47 Apr 2012 #117

so once she has made that decision LadyHawkAZ Apr 2012 #118

No, my solution is to not have a 3rd party regulate the decision. jeff47 Apr 2012 #119

well, that's a bit harsh... LadyHawkAZ Apr 2012 #131

Actually, it's the opposite of what you're claiming. jeff47 Apr 2012 #132

No jeff47. You have missed several points. vanlassie Apr 2012 #123

Why on earth would manufacturers make such an effort to have all mothers leave Cairycat Apr 2012 #19

Ermmm.. because the mothers who were going to use formula anyway dmallind Apr 2012 #30

Abbott? vanlassie Apr 2012 #31

They tried to separate my daughter and I after she was born... Luminous Animal Apr 2012 #74

So we use pampers then? jeff47 Apr 2012 #99

Using Pampers will not diminish your milk supply. vanlassie Apr 2012 #124

Way to miss the point. jeff47 Apr 2012 #127

I am conflicted GobBluth Apr 2012 #20

There is a mystery EXACTLY because there is a billion dollar industry vanlassie Apr 2012 #29

No I don't think breastfeeding has always been a mystery GobBluth Apr 2012 #37

The human race survived because enough children survived Mariana Apr 2012 #47

Yes, and also there used to be a lot more women giving birth Yo_Mama Apr 2012 #51

About nursing mothers sharing their milk Mariana Apr 2012 #57

If true, what took so long? nadinbrzezinski Apr 2012 #23

Here is what I don't understand. vanlassie Apr 2012 #32

Thank you! soleiri Apr 2012 #46

The difference is we don't think women let a free sample rule them jeff47 Apr 2012 #104

I would not be so sure that the "Fearless Formula Feeder" vanlassie Apr 2012 #125

It's an aggregation of links to scientific journals. Their beliefs are irrelevant. (nt) jeff47 Apr 2012 #128

Breast is best--no doubt, but if it isn't working do you let that poor little kid starve? davsand Apr 2012 #36

Well said Yo_Mama Apr 2012 #52

"It's not a social priority" sums it up quite well. The health of mom and baby SHOULD be the focus davsand Apr 2012 #56

I'm sick of these breast-feeding nazis taught_me_patience Apr 2012 #39

Yes. Me too. Horse with no Name Apr 2012 #42

My daughter also had a high palate, and a tendency to spit out *any* nipple. gkhouston Apr 2012 #55

+10 RandySF Apr 2012 #44

Thank you. I had twins. HappyMe Apr 2012 #62

I'm tired of people who call laundry_queen Apr 2012 #66

The name calling will stop when the screaming stops jeff47 Apr 2012 #102

hyperbole much? laundry_queen Apr 2012 #108

Must've not looked very far. jeff47 Apr 2012 #110

Sorry, but not all moms can be perfect. RandySF Apr 2012 #43

Meh - I got free samples with every baby, yet I breastfed every baby. Chemisse Apr 2012 #48

we breastfeed both our girls belcffub Apr 2012 #49

The decision on whether or not to breastfeed has usually been made before baby is born Arkansas Granny Apr 2012 #54

We had a very hard time Maine-ah Apr 2012 #59

They are just a bonus and it's nice to have them on hand just in case. cbdo2007 Apr 2012 #60

I think everyone can agree that breast milk is best, but in some cases that it is not possible KitSileya Apr 2012 #64

Thanks Kitsileya vanlassie Apr 2012 #68

My wife received it and donated it to someone else. Zalatix Apr 2012 #65

A callous, bonehead move like this does a disservice to babies and moms. BlueIris Apr 2012 #75

Aw jeez...this was essential when my kids were born Taverner Apr 2012 #76

Yep - it's no longer a fetus anymore! So who cares about it? jillan Apr 2012 #91

Some women can not produce enough milk, I guess the baby should starve. Pisces Apr 2012 #109

Oh please. vanlassie Apr 2012 #126

For the profits Cairycat Apr 2012 #114

I was determined to breast feed and gave mine away to someone who I knew was formula feeding Nikia Apr 2012 #133