AIBU to feel uneasy about this? (Not wanting to spark a BF or not BF fight)

[shudabinme]

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1393353/Hospital-restricts-free-formula-baby-milk-newborns-encourage-mothers-breastfeed.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

Bit ~ about this, all for BF but this smacks of social engineering... shall we extend it to the Mums as well, lets just feed them vegan food (no offence any vegans out there, just trying to make the point!)

[ZXEightyMum]

Sure they should have formula to hand for babies who can't be BF for medical reasons but when I had both DC I took my own cartons to hospital even though I planned to BF. They are also available in the hospital shop.

Why should they provide free formula for people planning to FF? You wouldn't expect the hospital to provide nappies and clothes. I must be misunderstanding the article

[ohmyfucksy]

I get you, but it's pointless anyway. As the article says, 80% of people start out breastfeeding and give up later. The availability of formula in hospitals is irrelevant to overall bf rates. They kick you out really quickly, so you would only get a few bottles of formula in anyway. They're not tackling the problem at all.

[QueenOfFeckingEverything]

Its fair enough IMO.

If you are intending to use formula, why should the NHS pay for that choice?

If your baby has a medical need for it or in an emergency, the hospital will still provide formula until you are able to get your own.

Don't see the problem [shrug]

[HarrietJones]

We have a similar system here. If you are going to FF you take it in. If you are going to bf & need ff for whatever reason they provide until you get some.

I didn't like that my friend was told to take it inbecause they didn't know if she was going to be allowed. (though she just got messed about!) I think there should be better bf support.

[HarrietJones]

I tool my own food in as I couldn't get a veggie meal in mine

[QueenOfFeckingEverything]

I took my own food too as I couldn't get an edible meal

[shudabinme]

I BF'd mine, but what if... I really really didn't want to, and went into hospital with no money on me? I get fed, baby doesn't unless I BF? Or get money? Just feels a bit weird -

[shudabinme]

Exactly the point soverylucky....

[QueenOfFeckingEverything]

The article says that emergency supplies will be available though. So in reality, a baby needing formula will get it.

They are just asking women who are intending to use formula from the offset to bring their own. And honestly, how hard is that? If you know you aren't going to BF, buy a few cartons and bottles (which I guess you'd be buying anyway) and put them in your hospital bag. Done.

[ZXEightyMum]

I suppose the baby isn't a patient per se, but a dependant. Unless ill, in which case perhaps food should be provided in the same way that children's "meals" are.

[Tortington]

i ff mine and i have to say in this economic climate that it's a good idea. breastfeeding should be seen as the norm and promoted as such. that isn't to say that not breastfeeding should be seen as abnormal in any way.

i dont see why parents shouldnt' pay for formula - same way as parents pay for nappies.

i do wonder how this works with benefit vlaimants though - i don't know anything about it - but i wonder whether you can claim in advance for some tokens or something to ensure you have formula when you give birth

[FabbyChic]

When my children were born, all the formula in hospitals was free.

Some of us who return to work five weeks after giving birth don't have the option of even attempting to breast feed, what would be the point?

[QueenOfFeckingEverything]

The thing is that the mother in most cases has a supply of perfect food for the baby.

If she has decided before the birth not to use that then yes, its unreasonable to expect the hospital to provide an alternative.

If for some unforseen reason the baby or mother cannot breastfeed, the hospital will still provide formula until such time as the parents can get some.

Whats so controversial?

[QueenOfFeckingEverything]

FabbyChic - every drop of breastmilk makes a difference. Even just breastfeeding when in hospital will be good for a baby

[ZXEightyMum]

You used to get tokens for milk for you if BF or formula. It's better now because they can be spent on fruit and veg too, so BF women have a few extra pounds in their pocket.

Then again you could say that's unfair on people who had to FF...

[ZXEightyMum]

On benefits that is, not in hospital.

[Flisspaps]

Mothers have had to provide their own formula and bottles in the hospitals near us for years, it's not a new idea.

[fifi25]

Our hospital provide milk but tbh most people put a few extra in their bag to take home so the hospital are probably providing more than is needed. I wouldnt mind taking my own milk in and it says milk is provided in emergencies. I really dont think the hospital will have no milk and leave babies without.

[confuddledDOTcom]

The hospital are feeding my baby at the moment, formula through her nose and whatever I can express which also gets used to clean and wet her mouth. I'm providing her nappies and clothes (although they're using theirs at the moment as she's not tolerating formula) and I'd be providing her feeds too if we were on the same ward.

How about this as an alternative, FF babies get free milk, BF babies get free nappies? We could have a token system where you're given an allowance each day you're in, either you have free nappies or free milk?

BTW you do get tokens before you have your baby, what a ridiculous argument!

[KaraStarbuckThrace]

YABU.

The social engineering came about when formula manufacturers started to make formula as way of using up milk surpluses at the end of the 19th century and paid the medical profession to convince mothers that their milk wasn't good enough and that their formulas were superior. The medical profession were keen to interfere in the process of childbirth and baby feeding as it was the areas of women's lives they did not control. Medicalising of birth occurred at around the same time as the widespread introduction of doctor led formula feeding.l

Formula will be available for those who need it because it has been required for medical reasons, because either mum or baby are unable to breastfeedn (and this could well be for psychological reasons that mum has already discussed as part of her antenatal care).
It just won't be available for those who have no intention of breastfeeding.
I don't get free nappies or breast pads or wipes, so why should you get free formula if you choose not to breastfeed?

Someone commented on this article on my FB page, and I thought this was an interesting comment-

'When I worked on a maternity unit we did an experiment and measured all the formula milk that babies left before we through it down the sluice. We did this for a month and were horrified at the waste. It worked out that from 3 wards we were throwing away £2,000 worth every month.'

That £2000 could be much better spent on supporting mothers to breastfeed.

At least if you are paying for the formula yourself you can choose which brands you wish to use as hospitals may only have 1 or 2 brands available.

[hairylights]

Not sure why the Nhs should provide formula milk free ... That's the parents job if they decide to ff.

[MummyDoIt]

Am I being cynical to suspect that the hospital is doing this to save money and is just using the 'encouraging BF' as a smokescreen to deflect criticism?