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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

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Original poster

Manchester Maternity Unit to no longer supply free formula

138 replies

BoastingByStealth · 11/10/2011 22:13

menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/s/1459696_st-marys-hospital-bans-free-formula-milk-to-make-mums-breastfeed-instead

Does anybody disagree with this new policy?

Apologies if this has been done before, I'm just in the middle of a debate about it, and wanted to canvas opinion.

OP posts:

DawnOfTheDeementedDead · 11/10/2011 22:16

Why should they though? If you are going to give your baby formula, why should they have to pay for it?

I think it's entirely reasonable.

PureBloodMuggle · 11/10/2011 22:20

i suppose like thhe other things you might need, such as nappies, yould have to pre-pack

i haven' read link because i'm lazy and on my phone but how will formula be prepared? Will mums have to brimg in the prepared bottles or will they have to boil and make up?

MrsApplepants · 11/10/2011 22:26

I object to anything that forces women to breastfeed if they don't want to. I did think that it was the norm now though that formula wasn't provided in maternity units?

DawnOfTheDeementedDead · 11/10/2011 22:30

How does that force women to breastfeed if they don't want to?

If they don't want to BF, then buy some formula and put it in your hospital bag. Easy.

KD0706 · 11/10/2011 22:32

I don't think it will force mums to breastfeed, I think it will force them to buy their own formula. Which, in my opinion, is ok. Why should the nhs have to pay for it?

As PureBloodMuggle says, it's like nappies. You don't expect the hospital to provide them, do you?

hermionestranger · 11/10/2011 22:33

Tameside hasn't provided free formula for years. I was told that with DS1. At Stepping Hill they did when DS1 was born, couldn't say if they still do. DS1 had jaundice and wouldn't feed so he had a small amount of formula, I didn't know about DBM then. As it was I BF him for 2 years after that false start, but I was glad they had formula ready for him.

My personal view on it is if you intend to use formula you should bring it with you, but hospitals should carry a stock anyway, for emergencies.

lovingthecoast · 11/10/2011 22:34

Of course I agree with it. It has nothing to do with whether I believe BF to be best (which I do) but more along the lines of why should they provide parents with free milk?

Surely it has nothing to do with 'making mothers BF'? If you don't want to BF then you bring your own formula milk in the same way as you bring your own babygrows. I don't understand the issue/problem.

If they were saying they wouldn't provide milk nor would they let you bring your own then I'd understand and think that was a dictatorial policy. But they're not saying that at all; simply that they won't provide it.

TBH, I thought this was already standard and if I chose to formula feed then I would assume that I needed to take it with me in my hospital bag.

sleeplessinderbyshire · 11/10/2011 22:35

as part of the WHO baby friendly initiative maternity units do not stock formula. if you choose to bottle feed you have to bring your own same as nappies, clothes etc etc

Neonatal units will have formula in case a baby is ill and needs formula (as well as or instead of BM)for some reason

lovingthecoast · 11/10/2011 22:38

Hermione, I'd be very surprised if they didn't have a stock for emergencies. If your baby is early and you needed an ECS it could take a day or so for your milk to come in if you choose to BF. Or for women who are choosing to formula feed, they may need a few hours to organise someone going and getting a supply of formula. I cannot see them letting a baby starve.

But I think the principle is perfectly reasonable and not at all to the detriment of women choosing to formula feed.

Original poster

BoastingByStealth · 11/10/2011 22:39

muggle
The hospital will provide milk for babies who cannot feed for one reason or another, only in ready mixed cartons, powder will not be allowed on the ward for H & S reasons.

You have all said exactly as I have - in fact, I didn't even know you DID get free milk, and if I'd planned to FF my babies, I would have packed formula and bottles in my bag along with everything else I or the baby would need.

Incidentally, how many of you are FF?

The arguements I'm getting against it are "it will make FF mothers feel MORE guilty" and "other people in hospital get food provided for them, so why not newborns"

OP posts:

lovingthecoast · 11/10/2011 22:44

Why would it make anyone feel guilty?

You just pack 3 or so ready made cartons of the milk you intend to use alongside all the other stuff that you, as a parent, need to provide for your baby. The only issue I can see is bottle sterilisation. But as long as the hospital makes clear its policy I don't see an issue.

Original poster

BoastingByStealth · 11/10/2011 22:57

ok, here are the arguements I have been up against (C & P so the spelling is not mine)

omg... an are they gonna provide ya wi a kettle..steriliser.water..to make the bottles..when ive been in hospital wi babys the nurses moan bout warmin a bottle up for baby never mind makin it one..this storys just so wrong..spot on laura.mums will feel terrible..i see breastfeedin as a good option but also a choice..
then
just using my opinion and also that cartons of milk r ok at times....but imagine how much its gonna cost for days worth compared to buying a tin..if thats the case then they need to make it possible for you to buy smaller cartons..one carton is 7 ounce..which a newborn probs wont even drink half of that so its not gonna be easy for single parents...hospitals have small jars but we as parents cant buy them...
and
Another way of looking at it...ANYBODY who 'stays' in hospital is fed and watered by the NHS, so why exclude newborns?

OP posts:

lovingthecoast · 11/10/2011 23:06

Ok, they won't need water to make up the bottle if they are using ready made cartons. I agree that sterilising is an issue and the hospital needs to make clear how they are going to provide this service for mothers who need to stay in for more that a few hours.

The cost is tough really. Formula feeding is a costly business and if it's such an issue then attempting to BF is the way to save money. If you choose to formula feed it's just another cost you need to factor in. Most women are out within 24hours so surely you are only talking about £10 worth of cartons at most?

Hospitals provide a service of mass catered food at low cost. Formula milk doesn't come under that service. The vast majority of women have a free supply of milk, literally on tap. If you are choosing not to use natures free supply then that is entirely up to you but you cannot expect the NHS is fund your choice.

minxofmancunia · 11/10/2011 23:09

If you're definitely not going to BF why should the NHS pay? Bring your own in with you with your other baby stuff.

That said on both occasions I gave birth at St Marys in Manchester both babies were v sleepy following birth and on both occasions I was practically forecd to give aptimil to them via a syringe despite them being asleep and my understanding being that babies could sleep for up to 12 hours following the birth and had stocks as it were to keep them going for a few hours. The numbskull who tried to make me do this after ds practically accused me of child abuse when I said I'd wait for him to wake up and bf him. With dd they took blood suage levels from a heel prick....and tried to force me to give her formula and guess what, she was just fine. Fortunately too there were a few great midwives there who massively supported bf and made sure it got started ok.

So don't know how the formula pushers that no doubt still work there will cope!

Original poster

BoastingByStealth · 11/10/2011 23:25

Thanyou, you have echoed my own statements about cost being something you have to factor in when making the choice to FF. Unless you get it free, which may influence your decision toward FF since its provided by the state anyway.

I like the Australian policy regarding free formula for low income/unemployed: unless there is a medical reason which means you CANNOT breastfeed, you can buy your own milk. It has raised the BF rates no end. :o

OP posts:

lovingthecoast · 11/10/2011 23:29

I'm always slightly bemused at the corrolation between education/income and BF as if it take more of an effort.

Personally I see it as the cheap, easy, lazy way to feed. No formula costs. No getting up in the night to make up a bottle. Ability to carry on watching crap tv whilst just picking them up and plonking them on.

I don't think I BF because I'm educated rather because I'm lazy!

iamabadger · 11/10/2011 23:31

I guess the copy and paste came from the MEN comments page? Used to provide me hours of fun when I lived in Manchester . The nurses wouldn't be bothered to make up bottles, mainly because they look after sick people and MIDWIVES look after newborns and pregnant women!

entropygirl · 12/10/2011 01:59

I'll probably get toasted for saying this but: replacing breast milk with formula increases babies risks of all sort of health issues from stomach upsets to SIDS Why would the nhs pay money to harm health?

It's NOT like providing free cigarettes to smokers but it isnt a million miles off - maybe more like providing free cake to the obese?

Pippaandpolly · 12/10/2011 03:30

After DD was born I was in hospital for several days trying to establish breastfeeding and it didn't/couldn't (?) happen so the midwife gave her some formula. Retrospectively this wasn't helpful BUT at the time I thought (was told) she would be starving so was grateful. If I'd been told my newborn daughter was starving but they didn't provide formula it might have tipped me over the edge!

This has made me think though-we gave it to her in a cup which wasn't sterilised. I just washed it out between feeds. Didn't occur to me at all (knew nothing about formula feeing as had intended to breastfeed)-you'd have thought the midwives would have told me, if not provided means to sterilise.

MrsTerryPratchett · 12/10/2011 03:47

lovingthecoast, not only lazy here but cheap and fat as well . I've lost 25lbs BFing, spent no money on FF and sat on the sofa A LOT. Silly DD keeps trying to drop feeds. I tell her I need the cake calories removed!

As for the formula in hospital... I think they will always provide formula if it is deemed medically necessary but if not, why should they provide something that costs money in lieu of something free? If I wanted San Pellegrino after giving birth (which I did) I brought it in. There was free tap water had I wanted that.

buttonmoon78 · 12/10/2011 07:25

entropygirl Wed 12-Oct-11 01:59:07
I'll probably get toasted for saying this but: replacing breast milk with formula increases babies risks of all sort of health issues from stomach upsets to SIDS Why would the nhs pay money to harm health?

It's NOT like providing free cigarettes to smokers but it isnt a million miles off - maybe more like providing free cake to the obese?

How dare you?! I am not prone to getting into bunfights on here but that was possibly the most insensitive, idiotic, crass and ignorant comment I've read in a while.

I'm so glad that bf came so easily to you. For those of us who try hard but just never manage to get it to work, ff is a life saver. Literally.

I don't agree with the term but I can see why some people are labelled things such as 'bf nazi' when they make such nasty remarks.

And fwiw I don't think the nhs should provide formula if you are choosing to ff. You can now buy packs of little ready to feed bottles like the ones (I think) you used to get given.

DawnOfTheDeementedDead · 12/10/2011 07:31

If cost of formula is really an issue for those on low income, why don't they use the free milk tokens they get to actally buy formula to take into hospital with them?

Wormshuffler · 12/10/2011 07:39

The article says they will still provide sterile teats and bottles, so it is not at all unreasonable. I agree with the comment regarding the cartons being 7 oz, you are lucky if a newborn takes 2oz.

Kayzr · 12/10/2011 07:42

When I had DS1 the hospital I went to said if mums wanted to FF then they has to supply the formula. So nothing new to me. It was 4 and a half years ago.

lilham · 12/10/2011 07:45

In the hospital I gave birth, there are no free formula in the postnatal ward. If you choose to ff, you bring your own. Do you think the hospital should give you a free tommee tippee newborn kit too? Since you will also need that if you ff?

However there are free formula in the SCBU. When DD was readmitted for jaundice, she was forced fed formula despite my objection. They wouldnt allow me to feed her first before putting her on the billibed. I wouldn't bore you with the details but let's just say the consultant was very pro-ff.

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