Do you think that hospitals should provide formula milk?

[Lightworker]

Bathbabe- its not about begrudging anyone anything. I was considering it from a purely economic point of view as that was the basis of my decision. The DH is pushing for more breastfeeding and this impacts the way in which NHS resources are allocated. It does not make economical sense to then offer free FF milk if their primary goal is to increase BFing. A good balance would be to provide it at a subsidized rate or for free to those that couldn't BF.

 

[flubdub]

Regarding the cost of lactation specialists, that's a slightly different issue as breastfeeding actually saves the NHS a lot of money in the long run due to health issues. I can't remember how many millions it's estimated to be off the top of my head, but certainly more than enough to cover the cost of breastfeeding advice and support.

Good point

 

[bigbetty]

NG09, aren't you kind of contradicting yourself? Complaining about people's snf of entitlement and in the next breath demanding free formula..

Not really, no. I am no demanding anything. I don't drink formula, it's my son who needed it.

It's the principle of the matter.... as in yes it's the mothers free choice to BF or not however if you choose to FF you will be charged for your childs food. Totally wrong IMHO.

But they want you to BF. Dont you think that saying, "You should breastfeed. Here, have a bottle of formula." is a mixed message?

It isn't as simple as that. Yes all women are encouraged to breastfeed, but if they choose not to does that mean they aren't entitled to the same level of support for their choice? Does it make me a second class mother because I have done what I feel is right for me and my baby?

Yes I chose to FF and yes I think it should be provided free to mothers in hosptial who have just given birth just the same as anyone else in hospital is provided their meals.

I don't expect nappies, cotton wool, wipes, mitts, hats etc to be provided because I don't expect my own knickers, clothes, toiletries etc to be provided.

 

[ellie]

I don't understand the argument that 'bf is free so formula should be free', that really doesn't make sense (except in exceptional medical circumstances perhaps when it would be classed as a medicine?). bf is free because our body makes it, formula isn't because its a product manufactured, yes if it is required medically then that would be different, but if it's a choice to use it then you choose the situation that goes along with it (ie. you buy it).

ALso this thread seems to have gone away from free formula in hospital while giving birth (so surely anything from a few hours to a week, usually - so how much difference would that really make to individual families financially?) to whether formula should be free full stop.

I dunno, I think people in this country expects waaaaay too much from the nhs, with its finite resources...

this is a general point, and of course some people will be in genuine dire circumstances - but - If people really want free formula, you should not be looking to the nhs to buy it for you, but perhaps to the manufacturers who make shedloads of profit from making it, shouldn't they be held accountable to the babies/mothers who need it then? Why don't people petition them or complain to them about how much it costs, not complain about the nhs not giving it to you?

 

[Sarah&Ady]

NG09, aren't you kind of contradicting yourself? Complaining about people's snf of entitlement and in the next breath demanding free formula..

Not really, no. I am no demanding anything. I don't drink formula, it's my son who needed it.

It's the principle of the matter.... as in yes it's the mothers free choice to BF or not however if you choose to FF you will be charged for your childs food. Totally wrong IMHO.

But they want you to BF. Dont you think that saying, "You should breastfeed. Here, have a bottle of formula." is a mixed message?

I don't really care what they want TBH, my body, my baby, my choice. I'm sure they prefer to see happy babies and happy mummy's at the end of the day, is that not what truly matters?

Yep your body your baby your choice so why shouldnt you pay for it?

OMG ... I just cant stay away from this thread!
So your body your choice .... so your choice to FF so pay for it???
Ok.. so you have cancer through smoking (your choice) pay for your own treatment?
You have failing liver through drinking (your choice) buy your own organ!
You have to have methadone through having a drug problem (your choice) .... buy your own matey!

Thing is... we do kinda 'buy' our own treatment / formula.. whatever.... whether you are employed / or have been employed you have contributed to this society... it is by this that the NHS is supported... so really I would like to say thanks to each and every one of you (Breast feeding and Formula feeding mamas) who paid for Jamies milk! Cheers!

 

[Maman]

i think its outrageous if you go in to have your baby with the intention of formula feeding but dont take any formula... i dont see why you would do that. Its like not taking nappies with you.

I think if the nhs can make cuts on small things then they should as id rather not have those little things for free if it means say one more nurse on the ward. I would even be happy to pay for food whilst staying there. I think some peopel see hospitals as hotels and that nhs means everything should be free, but i dont think so.

id be happy to buy items from the hospital whilst staying there such as; food, nappies, formula, bathing products, use of hairdryers, filtered water and maternity pads/breast pads. i think the hospital should sell those items on maternity wards as well.

 

[flubdub]

NG09, aren't you kind of contradicting yourself? Complaining about people's snf of entitlement and in the next breath demanding free formula..

Not really, no. I am no demanding anything. I don't drink formula, it's my son who needed it.

It's the principle of the matter.... as in yes it's the mothers free choice to BF or not however if you choose to FF you will be charged for your childs food. Totally wrong IMHO.

But they want you to BF. Dont you think that saying, "You should breastfeed. Here, have a bottle of formula." is a mixed message?

It isn't as simple as that. Yes all women are encouraged to breastfeed, but if they choose not to does that mean they aren't entitled to the same level of support for their choice? Does it make me a second class mother because I have done what I feel is right for me and my baby?

Yes I chose to FF and yes I think it should be provided free to mothers in hosptial who have just given birth just the same as anyone else in hospital is provided their meals.

I don't expect nappies, cotton wool, wipes, mitts, hats etc to be provided because I don't expect my own knickers, clothes, toiletries etc to be provided.

No, but at the same time, they are meant to be seen as discouraging it. Dishing it out at the door is not discouraging it.

Argh, its hard to write things without sounding rude. I promise Im not being. Im struggling to think of ways to put it

 

[special_kala]

jeez im only talking about them charging £1 for a bottle of formula...not suggesting it should be sooo expensive that you need to re mortgage!

 

[bathbabe]

Regarding the cost of lactation specialists, that's a slightly different issue as breastfeeding actually saves the NHS a lot of money in the long run due to health issues. I can't remember how many millions it's estimated to be off the top of my head, but certainly more than enough to cover the cost of breastfeeding advice and support.

First before anyone suggests im saying this

im not saying we should get rid lactation specialists im just saying you have help available if needed and its funded by the nhs.
Ff mummys get no help other than a few bottles of formula.

Also, there it is again... if you ff your child will be ill and cost the nhs millions lol

 

[ellie]

Also the question about 'lactation specialists' and bf support being worthwhile etc, doesn't really hold up in terms of hte financial arguments. As someone said that actually saves a lot of money for the nhs in the short and long term.
Anyway, I for one would have been more than happy to pay a fee for some bf support at the start, if only there was any of it actually available.

 

[Janidog]

Regarding the cost of lactation specialists, that's a slightly different issue as breastfeeding actually saves the NHS a lot of money in the long run due to health issues. I can't remember how many millions it's estimated to be off the top of my head, but certainly more than enough to cover the cost of breastfeeding advice and support.

Could you find me the equation then???? As i can't quite believe this

Working on the assumption that each specialist gets paid £25,000.00 a year, each hospital might have 3 to cover certain amount of patients, holidays etc......, 1000 hospitals that might have them which gives you an estimate of £75 million

 

[NG09]

OMG.. dishng it out???? What are you talking about, dishing out food to babies??

Out of interest, when you were in hospital having your LO did you refuse the food provided so you could stand your moral high ground and pay for your own?

 

[flubdub]

I don't understand the argument that 'bf is free so formula should be free', that really doesn't make sense (except in exceptional medical circumstances perhaps when it would be classed as a medicine?). bf is free because our body makes it, formula isn't because its a product manufactured, yes if it is required medically then that would be different, but if it's a choice to use it then you choose the situation that goes along with it (ie. you buy it).

ALso this thread seems to have gone away from free formula in hospital while giving birth (so surely anything from a few hours to a week, usually - so how much difference would that really make to individual families financially?) to whether formula should be free full stop.

I dunno, I think people in this country expects waaaaay too much from the nhs, with its finite resources...

this is a general point, and of course some people will be in genuine dire circumstances - but - If people really want free formula, you should not be looking to the nhs to buy it for you, but perhaps to the manufacturers who make shedloads of profit from making it, shouldn't they be held accountable to the babies/mothers who need it then? Why don't people petition them or complain to them about how much it costs, not complain about the nhs not giving it to you?

 

[dom85]

It's tough because there's such a touchy subject especially when you've just given birth. Right now I would be happy to pay for the formula that Brady had in the hospital but if they had asked me when he was born I think I'd be in bits, I had a horrible induction, in labour for 5 days then a emcs and because I had gestation diabetes Brady was born with low blood sugar so he had to have formula straight away which damaged our breastfeeding relationship right from the start.

But of course i would have paid for it, my baby needed it. What would have been even better is if there was some kind of breastfeeding supporter/consultant who wasn't also a midwife and looking after a million different things and could have spent time with me (and another mummy across from me who having trouble) showing me proper latch and how to BF in a position that wasn't painful after a c section.

 

[Windmills]

See, I'm not even against free formula, but I'm not really for it either it doesn't bother me either way though.
The methadone/cancer treatment argument is ridiculous though. If you can't afford like £5 for formula for your hospital stay, you probably should be more concerned about paying for it for the next year of your child's life.

 

[honey08]

well when i had morgan cos i wudnt buy the silly little tubs, i bought a lrg tub and put loads in a containter but they wudnt let me use it un-titled forumla so i used there sma ... there was loads. also nappies, but no i dnt think they shud provide it

 

[flubdub]

OMG.. dishng it out???? What are you talking about, dishing out food to babies??

Out of interest, when you were in hospital having your LO did you refuse the food provided so you could stand your moral high ground and pay for your own?

Erm, is that aimed at me? You need to calm down!

You will see under my post I actually APOLOGISED for not being able to think of a better way to put it and that I realise it sounded rude!!

I havnt attacked you ONCE on this thread, why are you having a go at me?! No I didnt refuse food, how ridiculous!

 

[Sarah10]

i think its outrageous if you go in to have your baby with the intention of formula feeding but dont take any formula... i dont see why you would do that. Its like not taking nappies with you.

I think if the nhs can make cuts on small things then they should as id rather not have those little things for free if it means say one more nurse on the ward. I would even be happy to pay for food whilst staying there. I think some peopel see hospitals as hotels and that nhs means everything should be free, but i dont think so.

id be happy to buy items from the hospital whilst staying there such as; food, nappies, formula, bathing products, use of hairdryers, filtered water and maternity pads/breast pads. i think the hospital should sell those items on maternity wards as well.

Agree, i bought my own food, i had diabetes and the food wasn't suitable (even though they had Diabetic choices) my sugar levels were too out of control, and i didn't actually mind bringing my food.
Way i see it is i chose to have a baby, my duty to pay for him and my supplies in there. at the time i was on a low income and was told to claim back my travel which i didn't, i chose to get pregnant, why should they pay my journey? hmm i'm going off topic now lol

 

[mommy2lilmen]

I my hospitals around here they encourage breastfeeding but if you chose to formula feed then they have their own brand they provide. To me its more of a sales gimic, that they start the babies on it and tell you that you should stick to it. I never listened. But I do agree parents should provide it but our hospitals have it. Its Enfamil A= they have for newborns and bigger babies that have to stay over night while sick. THey do have the lactose free kind to at my hospitals. They even provide baby food when infants are in the hospital. I found that nice as my lo wouldnt eat and got very sick, he was 8 months old. THey say if they provide the food then they know exactly how much is being served and can measure to see how much they ate. Same when newborn for formula feeding.

 

[louandivy]

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