Do you think that hospitals should provide formula milk?

[flubdub]

Oh and before I fall off "my high horse", I'd like to point out that I FF my two eldest and BF this one, so am by no means looking down on FF mums.

 

[tu123]

How much do lactation specialists and other bf services cost to the nhs?

Im assuming they are provided by the nhs? I really dont know.

As a specialist nurse myself (not lactation!) 45 000 plus.

After all the rukkas-formula NEEDS to be available. My LO screamed on my boobs and we battled for 3 weeks (with her ever decreasing weight). I believe formula SHOULD be free and available-after all-it is like medicine for babies. I do think if you plan to FF from the getgo it would be good to bring some in. We were on the ward for 7 days and 6 nights and we soooo struggled with BF. Next time we will bring some prefilled just in case purely because of the guilt i felt when the MW passed over a prefilled bottle saying she needed feeding


End of-it should be provided -it is life for some babies-was for mine-poor thing never slept because she was hungry and i knew nothing

SmA give alot of free prefilled milk to many hospitals. But there will still be a hospital budget; organising the recycled bottles for delivery back to manufacturer, changing of the bin, etc.

I also have to add that NHS services are better funded in the North of GBR. So you may have more than a £1/day per three meal per patient food budget. From what i have dealt with and read in the past it is down to a population per pound ratio-which is why so many of you mums in the North had reasonable grub provided after birth and on the ward compared to my Oliver Twist slop in London.

I do not see this as a BF/FF debate. i desperatly tried to feed LO by boob but she screamed and screamed-we had a shit week from birth on a shit post natal ward-i swear that was the start. Anyway, I gave her EBM till 4 months using a hired Medala breast pump at £40/mth. Formula HAS to be allways available, for those mums who have said their hospitals didnt stock any-total utter bollocks-they HAVE TOO!!!!!!!! Policy and Procedure business. You are just detered as much as possible so the ward can meet it's BF targets on discharge. Believe me-it is that harsh-and crap.

And once again it comes down to the fact that pre formula babies DIED due to malnutrition "failure to thrive". Not all mum/babies are capable. We do not live in a culture where we have other BF mummies who "donate".

Formula is neccessary on a post natal ward. But next time i will bring my own just in case my next bun is just as "allergic" to my boobs

 

[louandivy]

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

I don't really want to get sucked into an argument but I'll answer your question.

From Unicef and the Department of Health:

Breastfeeding babies and their mothers are at lower risk of certain illnesses. There are therefore potential cost savings for the wider health care system. It was estimated in 1995 that the NHS spends £35 million per year in England and Wales in treating gastro-enteritis in formula-fed infants and that, for every one per cent increase in breastfeeding at 13 weeks, £500,000 would be saved in the treatment of gastro-enteritis

That is just one single health condition of many that formula fed babies are at higher risk from.

My LO caught gastro-enteritis from his BFed cousin!!!! So clearly BF isn't all that cracked up to be!

stupid comment is stupid

 

[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.

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

I don't really want to get sucked into an argument but I'll answer your question.

From Unicef and the Department of Health:

Breastfeeding babies and their mothers are at lower risk of certain illnesses. There are therefore potential cost savings for the wider health care system. It was estimated in 1995 that the NHS spends £35 million per year in England and Wales in treating gastro-enteritis in formula-fed infants and that, for every one per cent increase in breastfeeding at 13 weeks, £500,000 would be saved in the treatment of gastro-enteritis

That is just one single health condition of many that formula fed babies are at higher risk from.

My LO caught gastro-enteritis from his BFed cousin!!!! So clearly BF isn't all that cracked up to be!

It lowers the risk, it doesnt eliminate it.

 

[Christine1993]

My son has had gastroenteritis and is breastfed. Well, we think it was that. It lowers the risk, nothing can prevent never getting ill.

 

[LoraLoo]

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

I don't really want to get sucked into an argument but I'll answer your question.

From Unicef and the Department of Health:

Breastfeeding babies and their mothers are at lower risk of certain illnesses. There are therefore potential cost savings for the wider health care system. It was estimated in 1995 that the NHS spends £35 million per year in England and Wales in treating gastro-enteritis in formula-fed infants and that, for every one per cent increase in breastfeeding at 13 weeks, £500,000 would be saved in the treatment of gastro-enteritis

That is just one single health condition of many that formula fed babies are at higher risk from.

My LO caught gastro-enteritis from his BFed cousin!!!! So clearly BF isn't all that cracked up to be!

I Breastfed my baby daughter Eve, she died at 5 days old from Meningococcal Septicaemia. The Dr's told me that hadn't I Breastfed, I wouldnt have had her for 5 days, she'd have died sooner. I am so, so grateful for the time I got with her, so for me, yes, Breastfeeding IS all its cracked up to be.

 

[AP]

Whats wrong with people just bringing it in? We bring our own clothes and everything else?

 

[Puddingpea11]

Can we stop with the " if you ff your child will be ill and cost the nhs milions" as this is upsetting.

I tried my hardest to bf and couldnt continue and as a result feel guilty and worried enough. Yes there is a higher chance of illness, but you are still likley to be ill if you are bf. AFter all arent you supposed to bf for 2 years? I doubt that we all do this and therefore cut our childs level of immunity. SUrely if bf was enough we wouldnt nee immunisation?- to answer myself,of course we would! BF is not the be all and end all...but it is the best choice as its what nature intended. But then again we all cant talk as we drink another species milk...cows!!!hahaha

 

[Puddingpea11]

Whats wrong with people just bringing it in? We bring our own clothes and everything else?

Yep, and you can by the premade bottle from boots now. SO no kettle boiling or cleaning needed in hospital.

 

[emilyjade]

My LO caught gastro-enteritis from his BFed cousin!!!! So clearly BF isn't all that cracked up to be!

thought this wasnt meant to be BF vs FF!

 

[special_kala]

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

I don't really want to get sucked into an argument but I'll answer your question.

From Unicef and the Department of Health:

Breastfeeding babies and their mothers are at lower risk of certain illnesses. There are therefore potential cost savings for the wider health care system. It was estimated in 1995 that the NHS spends £35 million per year in England and Wales in treating gastro-enteritis in formula-fed infants and that, for every one per cent increase in breastfeeding at 13 weeks, £500,000 would be saved in the treatment of gastro-enteritis

That is just one single health condition of many that formula fed babies are at higher risk from.

My LO caught gastro-enteritis from his BFed cousin!!!! So clearly BF isn't all that cracked up to be!

I Breastfed my baby daughter Eve, she died at 5 days old from Meningococcal Septicaemia. The Dr's told me that hadn't I Breastfed, I wouldnt have had her for 5 days, she'd have died sooner. I am so, so grateful for the time I got with her, so for me, yes, Breastfeeding IS all its cracked up to be.

 

[freckleonear]

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

I don't really want to get sucked into an argument but I'll answer your question.

From Unicef and the Department of Health:

Breastfeeding babies and their mothers are at lower risk of certain illnesses. There are therefore potential cost savings for the wider health care system. It was estimated in 1995 that the NHS spends £35 million per year in England and Wales in treating gastro-enteritis in formula-fed infants and that, for every one per cent increase in breastfeeding at 13 weeks, £500,000 would be saved in the treatment of gastro-enteritis

That is just one single health condition of many that formula fed babies are at higher risk from.

My LO caught gastro-enteritis from his BFed cousin!!!! So clearly BF isn't all that cracked up to be!

I think failing to understand the concept of risks and statistics is partly why people get so worked up about controversial subjects like formula feeding, early weaning, forward facing carseats, etc. Statistically certain things increase certain risks, while other things reduce certain risks. It doesn't mean that if you do A you will suffer from Y, or if you do B you will avoid Z.

 

[Christine1993]

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

I don't really want to get sucked into an argument but I'll answer your question.

From Unicef and the Department of Health:

Breastfeeding babies and their mothers are at lower risk of certain illnesses. There are therefore potential cost savings for the wider health care system. It was estimated in 1995 that the NHS spends £35 million per year in England and Wales in treating gastro-enteritis in formula-fed infants and that, for every one per cent increase in breastfeeding at 13 weeks, £500,000 would be saved in the treatment of gastro-enteritis

That is just one single health condition of many that formula fed babies are at higher risk from.

My LO caught gastro-enteritis from his BFed cousin!!!! So clearly BF isn't all that cracked up to be!

I Breastfed my baby daughter Eve, she died at 5 days old from Meningococcal Septicaemia. The Dr's told me that hadn't I Breastfed, I wouldnt have had her for 5 days, she'd have died sooner. I am so, so grateful for the time I got with her, so for me, yes, Breastfeeding IS all its cracked up to be.

 

[24/7]

I think it should be available in hospital, if you pay - In some hospitals it is available in vending machines which is think is a good idea in that it is available, but at a cost.

My hospital don't provide gluten free meals, so even I have to take my own meals in when I have LO....

 

[sjminimac]

my baby was hospitalised at christmas with viral gastroenteritis, he's exclusively breast fed so i feel like i'm qualified to comment on this. What your lo caught will be the same, VIRAL gastroenteritis. Breastfeeding does not create some kind of forcefield around babies, no one is saying it does. But what it does do is provide a huge amount of health benefits to mum and baby which i'm not going to go into because i'm not going to patronise you. What i will say is that your statement of bf not being all it's cracked up to bf is ridiculous. Should i have said oh well my baby is poorly bf didn't work might as well give him formula?

 

[Annabel]

I think they should provide it, even for mums who plan to FF.

IMO I dont think it would be practical in a hospital environment prepare your own bottles. You need sterile bottles, (I know you can get ready made up milk, but you still need the sterile bottles to put it in). Its one thing preparing your hospital bag, but I wouldn't fancy sterilising bottles while in labour! Just dont know how it would work to be honest!

 

[DanielleM]

When I left hospital I took about 6 bottles of formula home with me from the hospital (courtesy of the NHS)! I'm sorry girls I hold my hands up, the recession is my fault not the bankers!! LOL!!

 

[tu123]

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

I don't really want to get sucked into an argument but I'll answer your question.

From Unicef and the Department of Health:

Breastfeeding babies and their mothers are at lower risk of certain illnesses. There are therefore potential cost savings for the wider health care system. It was estimated in 1995 that the NHS spends £35 million per year in England and Wales in treating gastro-enteritis in formula-fed infants and that, for every one per cent increase in breastfeeding at 13 weeks, £500,000 would be saved in the treatment of gastro-enteritis

That is just one single health condition of many that formula fed babies are at higher risk from.

My LO caught gastro-enteritis from his BFed cousin!!!! So clearly BF isn't all that cracked up to be!

I think failing to understand the concept of risks and statistics is partly why people get so worked up about controversial subjects like formula feeding, early weaning, forward facing carseats, etc. Statistically certain things increase certain risks, while other things reduce certain risks. It doesn't mean that if you do A you will suffer from Y, or if you do B you will avoid Z.

Exactly! i'd like to add that most of Unicef research (coming from first hand knowledge) is based on third world countries

 

[flubdub]

I think they should provide it, even for mums who plan to FF.

IMO I dont think it would be practical in a hospital environment to do it. You need sterile bottles, (I know you can get ready made up milk, but you still need the sterile bottles to put it in). Its one thing preparing your hospital bag, but I wouldn't fancy sterilising bottles while in labour! Just dont know how it would work to be honest!

It is something a lot of hospitals do now

 

[special_kala]

When I left hospital I took about 6 bottles of formula home with me from the hospital (courtesy of the NHS)! I'm sorry girls I hold my hands up, the recession is my fault not the bankers!! LOL!!