Do you think that hospitals should provide formula milk?

[ellie]

Im still shocked at how many people are saying the nhs are responsible for providing free formula when they have NO MONEY ... any ideas how much it would cost them to buy in however much formula needed for however many babies born in the UK who are formula fed every year ? Now that would be a complicated sum ...

I still think that no one can expect the nHS to do more than its doing. Unless formula is reclassified - because currently it is not classed as a medicine, it is classed as a "luxury product" manufactured for profit. Unless it is reclassified to be a medicine and manufacturers are held to account for supplying it for free to the nhs, its their responsibility for much the stuff costs, not the nhs!

 

[Kota]

What a shock to see this thread has descended into the BF v FF debate again...and resulted in completely irrelevant points being brought up. Dull dull dull.

In answer to the OPs question - I knew I had to bring in my own nappies, wipes etc for LO when going into hospital. If I knew I had to take formula as that wasn't provided I would have been equally happy to do so. I planned to BF so wouldn't have taken any in with me (as it was LO didn't feed for nearly three days and got jaundiced, so I FF for bit in hospital and then combi fed (by expressing) at home, before switching to full FF from about 8/9 weeks. I hate that I have to explain this every time...but I feel like I do.). But I would have sent DH out for some if need be - just as he would have had to go out if we had not brought nappies etc. As it is our hospital provides free formula. Gosh, I had lactation specialists (a labour ward sister was a BF-ing consultant for UNICEF), made use of free formula and combi-fed...I'm an outcast on all sides

If you breast feed for however long - it's free. If you FF, it costs you money. I don't see what the difference is because you are in hospital. If you have a home birth the MW doesn't pull out a free tub of SMA. If you had to pay for it in hospital or bring your own - why is that such a big shock? It's just how life is going be while your LO is FF-ing. And the majority (not everyone - I know) of people are in for a day or two, with three or four days considered quite a long stay. So the small amounts of formula you would need would be pretty negligible to one person in terms of cost, yet to a maternity unit, supplying hundreds of these every week, it would be immense.

One more thing - in regard to points like I would rather formula be provided than methadone (just one that stuck out), that is neither relevant, nor helpful.

Exactly! The NHS are already about to have their doors shut, and don't have enough money for what they DO need to buy,
Would you rather those extra millions of ££ to supply formula to all the hospitals all over the UK, go to formula, or beds and nurses/Drs?

Sorry, but I find it extremely selfish to expect that it will just be handed to you free if thats the CHOICE you've made. Otherwise where does it stop?
Oh, I'd like you to supply me with cloth nappies please because you also have disposables in stock and its only fair??
Get a grip,. If you CHOOSE to use formula from birth, then you CHOOSE to accept the additional costs that go along with that, from birth.


Having formula availble for use when medically needed however is a different situation,

 

[mrsthomas623]

I read the first page and that was it but in the states they provide it and I have never thought twice about it. I think it is nice to have but shouldn't be expected.

 

[BabyJayne]

What a shock to see this thread has descended into the BF v FF debate again...and resulted in completely irrelevant points being brought up. Dull dull dull.

In answer to the OPs question - I knew I had to bring in my own nappies, wipes etc for LO when going into hospital. If I knew I had to take formula as that wasn't provided I would have been equally happy to do so. I planned to BF so wouldn't have taken any in with me (as it was LO didn't feed for nearly three days and got jaundiced, so I FF for bit in hospital and then combi fed (by expressing) at home, before switching to full FF from about 8/9 weeks. I hate that I have to explain this every time...but I feel like I do.). But I would have sent DH out for some if need be - just as he would have had to go out if we had not brought nappies etc. As it is our hospital provides free formula. Gosh, I had lactation specialists (a labour ward sister was a BF-ing consultant for UNICEF), made use of free formula and combi-fed...I'm an outcast on all sides

If you breast feed for however long - it's free. If you FF, it costs you money. I don't see what the difference is because you are in hospital. If you have a home birth the MW doesn't pull out a free tub of SMA. If you had to pay for it in hospital or bring your own - why is that such a big shock? It's just how life is going be while your LO is FF-ing. And the majority (not everyone - I know) of people are in for a day or two, with three or four days considered quite a long stay. So the small amounts of formula you would need would be pretty negligible to one person in terms of cost, yet to a maternity unit, supplying hundreds of these every week, it would be immense.

One more thing - in regard to points like I would rather formula be provided than methadone (just one that stuck out), that is neither relevant, nor helpful.

Exactly! The NHS are already about to have their doors shut, and don't have enough money for what they DO need to buy,
Would you rather those extra millions of ££ to supply formula to all the hospitals all over the UK, go to formula, or beds and nurses/Drs?

Sorry, but I find it extremely selfish to expect that it will just be handed to you free if thats the CHOICE you've made. Otherwise where does it stop?
Oh, I'd like you to supply me with cloth nappies please because you also have disposables in stock and its only fair??
Get a grip,. If you CHOOSE to use formula from birth, then you CHOOSE to accept the additional costs that go along with that, from birth.


Having formula availble for use when medically needed however is a different situation,

I do agree Kota - although be careful about the use of the word choice. I had to FF eventually through necessity not choice. Many people are in this boat.

 

[Natsku]

Here they provide free donated breast milk for any baby that needs it instead of providing formula. Much nicer in my opinion!

That's fantastic! Out of interest, how does that work? Is it just for mothers who are experiencing temporary problems breastfeeding and is it just provided while the babies are in hospital, or could it be provided long term for someone who decides they can't continue breastfeeding?

Its just provided while in the hospital (hehe I know cos we asked if we could take some home!). I don't know exactly how it works but they practically forced it on me when they decided my baby needed top ups. I think they have a lot of donated milk cos women are paid to donate so I expect its more popular.

 

[Lydiarose]

The answer is goats milk

 

[iceylou]

im lost with this thread

 

[freckleonear]

Here they provide free donated breast milk for any baby that needs it instead of providing formula. Much nicer in my opinion!

That's fantastic! Out of interest, how does that work? Is it just for mothers who are experiencing temporary problems breastfeeding and is it just provided while the babies are in hospital, or could it be provided long term for someone who decides they can't continue breastfeeding?

Its just provided while in the hospital (hehe I know cos we asked if we could take some home!). I don't know exactly how it works but they practically forced it on me when they decided my baby needed top ups. I think they have a lot of donated milk cos women are paid to donate so I expect its more popular.

Sounds like a really good system.

 

[Lydiarose]

im lost with this thread

 

[Natsku]

Here they provide free donated breast milk for any baby that needs it instead of providing formula. Much nicer in my opinion!

That's fantastic! Out of interest, how does that work? Is it just for mothers who are experiencing temporary problems breastfeeding and is it just provided while the babies are in hospital, or could it be provided long term for someone who decides they can't continue breastfeeding?

Its just provided while in the hospital (hehe I know cos we asked if we could take some home!). I don't know exactly how it works but they practically forced it on me when they decided my baby needed top ups. I think they have a lot of donated milk cos women are paid to donate so I expect its more popular.

Sounds like a really good system.

It is nice as babies don't have to have formula if the mother has a temperary problem with breastfeeding but we do pay around 30 euros a day for the hospital stay so we pay for it anyway! (but we do get nappies, clothes for baby, blankets etc all provided and loads free to take home!)

 

[Dizzymum]

I breast fed from birth, but if I had wanted to FF, then I would have expected to bring formula with me.
I noticed that other women on the ward were given their choice of formula.

 

[justlove]

Yes hospitals to provide it. After all a newborn is under the care of the hospital when born same as any patient, if a baby was born being able to eat normal food it would automatically get a MENU choice of 3shite meals a day so why not formula.

If hospital hadnt of provided any formula my LO would of starved as he was taken into special baby care unit for 6days which certainly wasnt planned and BF was not an option! I even had to borrow some sanitary towels although i admit the nurses said I could keep them and not borrow them lol

 

[bubbles]

I'm guessing this descended into chaos going by the number of pages, I'm not reading them all

No the NHS should not provide formula to those who choose to FF. Women have a choice, if you chose to FF you also made the choice to pay for it. Don't like having to pay for it? then don't do it

 

[sweetlullaby]

Also havn't read the whole thread but yes I believe that those who FF should have to supply your own formula.

Hospitals could probably keep a small emergency supply for emergencies and anyone else should bring their own. Would save the NHS a small fortune probably.

 

[Lydiarose]

have no words for some people on this forum

 

[justlove]

I'm guessing this descended into chaos going by the number of pages, I'm not reading them all

No the NHS should not provide formula to those who choose to FF. Women have a choice, if you chose to FF you also made the choice to pay for it. Don't like having to pay for it? then don't do it

But Bubbles, what about sterilizing bottles and such then they would have to provide facilities for that and then the is the cost of keep place clean etc, there was no facilities for that in the hospital i had my LO except in the Special baby care unit. surely its cheaper to provide a formula bottle and its not like its huge amounts given they usually like you out about 6hrs after having baby.

 

[pink.crazy]

I was amazed that they do provide it. And at my hospital it's in disposable bottles so for every feed the baby has you throw a bottle and teat away
I'm on the fence about it though.

 

[justlove]

I was amazed that they do provide it. And at my hospital it's in disposable bottles so for every feed the baby has you throw a bottle and teat away
I'm on the fence about it though.

Bottles get recycled teats yes thrown away for hygiene reasons, but then what about all the food that gets wasted by patients.

 

[justlove]

ok those of you who think bottles shouldnt be given in hospitals, why stop there lets not supply food to those who end up in hospital with swine flu after all isnt it there fault for not following hygiene rules.

Think its time for me to leave the thread

 

[jakey1]

I'm guessing this descended into chaos going by the number of pages, I'm not reading them all

No the NHS should not provide formula to those who choose to FF. Women have a choice, if you chose to FF you also made the choice to pay for it. Don't like having to pay for it? then don't do it

If you HAD read the thread then you would have seen that some people didn't have a choice in the matter. It's not as black and white as 'Don't like having to pay for it? then don't do it' My twins were born with extremely low birth weights and plummeting blood sugar levels and my milk didn't come in for 2 weeks. I had always intended to BF and taking formula with me as a precaution never really entered my head to be honest, so I'm really grateful that the hospital were able to provide me with an alternative