Do you think that hospitals should provide formula milk?

[maisiemoo]

When you have peadiactric intensive care units, beds in children wards etc closing due to cuts, do people seriously believe formula should be that readily available!!! Hospitals do supply formula, but if parents have chosen to formula feed from the start then they should bring their own.

 

[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.

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

WOOOAH don't jump on me! I used these bottles with both of my kids but I was just amazed at the amount of waste from each feed.. the bottles and teats all went in the clinical waste bags!

 

[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

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

Please re-read my post and note the part I bolded

@justlove A number of supermarkets (if not all) sell the hospital packs of formula including the sterile bottles and teats

 

[Tasha]

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

But swine flu might be caught because of someone else's lack of hygiene?

 

[Tasha]

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.

WOOOAH don't jump on me! I used these bottles with both of my kids but I was just amazed at the amount of waste from each feed.. the bottles and teats all went in the clinical waste bags!

Yea, the bottles are HUGE for first feeds arent they?

 

[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.

WOOOAH don't jump on me! I used these bottles with both of my kids but I was just amazed at the amount of waste from each feed.. the bottles and teats all went in the clinical waste bags!

Sorry pink.crazy I didnt mean to come across as I was having a pop at ya. x

 

[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.

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

WOOOAH don't jump on me! I used these bottles with both of my kids but I was just amazed at the amount of waste from each feed.. the bottles and teats all went in the clinical waste bags!

Yea, the bottles are HUGE for first feeds arent they?

Yeah, Leo only used to take about 10ml at a time initially and they had about 120 in!! Total waste!

 

[Tasha]

Yeah, Leo only used to take about 10ml at a time initially and they had about 120 in!! Total waste!

Yea, I dont imagine many newborns will taking 120 mls

 

[justlove]

Bubbles I have as yet to find those cow & gate starter packs which include bottles because I would of stocked up loads and handy for when go out instead of the ready made cartons or for when I was making up fresh bottles per feed (doh me).

Tasha I was just using swine flu as an example couldnt think of anything else but its the same as not everyone has the option of being able to bf.

Im having one of those moments whereas I wish oh dear i should of just R&R now lol. x

 

[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

Please re-read my post and note the part I bolded

@justlove A number of supermarkets (if not all) sell the hospital packs of formula including the sterile bottles and teats

Apologies bubbles - I didn't notice that you were specifically referring to those who chose to FF from the word go, so I take back my last post where I quoted what you had said

However, I still stand by my opinion that if a mum decides to FF from the off for whatever reasons, then formula should be provided on the basis that babies are patients in that hospital, and have as much right to a meal as any other patient who gets their meal provided free of charge. But this is all going round in circles now so I'm gonna retire for the night

 

[tiger]

https://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb75/lucillemclennan/yGFNa.gif

im sorry to but in, my i was reading the thread and got very angry at some comments and then saw this and actually choked on my coffee from laughing
thankyou louandlivy you have honestly just made my day!
ok on topic - im not going to do a long post because i cant be bothered as i have my own opinion and as ive already learnt from this forum, no amount of arguing is going to change my opinion.
yes i think hospitals should provide formula. i was not able to hold my son for 3hrs after he was born as i had a emcs under a general so was asleep and he was screaming for food straight after he was born so my partner gave him a bottle of formula (due to hospitals orders). of course i didnt want him to be on formula but he had to. i would rather they provide formula, then let hungry babies scream and cry and lose weight.
that is all. i dont personally want to reply to some of the comments so ill sit back and

 

[xnmd1]

My hospital supplies the milk. Atleast for NICU babies, any ways.
I was bf but they did top up my LO once with similac. I'm pretty sure anyone can use the hospitals formula, though.

 

[xnmd1]

oh jeez, didnt realize how long this was untill I replied i suppose ive missed something

 

[Farie]

I think it should be available as emergency stock only, if you go in know you want to FF then you should provide your own milk. If you for whatever reason cannot feed your baby yourself then milk should be made available to keep bub nurished.

 

[Farie]

oh jeez, didnt realize how long this was untill I replied i suppose ive missed something

Ditto Oohhppps

 

[xnmd1]

My mum said that in her day they provided nappies, cotton wool, lotions and potions to clean baby up AND even a wee hat and mitts...Also if im not mistaken a blanket too!

Ah the good old days

Im in the process of reading through the thread and have got this far. Just wanted to throw in -- they still provide all those things at my hospital.

They even provided OH with his own bed, blankets, and pillows, and told him to help himself to as many pillows as hed like.

They clothed my LO in the NICU in little pants and a shirt and mittens and when I wanted to put LOs own clothes on him., they let me, but they insisted on washing them for me after wards.

They were so lovely to all of us .. except for one nurse, but thats a story for another thread

ETA: now that I think of it. My hosital even sent me home with a package of diapers, a package of wipes, and six 1 oz (30 ml) bottles (that was all my LO drank at the time) with nipples, as well as about 100 storage bags for my breast milk, and a half sized tin of formula

 

[mrsthomas623]

My mum said that in her day they provided nappies, cotton wool, lotions and potions to clean baby up AND even a wee hat and mitts...Also if im not mistaken a blanket too!

Ah the good old days

Im in the process of reading through the thread and have got this far. Just wanted to throw in -- they still provide all those things at my hospital.

They even provided OH with his own bed, blankets, and pillows, and told him to help himself to as many pillows as hed like.

They clothed my LO in the NICU in little pants and a shirt and mittens and when I wanted to put LOs own clothes on him., they let me, but they insisted on washing them for me after wards.

They were so lovely to all of us .. except for one nurse, but thats a story for another thread

ETA: now that I think of it. My hosital even sent me home with a package of diapers, a package of wipes, and six 1 oz (30 ml) bottles (that was all my LO drank at the time) with nipples, as well as about 100 storage bags for my breast milk, and a half sized tin of formula

I know! The nurses here practically shove diapers, dry wipes, shampoo, nasal bulbs, extra hats, shirts and formula (if FFing) in your bags! I loved it. We have really good insurance though... it only cost $5 to have Nolan, we called him $5 footlong when I was pregnant. I know some people have to pay quite a bit and I feel like they deserve formula and goodies!

 

[PepsiChic]

depending on what country your in and if you choose private or not depends on what is provided.

here in the US is is standard for the hopsital to provide you with diapers, multiple bottles of ready made formula as well as gifts of teddys tins of formula, bottle bag, blankets, i even got a sippy cup! your literally loaded with stuff to take home with you, i BF and i was still given 8 ready made formula bottles and 2 tins of formula!

i know in UK public hospitals you dont get much and your not allowed to take things home. but if you pay for private ive been told you do get given some stuff including formula.

do i think formula should be given out in hospitals...im really not sure. although it was a nice gesture i told them from the moment i walked in that i was BF and i didnt get ANY equipment to help with it. they gave me a nipple shield to use because i had inverted nipples and then charged me for it so that i could keep it yet all the formula they gave me was free?!

so if they are going to give out formula...why not give stuff to help the BF mums too, i mean after all they are suppose to try and encourage breastfeeding.

otherwise dont give anything out at all!

 

[mrsthomas623]

depending on what country your in and if you choose private or not depends on what is provided.

here in the US is is standard for the hopsital to provide you with diapers, multiple bottles of ready made formula as well as gifts of teddys tins of formula, bottle bag, blankets, i even got a sippy cup! your literally loaded with stuff to take home with you, i BF and i was still given 8 ready made formula bottles and 2 tins of formula!

i know in UK public hospitals you dont get much and your not allowed to take things home. but if you pay for private ive been told you do get given some stuff including formula.

do i think formula should be given out in hospitals...im really not sure. although it was a nice gesture i told them from the moment i walked in that i was BF and i didnt get ANY equipment to help with it. they gave me a nipple shield to use because i had inverted nipples and then charged me for it so that i could keep it.

so if they are going to give out formula...why not give stuff to help the BF mums too, i mean after all they are suppose to try and encourage breastfeeding.

otherwise dont give anything out at all!

That is really a shame.

They brought me a top of the line pump to use and extra bits for it to keep, they set me up with lactation specialist to come to my room (although I had 2 at once trying to get Nolan to latch with no success ) and info for the la leche league to help in home.

 

[ShanandBoc]

Yes they should. FF mums shouldnt be discriminated against for their choice.

Mums receive free food so should babies.