Do you think that hospitals should provide formula milk?

[ShanandBoc]

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

They still do here!! In Aus we get free formula, nappies, lotions, wipes the whole works. They provided everything. This was in the public system too not private

 

[tiger]

shanaandboc- its the same in qld, altho im not sure if they provide formula if you choose to bf ? i planned on bf'ing so dont know.

 

[ShanandBoc]

However if a mother chooses to use formula because she simply can't be bothered with breastfeeding (and no I am not implying anyone here is like that!) then she would have known ahead of time how she felt and had a tin of formula packed into her hospital bag.

You are still implying that a mother who FF may be doing so cause they cant be bothered? This is why there is a FF v's BF debate all the time. Lack of respect for peoples choices and judging them for it and degrading them. That comment really irked me tbh. FF takes work too you know.....

 

[ShanandBoc]

shanaandboc- its the same in qld, altho im not sure if they provide formula if you choose to bf ? i planned on bf'ing so dont know.

Me too, i did end up successfully BF for 3 months but had alot of issues, and in hospital i ended up putting her on formula for 24 hrs as she lost too much weight due to not latching, so i was very grateful

 

[ShanandBoc]

...... so because I didn't want to bf when my son was born he should go hungry at the hospital or I should have to pay for him to eat when every other patient there eats for free????? Am I missing something here???? This can't be serious

Who said he should go hungry?

Yes other patients eat for free but then they dont have a alternative do they?

Well according to this reasoning they could bring their own food? Just like you are saying Formula fed babies should! Whats the difference??

 

[RinnaRoo]

I think that hospitals should provide everything that a mother and her child needs for anything. May it be formula, or nipple shields, or a nursing consultant, or whatever. Thats what I pay taxes for, or insurance if you have that privately. I was on medical assistance from the state, so I didnt have to pay for anything. DR, hospital, delivery, anything. Which is wonderful for low income.
ANYWAY, I think we all knew what this was going to turn in to, and its shitty that other people can judge one anothers choices on how they raise children. There should be no shame in the choices that we make in caring for our children. Im sure we all have healthy, happy babies, even if they are on a human nipple, or a rubber one.

 

[2016]

I think they should have some formula available for emergencies - I can only imagine what if a woman got rushed in to deliver and didn't have time to pack formula etc. in her bag but already knew she wanted to FF. I personally would do everything I could to avoid giving formula the hospital provided though because I'm picky and would want LO on the formula I chose from the start.
Don't hospitals have to be careful not to be seen to be promoting any particular brands? I know my doctor went pale when he recommended formula to help LOs reflux and I asked if he could recommend any. He quickly changed the topic!

Just thought, would the hospitals then need to stock a soy formula too for those babes allergic to cows milk or lactose intolerant or with vegan parents for example? Hmmm could get complicated.

What I found a bit upsetting was when LO was in hospital recently for a few days, his bed was next to another little boy a few months older. I would get given meals because I BF but she got nothing because she FF. She had to keep leaving her LO being watched by me or a nurse so she could dash to the vending machine or cafe! Poor woman! Her partner was only able to visit once during her stay and she was so much more concerned he bring everything LO needed she forgot to ask him to bring food for her! So when my hubby came every day I would ask her to place an order for the days food and he would buy it for her from the shop at the end of our road. I thought not feeding a worried mummy who was up all night in hospital with a sick child was just cruel.
Sorry for rambling a bit on a tangent there...

 

[aliss]

I don't really care either way.

However, when I was pregnant, I was working full-time and paid over $1800 in taxes per month alone, and was very disappointed to have a female OBGYN at my delivery.

With those kind of taxes, I expected this in the delivery room:

https://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s228/SynthCop/male-nurse.jpg

This is an outrage. Stephen Harper will PAY, you damn conservative.

 

[ShanandBoc]

Aliss

 

[PrayinForBaby]

havent read whole thread....but yes, they SHOULD have to provide it...if they didnt when my LO was in the NICU and her blood sugar dropped they had to give her formula to raise it back or a glucose injection. I preferred the formula over the injection. And it is the mothers choice whether it be from the very start or not.

 

[xnmd1]

For all the people who think we should have to pay for formula, i'm going to throw a question out there.

If your baby was say .. 3 months old, they are formula fed, and were hospitalized because they were ill .. would you expect the hospital to provide your childs formula? Or would you bring in a tin of formula for them give to your LO .. since a lot of you have been saying it should be your responsibility?

Personally I would be expecting them to feed my LO during his hospital stay, just as i'd expect them to feed me if I was staying there. What is the difference with a new born? They are still a patient in the hospital when they are minutes old, just like the would be if they were three months old , or 6 months old, or 11 months old, and in the hospital.

 

[xnmd1]

I don't really care either way.

However, when I was pregnant, I was working full-time and paid over $1800 in taxes per month alone, and was very disappointed to have a female OBGYN at my delivery.

With those kind of taxes, I expected this in the delivery room:

https://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s228/SynthCop/male-nurse.jpg

This is an outrage. Stephen Harper will PAY, you damn conservative.

throw some scrubs over that, and that basically IS what the doctor in the delivery room looked like!

I was feeling quite embarrased that I hadn't shaved in two weeks and looked like a car wreck down there afterwards anyways

 

[ShanandBoc]

For all the people who think we should have to pay for formula, i'm going to throw a question out there.

If your baby was say .. 3 months old, they are formula fed, and were hospitalized because they were ill .. would you expect the hospital to provide your childs formula? Or would you bring in a tin of formula for them give to your LO .. since a lot of you have been saying it should be your responsibility?

Personally I would be expecting them to feed my LO during his hospital stay, just as i'd expect them to feed me if I was staying there. What is the difference with a new born? They are still a patient in the hospital when they are minutes old, just like the would be if they were three months old , or 6 months old, or 11 months old, and in the hospital.

Agreed!! They would provide food for a person of any other age staying there so why not a baby on formula??

Great point!!

 

[tu123]

Jeez- i left this thread when LO woke up-and hubby was getting pissed at me for being on line

As i have already said formula NEEDS to be available for FF and BF mummies at the end of the day you never know what will happen. But, for me, next time i shall take a box of prefilled bottles with me. I felt awful asking for another one. I know that is silly but i had such guilt over my LO's rejection of my boobs. You can buy a box of 15 C and G and SMA in most large Boots and supermarkets for about £15. I havent seen Hipp or Aptamil pre filled but i bet you can get them from a distributor.

 

[EverythingXd]

My hospital supplied it, my LO had it a couple of times while I was struggling to BF. I remember them asking me which sort I wanted so they had different types too.

I think they should supply it. I intended to BF from the start so hadn't even bought any formula or FFing equipment. It seems silly that every single mum should buy formula to take to hospital in case they can't BF and need it. And it would be wrong to discriminate against anyone based on whether they FF by choice or not.

 

[Windmills]

For all the people who think we should have to pay for formula, i'm going to throw a question out there.

If your baby was say .. 3 months old, they are formula fed, and were hospitalized because they were ill .. would you expect the hospital to provide your childs formula? Or would you bring in a tin of formula for them give to your LO .. since a lot of you have been saying it should be your responsibility?

Personally I would be expecting them to feed my LO during his hospital stay, just as i'd expect them to feed me if I was staying there. What is the difference with a new born? They are still a patient in the hospital when they are minutes old, just like the would be if they were three months old , or 6 months old, or 11 months old, and in the hospital.

Daisy was in hospital at 11 weeks and I had to take my own formula. My only complaint was that it was nearly double the price in the hospital shop, but there was a supermarket round the corner so But when I'm in hospital I don't eat their food, I get someone to bring me something better

 

[kmac625]

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

Wow that is wonderful!!!

Im from Canada and I think most ladies on here are from UK so it's a bit different as you get everything handed to you in our hospitals-diapers,creams,shampoo,pads,towels,etc etc etc. I think it should be available in hospitals but I think that it should not be offered. On day 3 of my son's life I was offered formula even though I was Breastfeeding and had voiced that this was my desire. There was no help for Breastfeeding at all. I just don't think they should be offering formula to a new, hormonal mum who is lacking confidence in the first few days. I'm strong and refused but I know lots of mums who accepted it and therefore gave up BFing and regret it now.

Not in my hospital. All women delivering at my hospital had to pay $20 and in return we got a small bag with 2 maternity pads, 10 newborn pampers, a knit hat for baby, a sample sized bottle of baby wash, a small comb for baby and the thing they use to remove the clamp from the umbilical cord. At our tour of the hospital we were given a list of stuff we should bring and I don't remember if formula was on it. Baby wipes and extra diapers were, as were nursing pads, maternity pads, clothes for baby, etc.

My hospital happens to be the only one in Toronto that is certified baby-friendly so bf is strongly encouraged. I always planned on bf and was in a private room so I have no idea if they provide free formula to ladies who had no intention of bf. When Clara lost 9.3% of her birth weight at 48 hours and they realized I was pretty much dry (just enough colostrum to say I had some) my midwife was called in (different than having a mw in the UK - having an ob is the norm here) and Clara was given some formula but not in a bottle. I was taught how to finger feed and also how to tape the feeding tube to my breast to help keep her on the breast. I suppose the one bottle of formula I used while in the hospital could be considered paid for in the $20 I had to pay anyway, but I would have gladly paid for it at the time, but it was free.

I understand both sides of the fence on this one and though I've thought lots about it after reading through all 30+ pages of this thread, I think I can honestly say I have no opinion on this one. Both sides make valid points and who am I to say who's right or wrong.

 

[smelly07]

Blimey still going....lol.....i cant believe people are kicking up such a fuss about newborn babies entitlement to eat for free like everyone else in the hospital....... i think they should stop offering boob jobs on the NHS that will save some money!!!!

 

[blinkybaby]

^^ LOL boob jobs on the NHS - now that is a completely different can of worms! Are you sure you want to open it? lol xxx

 

[smelly07]

^^ LOL boob jobs on the NHS - now that is a completely different can of worms! Are you sure you want to open it? lol xxx

Hhmmmmmm probably not lol but its was the only thing i could think off to try and make a point that money could be saved elsewhere

Two people i know had boob jobs on the NHS as the werent happy with their what ever size boobies they had x