Do you think that hospitals should provide formula milk?

[Maman]

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.

its happened and i took my own formula and a bag of breastmilk.

its called taking responsibility for your baby. Dont compare formula to food as its much more expensive, we both know that. and if me taking formula meant they could afford better machines/more nurses/better resources then id choose that over them providing formula.

 

[indy and lara]

There is no need for this to be a FF vs BF debate.

The reality is that the NHS does not have an infinite pot of money. I would not have expected the NHS provide all Emma's milk if I had FF. Of course they are going to need some for emergencies but beyond that I think it is your responsibility as a parent to provide milk. Yes, some money is wasted by the NHS but there has to come a point when we stop and try to make changes which will impact positively. Personally I would rather that there is money for people to have the medical treatments they need than free milk in maternity wards.

 

[ShanandBoc]

Im sure they would get formula alot damn cheaper than we do. Actually with the price of food these days, the food probably costs them more!

 

[maisiemoo]

This thread is really annoying me. I know of a number of children born with the same condition as mine, yet they cannot get the vital medical treatment they need as soon as they need it because hospitals are under such pressure to money save. Instead, these children and their parents have to live with it, whereby some a sufferring because the resources are not there or it's a case they simply cannot meet demand. Despite this, PICU's and beds in childrens wards are being reduced further!!!

So here we are, quibbling about bloody formula provisions! I think it should be supplied in an instance of emergency os if your child is hospitalised for a period of time, but I would much rather NHS money being spent on life saving equipment and resouces rather than helping parents save a few quid.

 

[ShanandBoc]

This thread is really annoying me. I know of a number of children born with the same condition as mine, yet they cannot get the vital medical treatment they need as soon as they need it because hospitals are under such pressure to money save. Instead, these children and their parents have to live with it, whereby some a sufferring because the resources are not there or it's a case they simply cannot meet demand. Despite this, PICU's and beds in childrens wards are being reduced further!!!

So here we are, quibbling about bloody formula provisions! I think it should be supplied in an instance of emergency os if your child is hospitalised for a period of time, but I would much rather NHS money being spent on life saving equipment and resouces rather than helping parents save a few quid.

Thats unfair. In that case NO food or drink,should be provided for any patients in hospital at all. I think thats a basic need!

I dont think the problem lies with formula, more lack of government funding. Thats the real problem. Not baby food!

 

[XfairyhopesX]

Like i said i have no problem with taking it should you need to but are you allowed to as hosp are v v funny re bringing in things arnt they i couldnt see my hosp doing it!!

 

[baby.love]

There is no need for this to be a FF vs BF debate.

The reality is that the NHS does not have an infinite pot of money. I would not have expected the NHS provide all Emma's milk if I had FF. Of course they are going to need some for emergencies but beyond that I think it is your responsibility as a parent to provide milk. Yes, some money is wasted by the NHS but there has to come a point when we stop and try to make changes which will impact positively. Personally I would rather that there is money for people to have the medical treatments they need than free milk in maternity wards.

I totally agree with this

When my eldest was born 12 years ago i didnt know if i was going to FF or BF, So i took a tin of formula into hospital with me. I didnt even know that they supplied it for free and i certainly didnt expect it. In the end my daughter was born by emergency section and i was under general, so she was given a bottle supplied by the hospital, once i was awake i started to BF and never touched my tin of formula, so i donated it to the ward i was on

 

[special_kala]

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!!!!

Jeez its always about tits with you isnt it.....

 

[welshcowgirl]

Myself I think that they should provide formula for the 1st 6 hours.

this is the usual discharge time for most people. but if you have to stay in longer you have plenty of time to send somebody out, or if you know your staying in longer you know to bring extra with you.

havnt read all the posts, so dont know if anybody else has suggested this.

 

[Farie]

Out of interest, those who think hospitals should provide formula above and beyond the emergency supply where it's needed due to latch problems, lack of supply, emergency hospitalization etc .... Should they stock all brands?
Would you like to be able to choose whichever you like or are you happy to take what they've got?

 

[chubbymonkey2]

A baby is like anyone else in the hospital where food and drink is provided, so why should they not be provided with formula, i find that this thread has turned basically into a debate about bf and ff. I'm proud to say i ff both of my children and was provided formula each time i went in hospital, i was to ill to bf my 1st child.

 

[Lellow]

Haven't people stated that infact formula in those hospitals that do supply it is given to them free of charge as an advertising ploy! In that you usually just continue feeding your baby with what your familiar with, be it SMA, C&G, ra ra ra...

Perhaps for as long as the hospitals are getting it free anyway, thats how long they should continue to offer it for those who are concerned about the cost to the NHS?

This has turned into an FF v BF debate...

 

[special_kala]

Maybe there should just be a donation available if you FF and the money go towards neo natal or soemthing

 

[maisiemoo]

This thread is really annoying me. I know of a number of children born with the same condition as mine, yet they cannot get the vital medical treatment they need as soon as they need it because hospitals are under such pressure to money save. Instead, these children and their parents have to live with it, whereby some a sufferring because the resources are not there or it's a case they simply cannot meet demand. Despite this, PICU's and beds in childrens wards are being reduced further!!!

So here we are, quibbling about bloody formula provisions! I think it should be supplied in an instance of emergency os if your child is hospitalised for a period of time, but I would much rather NHS money being spent on life saving equipment and resouces rather than helping parents save a few quid.

Thats unfair. In that case NO food or drink,should be provided for any patients in hospital at all. I think thats a basic need!

I dont think the problem lies with formula, more lack of government funding. Thats the real problem. Not baby food!

Really? we are talking about parents who have chosen to FF feed their babies from the offset, so why should they not supply their own formula. The nhs isn't a bottomless pit. When my daughter was in hospital, we bought our nappies, cotton wool etc etc as we would if she wasn't in hospital. So why should formula be any different? I'm sorry, I'm probably coming from a totally different perspective to most, but when you hear of prem babies for instance being moved hundreds of miles in some instances because of a lack of space or medical facilities then when you are in that situation (i.e. in hospital with a sick child) you do anything, no matter how small it is to alleviate the pressure.

 

[rwhite]

Only for special cases where the mother is having real problems breastfeeding (milk hasn't come in, low supply etc).

 

[Midnight_Fairy]

I always got given those little premade formula in the glass bottles for my stay? dont they do them anymore?

 

[LPF]

I haven't read all the posts but I'm interested to know if hospitals who provide or don't provide formula in postnatal wards provide it for free as 'meals' for baby patients when readmitted on childrens wards etc.

By this point 'choosing' to ff rather than the holy Grail of bf (which I do before I get flamed - I just don't think you can be discriminated on that basis of choice) is no longer a choice - it's fully established and not providing formula is like denying food to adults yet also is contradictory to the argument of cost etc.

 

[dani_tinks]

I don't think it's an advertising ploy? midwifes werent even allowed to ''suggest'' a brand of formula to us!

 

[Wobbles]

If the government can give another Country millionsssss of pounds I'm sure I don't feel bad or feel the the NHS should not have gave my babies a couple of sterilised bottles of formula every 3 hours for the 12 hour stay and 4 hour stay I had with my girls and me my breakfast on one occasion

 

[Janidog]

I haven't read all the posts but I'm interested to know if hospitals who provide or don't provide formula in postnatal wards provide it for free as 'meals' for baby patients when readmitted on childrens wards etc.

By this point 'choosing' to ff rather than the holy Grail of bf (which I do before I get flamed - I just don't think you can be discriminated on that basis of choice) is no longer a choice - it's fully established and not providing formula is like denying food to adults yet also is contradictory to the argument of cost etc.

We had to rush to hospital when my LO was only 8 weeks old and he had to stay over night, the hospital provided us with formula in glass bottles and nappies.