Do you think that hospitals should provide formula milk?

[DanielleM]

I have read this thread with much interest - as a mum who chose to FF from birth. I'm very lucky that our hospital provides every brand of formula. We were told in our birthing class this is so you can use the same brand as you have decided to use at home and not have to confuse baby by chopping and changing.

I was very grateful that they provided it free but wouldn't have thought twice at the time if they didn't and would just have taken cartons with me.

But like someone else posted - I pay my taxes like everyone else, have never been on long-term medication or drained the nhs in any way and the only operation I've had is my tonsils out in my early teens. I've also never claimed benefits of any kind. So why should my baby be begrudged a few bottles of formula while I'm in hospital??

She has her own NHS number and hospital file, she is a human being with human rights living in a country which provides free medical care - why should my meals be free and hers not???

 

[babyblog]

I'm pretty sure that most mum's who decide they will FF even before they give birth, will take it with them-i know my friends did. However, for those like me, who planned on BF but couldn't, the Formula should be there or the baby would go hungry. If you are only in for a few days, the milk shouldn't be that expensive.

 

[iceylou]

they provide it here free, all the brands. i agree they should make smaller bottles as some newborns dont drink it all and its a waste. my son drained 2 of these bottles when he was born

 

[Windmills]

In the childrens hospital here it's 90p for a 250ml carton I think it's disgusting that they take advantage of parents of sick babies like that!
Irrelevant

 

[Blah11]

I think they should have an 'emergency' supply but after the mother has decided to FF then she should provide the milk NHS money doesn't grow on trees.

 

[stephx]

My hospital provided every type of formula free, you could go and take as many bottles as you like

I pay my taxes, hell yes my baby should get free milk for her first few days x

 

[bigbetty]

I think they should have an 'emergency' supply but after the mother has decided to FF then she should provide the milk NHS money doesn't grow on trees.

No it comes from the taxes I've already paid!!!

 

[DanielleM]

My LO "had" to have formula because i had GD and LO was born with dangerously low blood sugars. BM wouldn't have brought his levels up quick enough, so should i have to pay for something that ultimately saved his life?. Just another angle on the debate!

That is exactly the same as me!! I had GD and wanted to breastfeed, which I did but when he was born his blood was 2.6 and 2.7 is the normal level so was just under the borderline, then 3 hrs later it went down to 2.3, 2.0, then the MW advised me to give him formula top-ups and his blood levels increased dramatically to 3.2, 3.3, 3.5 and then he did not have to be checked as the formula had helped him stabalise his own blood sugar levels and insulin levels. I am just glad that formula is provided in my hospital, as the problem with GD and feeding post delivery was not explained to me at all!! x

 

[bigbetty]

Sorry that was a bit of a rash reply, I apologise but I just think there is ALOT more money being wasted in other areas of the governments budget that could be saved than making people pay for formula in hospital (MP's expenses for a start!!)

 

[flubdub]

In the childrens hospital here it's 90p for a 250ml carton I think it's disgusting that they take advantage of parents of sick babies like that!
Irrelevant

Surely they will provide it for the sick LO's free of charge if mum isnt expressing???

 

[Blah11]

I think they should have an 'emergency' supply but after the mother has decided to FF then she should provide the milk NHS money doesn't grow on trees.

No it comes from the taxes I've already paid!!!

I've paid mine too. It doesn't work like that. How much do you think it cost the NHS for you to have a baby? You can't just add up your tax money and say I'm entitled to X amount so I'll have some formula too please. The NHS is amazing cos it means everyone is entitled to care if they need it. However, it isn't a bottomless pit of money. It runs out and whats a couple of bottles to you, all adds up when 80,000 babies are born per year in the UK.

 

[Murphy98]

I think (as a FF mom) that it would be a reasonable place to save the system money to not provide it. Since budgets are tight I supposed I would rather the money go elsewhere in the hospital. That being said of course they should have emergency stock. We tried to BF, then babies blood sugar was low and there was a rush to get formula in him to correct it....then BF'd again but it didn't go well and the kiddo had to eat so back to FF. In such a case I can see some formula being provided.

If someone is choosing to FF from the start I think they should bring their own formula with them or expect it to be charged to their bill. NOT that I have anything against FF from the start - totally a mum's choice. I'm thinking in terms of where resources are best spent. Certainly not as some pushing BFing strategy.

 

[special_kala]

I pay my taxes does that mean i get to take the crib home they provide?

 

[louandivy]

I think they should have an 'emergency' supply but after the mother has decided to FF then she should provide the milk NHS money doesn't grow on trees.

No it comes from the taxes I've already paid!!!

I've paid mine too. It doesn't work like that. How much do you think it cost the NHS for you to have a baby? You can't just add up your tax money and say I'm entitled to X amount so I'll have some formula too please. The NHS is amazing cos it means everyone is entitled to care if they need it. However, it isn't a bottomless pit of money. It runs out and whats a couple of bottles to you, all adds up when 80,000 babies are born per year in the UK.

I have to say that I do agree with this. I just think that it should be provided in case of emergencies, including when women who chose to FF forgot to bring formula! If I had decided to FF I would have probably packed my own cartons in my hospital bag.

 

[bathbabe]

I have read this thread with much interest - as a mum who chose to FF from birth. I'm very lucky that our hospital provides every brand of formula. We were told in our birthing class this is so you can use the same brand as you have decided to use at home and not have to confuse baby by chopping and changing.

I was very grateful that they provided it free but wouldn't have thought twice at the time if they didn't and would just have taken cartons with me.

But like someone else posted - I pay my taxes like everyone else, have never been on long-term medication or drained the nhs in any way and the only operation I've had is my tonsils out in my early teens. I've also never claimed benefits of any kind. So why should my baby be begrudged a few bottles of formula while I'm in hospital??

She has her own NHS number and hospital file, she is a human being with human rights living in a country which provides free medical care - why should my meals be free and hers not???

I honest to god could not of said this any better.


And i think - personally- that it will just put even more of a divide between health professionals and non bf mothers. My MW when i was pregnant after i told her i wouldnt be bf told me "i cant talk about formula" and handed me a bf dvd. To me, that is absolutely disgusting. After that she was always very short with me and a general bitch. This same midwife refused to check me when i thought my waters had gone at 34weeks, and again a few days later, telling me i was paranoid and it was just pee!

When i went to hospital 2weeks later i didnt even take my labour bag because we were in such a rush! What should i of done if they didnt provide formula? Let my baby starve till my OH had gone home to get it?

 

[Blah11]

Yes, they should save on other things, but even if they do the NHS still had to get cutbacks. They all have seperate budgets and they're all being cut back. The NHS has to cut back 3% per year and this is going to be ongoing, not just for this year in 3 years time that's almost 10% cut back which is ridiculous (i hate the tories).

 

[flubdub]

I always agree with everything you say Blah!

 

[Murphy98]

Hm delete - double post somehow sorry

 

[Janidog]

OK for those that have said that FF mothers like myself have to make the bottles whilst in hospital rather then being given formula in pre made bottles - I had an emergency c-section so could not walk, would you rather the midwife provide the pre made bottles, so she can get on and look after other mothers or would you want her time taken up to sterilize the bottle, boil the kettle, wait the 20mins to cool down, put milk powder in then wait until the bottle has cooled enough so i can feed my baby???????

 

[NG09]

Not being funny but I can believe some of the tosh I have read in this thread. Formula should be made available but either made very expensive or only available in emergncies when the mum can't bf????

I FF, when my son was taken in to hospital I took his formula with me, no question. When I went in to hospital to have him the hospital provided the formula and rightly so. How ridiculous to think otherwise.