Hospital bans free formula. What do you think?

[Foogirl]

Just reading the posts saying they will provide if necessary. I don't see why this should be either. If I go into hospital and end up needing something, my OH is sent out to buy it. I got taken in to hospital 600 miles from home, I never had clothes or toiletries or anything, but it wasn't up to the hospital to provide it, my husband did it. If BFing didn't work, I'd send him out to buy formula As it was, when Abby was born he had to go out and buy a breast pump and bottles for me because the hospital didn't have enough to go round.

It's just another situation where people expect the state to do everything when it isn't their responsibility. The comment about feeding mums was ridiculous. They feed you because you are a patient. And you take what is offered or provide your own. Their option for newborns is breast milk, if you want something else, bring it in.

As for NICU, there has to be formula there. Donated milk is not available in all areas and some preemie newborns need fortified formulas. In that area, the babies are the patients. Different rules must apply.

 

[moomin_troll]

zane had to go hospital suddenly when he was 8 months old. i had such a hard time trying to get a bottle of milk for him it was unbelievable

 

[LoraLoo]

Just reading the posts saying they will provide if necessary. I don't see why this should be either. If I go into hospital and end up needing something, my OH is sent out to buy it. I got taken in to hospital 600 miles from home, I never had clothes or toiletries or anything, but it wasn't up to the hospital to provide it, my husband did it. If BFing didn't work, I'd send him out to buy formula As it was, when Abby was born he had to go out and buy a breast pump and bottles for me because the hospital didn't have enough to go round.

It's just another situation where people expect the state to do everything when it isn't their responsibility. The comment about feeding mums was ridiculous. They feed you because you are a patient. And you take what is offered or provide your own. Their option for newborns is breast milk, if you want something else, bring it in.

As for NICU, there has to be formula there. Donated milk is not available in all areas and some preemie newborns need fortified formulas. In that area, the babies are the patients. Different rules must apply.

I guess if you have a crying baby at 4am and baby just wont latch on or if there is another problem, its not going to be practical to send OH out to get milk. Also you have to consider visiting hours and the fact that not everyone may have an OH

 

[summer rain]

^thats fair enough; some hospitals near here though that do only one brand of formula that they have in; will sell in the shop either on the maternity wing or close to it, the different brands in cartons and pre sterilised bottles xx

 

[LoraLoo]

^thats fair enough; some hospitals near here though that do only one brand of formula that they have in; will sell in the shop either on the maternity wing or close to it, the different brands in cartons and pre sterilised bottles xx

Thats a really good idea I'm just hoping i can b/f again (only stopped feeding toddler 2 month ago) ...I'm not even taking bottles or milk in x

 

[Foogirl]

I guess if you have a crying baby at 4am and baby just wont latch on or if there is another problem, its not going to be practical to send OH out to get milk. Also you have to consider visiting hours and the fact that not everyone may have an OH

Or mum, or sister or friend or birthing partner or whoever. Every woman I met in hospital had someone with them.

The crying baby not latching at 4am and being given formula is exactly the reason it shouldn't be on tap. That is not a reason to immediately go to formula. That is the point you bring in the support the mother needs to get BFing established. So many I've spoken to have relented at that point and regretted it afterwards.

But if folk are that concerned, put a carton in your hospital bag. It amazes me when people list their hospital bag contents, apparently preparing for every eventuality (hair straighteners, MP3 player, packed lunch....) but no carton of formula

 

[nickyXjayno]

You have to bring your own nappies and stuff in so don't really see the difference?
Also don't get why some ladies who can't breastfeed but wanted to are getting offended.
I'm aiming to breastfeed but if I can't I won't hang, draw and quarter myself .
If I can't then I can't and it won't make me feel like a failure, I'd feel more of a failure if I didn't try than if I tried and didn't succeed because at least I could hold my hands up to myself and say I tried.

 

[LoraLoo]

I guess if you have a crying baby at 4am and baby just wont latch on or if there is another problem, its not going to be practical to send OH out to get milk. Also you have to consider visiting hours and the fact that not everyone may have an OH

Or mum, or sister or friend or birthing partner or whoever. Every woman I met in hospital had someone with them.

The crying baby not latching at 4am and being given formula is exactly the reason it shouldn't be on tap. That is not a reason to immediately go to formula. That is the point you bring in the support the mother needs to get BFing established. So many I've spoken to have relented at that point and regretted it afterwards.But if folk are that concerned, put a carton in your hospital bag. It amazes me when people list their hospital bag contents, apparently preparing for every eventuality (hair straighteners, MP3 player, packed lunch....) but no carton of formula

Yes, I didnt think of it that way tbh. I know my friend had problems with baby latching and they just went and got her formula but I do think if you have your heart set on Breastfeeding you would persevere regardless. Or maybe I'm just stubborn!

I'm not taking bottles or formula I bought them when expecting Eve but breastfed. I took them in with Amy but i only stopped feeding her 2 months ago, at 25 months, so I cant see there being a problem. Again, maybe I'm just being stubborn! x

 

[moomin_troll]

You have to bring your own nappies and stuff in so don't really see the difference?
Also don't get why some ladies who can't breastfeed but wanted to are getting offended.
I'm aiming to breastfeed but if I can't I won't hang, draw and quarter myself .
If I can't then I can't and it won't make me feel like a failure, I'd feel more of a failure if I didn't try than if I tried and didn't succeed because at least I could hold my hands up to myself and say I tried.

i get what u mean but if uve not been there u have no idea how it feels to be a mother who tried to bf but couldnt for what ever reason.

my eldest who was FF just turned 3 yesterday and i still feel guilty that i couldnt feed him my milk

 

[Lightworker]

Just reading the posts saying they will provide if necessary. I don't see why this should be either. If I go into hospital and end up needing something, my OH is sent out to buy it. I got taken in to hospital 600 miles from home, I never had clothes or toiletries or anything, but it wasn't up to the hospital to provide it, my husband did it. If BFing didn't work, I'd send him out to buy formula As it was, when Abby was born he had to go out and buy a breast pump and bottles for me because the hospital didn't have enough to go round.

It's just another situation where people expect the state to do everything when it isn't their responsibility. The comment about feeding mums was ridiculous. They feed you because you are a patient. And you take what is offered or provide your own. Their option for newborns is breast milk, if you want something else, bring it in.

As for NICU, there has to be formula there. Donated milk is not available in all areas and some preemie newborns need fortified formulas. In that area, the babies are the patients. Different rules must apply.

Hmmm, don't really agree with this because that means EVERY mom will have to buy a carton/pre-made formula as part of her hospital bag. If we are trying to say that BFing is normal, then why should it be routine to buy formula for every pregnant lady about to give birth.

Im struggling with my wording here but I hope you get what I mean. The NHS is trying to send a message that formula should only be used for unexpected emergencies, but this message will be negated if every single mother is buying formula beforehand. An an unexpected emergency is exactly that, unexpected.

 

[Ozzieshunni]

I'm insulted by the comment about a screaming baby at 4am being unable to latch and given formula. I had a c-section and Alex would not stop feeding. It was late at night and yeah, the mw gave him some formula so I could sleep. We had no trouble BFing and my milk came in on day 3. It KILLED me to give him formula, but if I didn't sleep, I wouldn't have been able to recover. Again, think about how it would look from someone else's perspective.

 

[Foogirl]

Hmmm, don't really agree with this because that means EVERY mom will have to buy a carton/pre-made formula as part of her hospital bag. If we are trying to say that BFing is normal, then why should it be routine to buy formula for every pregnant lady about to give birth.

Im struggling with my wording here but I hope you get what I mean. The NHS is trying to send a message that formula should only be used for unexpected emergencies, but this message will be negated if every single mother is buying formula beforehand. An an unexpected emergency is exactly that, unexpected.

I don't expect my house to go on fire, but I have a fire blanket anyway.....

The point is, it isn't unexpected. It can be anticipated, there is a risk so you prevent it. Why not have EVERY mum buying one? What harm is that? They can always pass it on to someone else if they don't need it. Or take the risk they might have a rough first night and go buy some in the morning.

The problem with "emergency" formulas is some midwives (and mothers) will deem a non feeding child automatically as an emergency and there should be more of a push on providing support instead of suggesting to a knackered,, hormonal, emotional mum that formula is the answer to all their prayers when they really wanted to breastfeed. I get very angry when I hear mums saying they were devastated that it didn't work and further discussions reveal they were "encouraged" to give formula at 3am, a couple of hours after LO was born. And worse, those who went on to successfully breastfeed but who's supply was then not properly established because their production was not properly stimulated in the early days so couldn't exclusively breastfeed.

I don't think anyone should be bullied into BFing, but nor should they expect a hospital to provide formula for their choice.

 

[Foogirl]

I'm insulted by the comment about a screaming baby at 4am being unable to latch and given formula. I had a c-section and Alex would not stop feeding. It was late at night and yeah, the mw gave him some formula so I could sleep. We had no trouble BFing and my milk came in on day 3. It KILLED me to give him formula, but if I didn't sleep, I wouldn't have been able to recover. Again, think about how it would look from someone else's perspective.

But you would hand back a sample saying "no fake milk thank you...?"

It is absolutely fine if you think you might want or need formula, but what's wrong with taking it with you?

Glad your experience was a good one. Many others aren't so fortunate. This is how I see it from someone else's perspective.

I sat and watched / listened to mothers on the ward for the 7 days I was in there, struggling with feeding and having to convince the midwives no they didn't want formula, could they have the BFing nurse please, and having to wait an hour or more for them to come along, all the while doubting if they were doing them right thing and should they just go and get formula.

 

[summer rain]

I'm insulted by the comment about a screaming baby at 4am being unable to latch and given formula. I had a c-section and Alex would not stop feeding. It was late at night and yeah, the mw gave him some formula so I could sleep. We had no trouble BFing and my milk came in on day 3. It KILLED me to give him formula, but if I didn't sleep, I wouldn't have been able to recover. Again, think about how it would look from someone else's perspective.

I don't think foogirl was talking about very difficult cases like your own, but there are many cases of totally straightforward births where formula bottles are pushed onto mums at 3am when the mum clearly doesn't want it; but the mum is told you have to give this or your LO will suffer some type of serious consequences-in such cases there is no need for formula top ups and many ladies in such cases do go on to regret it later. Several of my OHs family members ended up permanently combi feeding because of this.

Foogirl I see your point but I have never had formula in my hospital bag, I suppose since at most of the hospitals around here there are the little bottles (though they have the caveat they are only to be given for 'medical' reasons this isn't enforced) and they have the various brands plus sterilised empty bottles in the little shops xx

 

[aliss]

Just reading the posts saying they will provide if necessary. I don't see why this should be either.\

Sorry I totally disagree.

I was at the emergency ward at 3:30am with Alex, I had no milk left (he was projectile vomiting everything I pumped, this was before his reflux diagnosis), he could not breastfeed because of his collarbone, his weight dipped well below 10% at 4 days, where was I going to get formula? Not everyone lives in a place where formula is available at a store 24/7...

Anyways, here, formula is not provided unless a medical emergency, so for me this idea is not offensive at all, I'm quite used to it. But a medical necessity, yes. I liken it to someone going into the emergency room with their diabetes getting out of control and needing an apple or juice or whatever, would you send them to the grocery store to buy their own apple? I mean come on... obviously a baby isn't going to die if they need to wait 4 hours for milk for the store to open but where do you draw the line?

 

[Ozzieshunni]

I'm insulted by the comment about a screaming baby at 4am being unable to latch and given formula. I had a c-section and Alex would not stop feeding. It was late at night and yeah, the mw gave him some formula so I could sleep. We had no trouble BFing and my milk came in on day 3. It KILLED me to give him formula, but if I didn't sleep, I wouldn't have been able to recover. Again, think about how it would look from someone else's perspective.

But you would hand back a sample saying "no fake milk thank you...?"

It is absolutely fine if you think you might want or need formula, but what's wrong with taking it with you?

Glad your experience was a good one. Many others aren't so fortunate. This is how I see it from someone else's perspective.

I sat and watched / listened to mothers on the ward for the 7 days I was in there, struggling with feeding and having to convince the midwives no they didn't want formula, could they have the BFing nurse please, and having to wait an hour or more for them to come along, all the while doubting if they were doing them right thing and should they just go and get formula.

Yes, I would because I would not foresee needing it on a regular basis. Also remember, Alex was given it for blood sugar as well. I let them because if I didn't, we would have never gotten home. No one is perfect. If they choose to FF, let them. Who are we to judge?

 

[Foogirl]

Yes, I would because I would not foresee needing it on a regular basis. Also remember, Alex was given it for blood sugar as well. I let them because if I didn't, we would have never gotten home. No one is perfect. If they choose to FF, let them. Who are we to judge?

We're not judging, we're just saying if you want to do it, you bring it in. The hospital didn't provide my baby's food, why provide formula?

I was at the emergency ward at 3:30am with Alex, I had no milk left (he was projectile vomiting everything I pumped, this was before his reflux diagnosis), he could not breastfeed because of his collarbone, his weight dipped well below 10% at 4 days, where was I going to get formula? Not everyone lives in a place where formula is available at a store 24/7...

I think this is a different situation. This isn't a maternity ward, this was an ER. They, along with paediatric wards, children's hospitals should absolutely have formula for emergencies. I thought the thread was about maternity not providing formula.

 

[Lightworker]

Hmmm, don't really agree with this because that means EVERY mom will have to buy a carton/pre-made formula as part of her hospital bag. If we are trying to say that BFing is normal, then why should it be routine to buy formula for every pregnant lady about to give birth.

Im struggling with my wording here but I hope you get what I mean. The NHS is trying to send a message that formula should only be used for unexpected emergencies, but this message will be negated if every single mother is buying formula beforehand. An an unexpected emergency is exactly that, unexpected.

I don't expect my house to go on fire, but I have a fire blanket anyway.....

The point is, it isn't unexpected. It can be anticipated, there is a risk so you prevent it. Why not have EVERY mum buying one? What harm is that? They can always pass it on to someone else if they don't need it. Or take the risk they might have a rough first night and go buy some in the morning.

The problem with "emergency" formulas is some midwives (and mothers) will deem a non feeding child automatically as an emergency and there should be more of a push on providing support instead of suggesting to a knackered,, hormonal, emotional mum that formula is the answer to all their prayers when they really wanted to breastfeed. I get very angry when I hear mums saying they were devastated that it didn't work and further discussions reveal they were "encouraged" to give formula at 3am, a couple of hours after LO was born. And worse, those who went on to successfully breastfeed but who's supply was then not properly established because their production was not properly stimulated in the early days so couldn't exclusively breastfeed.

I don't think anyone should be bullied into BFing, but nor should they expect a hospital to provide formula for their choice.

But the hospital is only providing formula for ladies in situations where BF is not working, and formula is not really a choice per se, it has become a situation out of their control.

Perhaps my post is laden with my own personal feelings on formula and I don't like the idea of women systematically contributing to the formula companies with the aim of dealing with an outcome that might actually never happen. If women had to take formula in, then the aim which the NHS seeks to achieve by banning free formula for all at hospitals will not be realized because it will be the same thing.

Also, advertising first stage milk is not permissible, so how will women know to pack that in their bags? If midwives tell them beforehand, it will be akin to advertising, the same as it was with the provision of free for all formula at hospitals.

I do see what you mean though by anticipating something going wrong, but I don't think that that is the mind-set with which pregnant ladies should be approaching BFing. x

 

[Foogirl]

Also, advertising first stage milk is not permissible, so how will women know to pack that in their bags? If midwives tell them beforehand, it will be akin to advertising, the same as it was with the provision of free for all formula at hospitals.

I do see what you mean though by anticipating something going wrong, but I don't think that that is the mind-set with which pregnant ladies should be approaching BFing. x

How does any woman know what formula to use? Hospitals can't push one brand or another either. So they find out the same way as they would when they get home

You are right about it not being the right mindset, but whether they bring it, or it is in the hospital, it is easily available for any woman who feels they have tried hard enough, or any midwife who doesn't give them a chance.

I just think the NHS has got better things to spend money on than formula for babies in maternity units.

 

[T-Bex]

I don't think foogirl was talking about very difficult cases like your own, but there are many cases of totally straightforward births where formula bottles are pushed onto mums at 3am when the mum clearly doesn't want it; but the mum is told you have to give this or your LO will suffer some type of serious consequences-in such cases there is no need for formula top ups and many ladies in such cases do go on to regret it later.

This was my experience, down to the letter.