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Erin,
Hi! Wow.. I totally agree with you. I received gift bags with formula with both my babies yet, I did breast feed my first and I am currently breastfeeding my second.
When my daughter was born at 8lbs 11oz, nice and big like the doctors like to see, and took to nursing like a champ we thought we would be home free and wouldn't need any of the formula. This was not the case. At six months old, she only weighed 12lbs. While she was nursing fantastically and starting solids, she just wasn't gaining weight. My doctor had my supplement with formula to beef up the calories. I was sure glad I had those freebies then! I went back to work after my allotted 12 weeks and I pumped every 2 hours to keep up supplies. I was lucky to have the finances to buy a nice pump and even luckier to have a job that allowed the "luxury" of pumping time and a private room to do so.
My daughter is now 29 months old and still only weighs just under 25lbs but, she's healthy and happy and my 6 month old boy weighs 15lbs and already started solids so, I took all my freebie formula and donated it in a food drive because someone out there needs it. It certainly isn't going to go to waste and I believe that if those companies want to give it away, then we should take it and the hospitals have no right to force women to breastfeed. All new moms (we hope) know the benefits of breast vs. bottle but, that doesn't make it law and it should be a mom's right to choose.
Cj
Posted by: twinklergirl | May 9, 2006 08:05 PM
I have to comment because I wanted to breastfeed, but it wasn't in the cards for me to do so--at least not long term. My son was born 5lb, 6oz. He was more interested in sleeping than eating, and dropped to 4lbs, 11oz by his 1st dr. appt. He did not regain back to his birth weight within 2 weeks, so I had to begin supplementing with two bottles. I also had to go every week for a weight check. Well, he continued to gain slowly, so at one point I was nursing, pumping, and using formula, and I was completely exhausted! Finally, I stopped nursing and just pumped when my son stopped wanting to nurse altogether. Because of his weight issues, I couldn't just "ride it out". I pumped enough to give him breastmilk through 16 weeks, and after that, we are strictly formula. What would these people do for someone like me? My child would have become classified as "failure to thrive" if I had continued with only breastfeeding! They need to keep their opinions to themselves. New moms are doing the best they can without someone trying to force them to do one more thing!
Posted by: sgthomas1973 | May 10, 2006 12:05 AM
I formula fed both of my kids for various reasons, and I'm OK with a hospital's decision to forgo the gift bags. I believe that the administrators of a hospital (especially a private hospital) have the right so send a certain message to mothers if they so choose. Women who want to formula feed will do so regardless of getting the freebies or not. In addition, the formula companies will have no problem finding another vehicle for reaching those moms. What really bothers me, however is the notion of legislating these types of decisions. This is in no way a decision that should be made at the local, state or federal level.
Is it just me, or are we slowly losing ground that was gained by the women who have come before us? Maybe I'm just getting paranoid in my old age :-)
Dianne
Posted by: dmfrom | May 11, 2006 12:05 PM
I agree with you Diane. I feel like we could be losing ground. Or perhaps losing a unified voice! That's why I am excited about a new movement: momsrising.org
Don't get freaked by the photo of Rosie the Riviter (it's a little off-putting to some). But take a look at the bigger issues they are trying to get on the national agenda. They seem to make perfect sense!
Posted by: Erin | May 11, 2006 05:05 PM
I had my son in January and was planning to breastfeed. Well, my child was born somewhat small 5lbs 6 oz, and preffered sleeping to eating. He had trouble latching on, and the nurses weren't all that helpful (the lactation consultants were not at the hospital b/c it was New Year's Day). By his dr. appt later that week, he had dropped to 4lbs 11oz. I had to begin supplementing. Now, I didn't use the free formula supplied by the hospital (we are using a milk- and lactose-free formula), but it was good to have something in the house to feed my child. What-was I supposed to "wait it out"? My child may not have survived! Legislatures need to spend more time worrying about real issues and stop trying to tell moms what to do! All mothers are doing the best they can--why make it harder for those who may truly need the freebies?
Posted by: sgthomas1973 | May 11, 2006 11:05 PM
I agree...I think women are savvy enough to decide on their own whether or not to choose to breastfeed or formula feed! And I think that decision, for most women, is made before they check in to the hospital to give birth. I ended up giving some cans of formula away (because it was a brand I didni't use) but I breastfed both my girls past 6 months and those freebies had nothing to do with my decision. Supporting working moms who breastfeed is the way to go. I quit breastfeeding earlier with my first daughter because I had to return to the office sooner and I "loathed" using my breastpump in a spare office.
Posted by: Jamie | May 12, 2006 03:05 AM
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