Formula usage in hospitals.

What do y'all think about this issue?
(It won't let me link it)
http://www.myfoxaustin.com/story/19152067/ny-mayor-discourages-baby-formula-use-in-hospitals



New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is discouraging hospitals from using baby formula in order to get more moms to breastfeed. It's a new city policy that goes into effect in September.
"Breast milk is absolutely necessary for the health of the nation," says Kim Updegrove, the Executive Director of Mother's Milk Bank in Austin, which accepts and dispenses donor human milk. "He really is making a step at making this nation healthier and I think that's a goal we all have."
Moms, who insist on bottle-feeding would be able to do so, but nurses would have to sign out the formula and talk to those moms about the benefits of breastfeeding first.
"He's saying it ought to be done by an informed choice," said Updegrove.
But some say the policy crosses the line.
"Now its breastfeeding?" asks conservative author Lisa Fritsh. "That is a really big leap from cigarettes and sodas."
She says this is another example of Mayor Bloomberg imposing a nanny state.
"This is more than a nanny state. You're dealing with the emotions of mother and child and the bonding of mother and child and I can relate to this as a mother of my first son and I could not breastfeed, and I can not tell you the number of people sent in mass at the hospital, you've gotta breastfeed," said Fritsh.
While she knows the health benefits of breastfeeding, she believes it's not a politician's place to tell a mom whether or not they should breastfeed.
"Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't believe Michael Blumberg has the experience of carrying a child. There is no place for Mayor Bloomberg, any other politician or any other person in the hospital room," she said.
The policy takes effect in New York City in September. Formula would still be on hand for women who have difficulty breastfeeding.

Read more: http://www.myfoxaustin.com/story/19152067/ny-mayor-discourages-baby-formula-use-in-hospitals#ixzz22ATUUqOk

I can see that they're trying to encourage BF but I personally think it's stupid. My milk didn't come in with my second son until two weeks after he was born so I had to formula feed. I had all intentions of BF him just like I did my eldest however my body wouldn't allow it.

I think it's smurfing bullsmurf, who are they to say how to feed YOUR baby?

Seriously, smurf.

I don't agree with it.

My oldest couldnt latch he didnt have a good enough suck and had so many breathing issues he couldnt breath while breastfeeding

That's stupid. Nobody pressured me into not breastfeeding. But I'm glad I had an option if I didn't want to.

I don't know about that aspect but I do think that the moms who choose to breastfeed shouldn't get the formula bags at the hospital. I think they should give those moms bags full of breastfeeding supplies and coupons just like the formula feeding moms. It does make it easier to deter from breastfeeding when you have a pile of formula just sitting around tempting you. lol

I got lectured every time I told someone I was going to FF it gets really irritating after a while. I did try with my second but he was tongue tied so it didn't happen.

I do not agree. A MALE politiician who clearly has NO experience in breast feeding or child bearing does NOT need to be telling me how to feed my child.

Yes, breast feeding is important....but it's not up to him or anyone else to push that on a mother.

Quoting Lovkinja:" I got lectured every time I told someone I was going to FF it gets really irritating after a while. I did try with my second but he was tongue tied so it didn't happen. "

My big girl was tongue tied too, that's why I didn't BF.

This baby? damn right I'm going to formula feed as soon as it's born (damnit I hate calling my baby an IT lol)

My SO is being an ass and thinks I should BF for a week, my boobys and all.

i don't really know if i have any words for my reaction to this...
it's not a good reaction, nope, not at all.
tell me how i can feed my baby? no, i don't think so. my baby is formula fed and is VERY healthy, strong and intelligent.
i understand the good things that come from breastfeeding, but i wasn't able to do it because of medicines i needed to be on... and my baby is doing wonderfully and is thriving. political smurfs can smurf off when it comes to the way my baby gets her food.

Quoting ~*Amanda Evan*~:" I do not agree. A MALE politiician who clearly has NO experience in breast feeding or child bearing does ... [snip!] ... me how to feed my child. Yes, breast feeding is important....but it's not up to him or anyone else to push that on a mother."

 

I think this is terrible, good idea but not realistic. I was already badgered by LLL for not breast feeding. I finally ha to tell them to not speak to me again. Our hospital told me breast is better, but did not force the issue . What happens when the child can't have your breast milk, or I you dry up. So many issues

I don't think anyone should be told what to do.


I do think though, that its nuts that we give our babies the milk of other species as an equal first choice for our own. I am a full time working mom of a 6 month old and just first contemplated supplementing while I am out of town for work. He had maybe an ounce of formula and got so ill, I'll never ever do that to my child again.

Some have to use it, and I wouldn't knock it. But I cannot reconcile formula as a first choice. I just don't get it. If it works for your lifesttyle,... super. I just can't imagine it being the first choice. (My personal take.... not a judegement on formula users, just my take on my experience as someone who thought they would use formula)

I don't see the big deal. From what I've read, formula is available for those who need it and want it but it's being kept track of. It's a free product offered by the hospital and multiple organizations have recommended that formula not be handed out left and right.
Offering education before handing out formula doesn't seem like a bad thing to me. NYC has a high number of people living in poverty who really don't know the benefits of breastfeeding.