nyc.gov

By joining this voluntary initiative for NYC maternity hospitals to support mother’s decision to breastfeed participating hospitals have agreed to:

Enforce the NYS hospital regulation to not supplement breastfeeding infants with formula feeding unless medically indicated and documented on the infant’s medical chart;

Restrict access to infant formula by hospital staff, tracking infant formula distribution and sharing data on formula distribution with the Health Department;

Discontinue the distribution of promotional or free infant formula; and

Prohibit the display and distribution of infant formula promotional materials in any hospital location.

Really? This is the job of government?

Is there any criteria to determine if, indeed, the individual mother’s breast milk is better than formula? Is her personal situation evaluated? Why do health practitioners and governments feel they have to decide who feeds the baby? Dad might enjoy bonding with his child thru feeding time as well. There are other health factors at play here.

From someone who almost died because her mother’s breast milk WAS NOT sufficient due to undetected cancer, I can tell you that breast milk is not always best.

I didn’t breast feed because of depression and wanted my hormones back to some semblence of normal as quick as possible. All the medical professionals in my life agreed it was best.

I’ve heard enough stories from working friends who have had to deal with breast infections, to know that anxiety and stress incured are not good for the baby or the family. Much less the added pain the women experiences.

Once more, the War on Women is pitting a women’s against the child. If a women decides to make decisions based on anything but the ideal, utopian outcome for the child, then she is evil.

UPDATE: Is this really good us of City resources”

Starting Sept. 3, the city will keep tabs on the number of bottles that participating hospitals stock and use — the most restrictive pro-breast-milk program in the nation.
Under the city Health Department’s voluntary Latch On NYC initiative, 27 of the city’s 40 hospitals have also agreed to give up swag bags sporting formula-company logos, toss out formula-branded tchotchkes like lanyards and mugs, and document a medical reason for every bottle that a newborn receives.