I Have Heard That If A Woman Chooses To Use Formula, The Hospital Staff Is Not Allowed To Ask “why”?
If the hospital staff were allowed to ask why don't you think that many people who believe they cannot breastfeed, will find out that they really can.
For example, if a woman choose formula because she wants to take birth control, and the hospital staff explains that she can still breastfeed and take the mini pill, don't you think that could be helpful to the woman?
Why isn't the hospital staff allowed to ask Why? When a woman chooses formula?
Tags: "why", Allowed, Chooses, Formula, Have, Heard, Hospital..., Staff, That, Woman
December 6th, 2009 at 7:27 pm
Doctors and nurses are allowed to ask, they asked me. I wouldn’t take anything while breastfeeding, just because it won’t hurt the baby doesn’t make it a good idea.
December 6th, 2009 at 11:07 pm
It depends on the hospital… if they are private then they can make up rules like that.
I delivered at a Catholic hospital that focused on non medicated births and breastfeeding… that would never be a rule there. So that is why I choose to deliver there… but if you went to a private hospital where c-section rates were high and they “pushed” formula then that might be a rule.
If a mother hasn’t taken the time to learn about the benefits of breastfeeding before she goes into actual labor, then I don’t see the benefit of trying to convert her at the very moment. I’m 100% pro-breastfeeding – but as good as it is, you can’t make women do it, even if they physically can. If they cared enough to breastfeed or even consider it, they would have researched it long before labor.
December 7th, 2009 at 1:56 am
To be honest, I have never heard that the hospital cannot ask “why?”. Maybe that isd a local thing? Most hospitals will try and encourage breast feeding, but if there is a case where the infant requires supplementation with formula, they will of course oblige. I was asked what my preference was, and I answered breast feeding. If your hospital cannot ask “why?”, then I am sure they will still provide all the literature and assistance for breast feeding at the time of the baby’s birth.
December 7th, 2009 at 2:24 am
I did not know that!
I agree though, some women believe they can’t breastfeed, only to find out that they really can!
I totally thought something was wrong when my son went through his first growth spurt, and he was cluster feeding, thinking i wasn’t producing enough! Only to find out later, that it’s normal and it needs to happen!
That my body isn’t going to produce on it’s own! Baby needs to let the mother’s body know it needs more, it doesn’t automatically know when baby is going to go through a growth spurt and then jsut produce more!
I was grateful i read that, because I continued to nurse!
But, and no one should disagree, breast milk is the optimal nutrition of a baby, but a mother that feeds her infant formula shouldn’t be looked down upon! No one knows her circumstances even if they are a tad selfish, she’s still a good mother! Because she’s feeding her infant!
December 7th, 2009 at 5:05 am
It’s none of their business whether or not the mother decides to breastfeed or formula feed. Normally throughout the pregnancy women go (or should go) to their prenatal appointments and all of those options are discussed with their OB. When I went into the hospital, I was asked whether or not I wanted to breast or formula feed and they were very helpful and let me know if I had any questions about either or wanted more information… just ask. If I would have chosen to formula feed, I would not appreciate them questioning why.
December 7th, 2009 at 9:20 am
I was asked what I wanted to do. I said breastfeeding. They sent them into to help and everything. I was still sent home with the “parting gifts” of ready to use formula just in case, which I thought was a waste so I donated it. The only ones who have ever questioned my decision is my husbands family.
I have never heard of them not being able to ask why. My cousin tried breastfeeding with her first. And ended up giving up. With her second they (hospital staff) did question her decision to use formula. And tried to talk her into breastfeeding again. Which she declined politely.
December 7th, 2009 at 11:04 am
they can ask why, they just cant MAKE her try to breastfeed if she doesnt want to, or make her listen to a lactation specialist. im planning on breastfeeding exclusively though, so im more worried about the nurses trying to give him a bottle if he doesnt latch on right away or if im having trouble!!! [i live in the deep south in an area that the closest la leche leaque is like 3 hours away, no one has even heard of baby wearing, and ive never even met or seen anyone breastfeeding...so im only guessing how the hospital might be]
December 7th, 2009 at 11:41 am
I don’t know, but it’s really none of their business, as long as the baby is getting nutrition… Maybe it’s because they will come off as judgmental, to some, no matter how politely they ask. (No idea.)
*edited* And, I’ve nursed all four of my kids, but I admit, I did find it intrusive that they kept coming in, asking me (they ask, in my state), and wanting to make sure I knew how… I think I’ve got it down, by now! (After giving birth, I just wanted to enjoy my baby, quietly.)
December 7th, 2009 at 5:14 pm
I wasn’t aware they couldn’t ask why. I had an uninformed nurse literally SCREAM at me because I was giving my son a bottle. What she didn’t know was the pediatrician had me supplementing formula because my son had jaundice and they wanted to try to get it out of his system faster. What she didn’t know is the lactation consultant had me pumping every two hours and I still planned on bf.
December 7th, 2009 at 6:24 pm
Where on earth did you “hear” this? It sounds silly.
It’s nobody’s business but the mother’s anyway so it wouldn’t matter if the hospital staff were asking why she wasn’t choosing to breast feed. Maybe she doesn’t WANT to. In the end they can certainly ask why she isn’t but that doesn’t mean it will change her decision.
December 7th, 2009 at 9:49 pm
That’s totally not true. At least not in Kingman, AZ. I had so many different nurses coming in and grabbing my boobs trying so hard to get my baby to latch on. That’s no joke either. I was there for 3 nights and EVERY TIME I asked for another bottle, some nurse would come in my room and start fondling me. Either from the nursery or the nurses in the ward where I was at. it was crazy. Finally I couldn’t take it anymore and I had to call and request a bottle with no nurse attached to it!!! lol! They are definitely breastfeeding advocates here in arizona.
December 7th, 2009 at 10:39 pm
I refused to feed him any formula at first and the nurses kept insisting I should as it would keep him full for longer period of time. In fact it seemed to me that they were not very encouraging about my decision of breast feeding. I guess it varies.
December 7th, 2009 at 10:42 pm
Who says they don’t ask why? They do. They asked me and I told them formula and they convinced me to breastfeed. Then after all that convincing, they sent me home with a case of premade formula. Some people may feel it is none of the “hospital’s” business.
December 8th, 2009 at 4:18 am
That’s not true. My wife was unable to nurse our last child and so she asked to have this one given formula from the get-go. They asked her why and when she told they referred her to a lactation consultant who ended up recommending formula as well.
December 8th, 2009 at 10:22 am
the RNs & MDs can ask anything they want -it’s up to the patient to keep her defenses down. the questions are for medical purposes and are added into the patient’s permanent medical chart. relax.
December 8th, 2009 at 11:51 am
Because women have cried “My body, my choice” about so many things for so long that they’ve made bringing up anything about their decision to do something involving their bodies a matter of privacy unless they ask for advice first.
December 8th, 2009 at 12:50 pm
It’s sort of rude and personal, I think. It would be very unprofessional, and I am sure they are not aloud to take their personal views into the workplace, unless asked.
December 8th, 2009 at 3:48 pm
Because it’s a woman’s choice, and I’d much prefer the looks I got after having my son to a constant badgering of why. Go ahead, call me a bad mother.
December 8th, 2009 at 4:00 pm
my family dr. certainly asked why.
December 8th, 2009 at 9:07 pm
No one asked me why I had my sons on formula.18/14 years ago. I wasn’t able to nurse my sons. Just wsn’t built for it.
December 9th, 2009 at 1:12 am
I think this is a less rude way of bashing formula feeding moms.