Hospitals pressured to end free baby formula

[jeff47]

130. Milk production level isn't one-way.

Lack of breastfeeding indeed reduces production, but that isn't a one-way street. Milk production can also increase based on demand. This should make sense, because a newborn is going to be drinking a hell of a lot less than a 12-month-old.

Because of this, a single bottle feeding will not cause a woman to 'dry up', as you seem to be saying here. The kid will start feeding again and production will ramp back up.

If a new mother decides to use "a bunch of free formula", then it's pretty clear she's decided to bottle feed - for no other reason than the free samples aren't "a bunch" - We got 4 single-use bottles.

And your baby pays.

It should be noted that after about 3 months, milk is just for nutrition. The baby's digestive tract is developed enough to destroy the antibodies that were an immune system booster when the baby was younger. So it's a tad hyperbolic to say "your baby pays!!". Nutritionally, formula isn't bad (for babies in the developed world - need clean water). It's just more expensive and sometimes less convenient than breast milk.

I have to wonder if a lot of the people railing against formula is a generational or regional issue. The "medical establishment" around here is beating "You must breastfeed!!!!!!!!!" into new mothers. I understand that wasn't always the case.