Hospitals Hand Out Free Formula

¶ … Hospitals Hand Out Free Formula to New Moms," reports on how American hospitals are evaluating their policies of providing new parents with free formula samples. The article is available online through Time magazine's website in their Healthland department, an area of the magazine devoted to providing information about trends in health, nutrition, and medicine. Time is a reliable media source because of its long-standing publication history, both in print and online. Additionally, the accuracy of the information in the article can be trusted because Rochman cites a number of peer-reviewed studies to support her claims.

Rochman reports that hospitals in the U.S. are responding to pressure from breast feeding advocates and parenting groups when it comes to giving new parents formula for their new babies before they leave the hospital. A study recently published in Pediatrics found that while 75% of hospitals in the U.S. still give out free formula, this number has declined substantially (Rochman, 2011). Opponents of free formula believe that it has ethical implications regarding the relationship between hospitals and the companies which manufacture formula, and suggest that it can act as a deterrent to successful breastfeeding. This may also be a response to the U.S. Surgeon General's recent report on the nutritional benefits of breastfeeding which "decreases infants' respiratory and digestive problems, cuts down on ear infections, and is good for mom's health, too" (Rochman, 2011). The American Academy of Pediatrics has suggested that formula is a poor substitute for breast milk, and has issued a call for hospitals to ban the practice of giving out free formula because it can negatively impact breastfeeding outcomes. Additionally, they recommend that all babies receive breast milk exclusively for the first six months of life (Rochman, 2011)

Rochman reports on a recent movement, Ban the Bags, which aims to convince all hospitals to stop giving out free samples to new parents, suggesting that formula manufacturer's have a vested interest in undermining breast feeding, as it means a larger customer base for them (2011). The positive relationship between breastfeeding and improved infant health has been reiterated by both the Centers for Disease Control, UNICEF, and the World Health Organization. This has encouraged some hospitals to adopt the 'Baby Friendly USA' designation, which marks them as institutions which emphasize a number of initiatives which encourage breastfeeding for all mothers. As of August, 2011, more than 100 maternity centers in the U.S.A. (out of a total of 3000) have met the qualifications to be declared 'Baby Friendly' (Rochman, 2011). Citing the study published in Pediatric, Rochman (2011) asserts that this growing trend towards reducing the power of formula manufacturers to influence parental behavior has many positive implications for parents and their new babies. This includes the possibility of lower obesity rates in American children and an improved bond between mother and newborn.