As of Aug 1st, 2007 the 11 NYC Hospitals run by the City’s Health and Hospital Corporations(see full list below) will be banning the free formula samples that new mothers receive in the hospital. In return, all new mothers will be encouraged to breast-feed (nurse) their newborns.
No longer will you get the free baby tote bag with free baby formula ( similac, enfamil), and promotional offers for it.
Instead, you will get is disposable nursing pads, a cooler to store your breast milk bottles, and a baby tee that reads “I eat at Mom’s”.
This new rule takes effect during World Breast Feeding Week.
At the Bronx located hospital, Jacobi, who’s been promoting new mothers to breast-feed since 2005, says that 25% of 2,200 newborn babies are being breast-fed each year. There are about 21,000 babies born each year in the 11 hospitals.
The City Health Officals want to promote the benefits of breast-feeding to all women.
However, those women who request formula will still receive it.
Health experts say that breast milk reduces the risk of common childhood infections, asthma, diabetes and obesity. Breast-feeding also lowers the risk of breast cancer, ovarian cancer, anemia and osteoporosis in mothers.
Studies have further shown that breast-feeding burns up to 500 calories a day, which helps women recover from pregnancy faster and counters symptoms of postpartum depression.
Health professionals say it is especially important to introduce the baby to mother’s milk within an hour of birth to teach both the mother and newborn.
The infant-formula industry said it supports encouraging more breast-feeding, but is opposed to banning distribution of product samples.
Below are the hospitals that are under the Health and Hospitals Corporations:
The Bronx
North Central Bronx Hospital
Jacobi Medical Center
Manhattan
Harlem Hospital Center
Bellevue Hospital Center
(both of which have excellent Birthing Centers)
Metropolitan Hospital Center
Queens
Queens Hospital Center
Elmhurst Hospital Center
Brooklyn
Woodhull Medical and Mental Heatlh Center
Kings County Hospital Center
Coney Island Hospital
To learn more about Breast-feeding please click here
I am a supporter of breast-feeding. The fact that you are giving your child a healthier way of growing, is something I think all new mothers should consider to try, at least once. When you breast-feed you give your newborn your antibodies, which helps build a stronger immune system.
The only thing that I was disappointed with when I gave birth to my daughter was that the 1st 6-24 hours that you spend in the Recovery Room I was not asked if I was planning on breast-feeding. And as a result, they automatically put all the babies on formula, which lowers the mother’s chance of having her newborn successfully latch on (take) to her breast milk.
There are those mothers who think about things like “Oh, if I breast-feed then I will not be able to smoke or drink?”. Well… Yes you will not be able to smoke. But, you will be able to drink in moderation, so I have read. If you click here you will read what health experts have to say about mothers who have the occassional drink.
~f@ke
