Do hospitals' freebies undermine breast-feeding?

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AppId is over the quota
HOLD FOR RELEASE AT 12:01 A.M., EDT MONDAY, SEPT. 26 WITH STORY BY LINDSEY TANNER - In this Sept. 14, 2011 photo, Jessica Ewald breast-feeds her 5-month-old son Bennett at her home in Oakbrook Terrace, Ill. Like many new moms, she got a hospital goody bag with supplies including free formula and formula coupons that she gave away as soon as she got home. Ewald, the daughter of a breast-feeding activist who fought to get those goody bags out of hospitals, says hospitals sending newborns home with formula can really undermine a woman's determination to breast-feed. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green) HOLD FOR RELEASE AT 12:01 A.M., EDT MONDAY, SEPT. 26 WITH STORY BY LINDSEY TANNER - In this Sept. 14, 2011 photo, Jessica Ewald breast-feeds her 5-month-old son Bennett at her home in Oakbrook Terrace, Ill. Like many new moms, she got a hospital goody bag with supplies including free formula and formula coupons that she gave away as soon as she got home. Ewald, the daughter of a breast-feeding activist who fought to get those goody bags out of hospitals, says hospitals sending newborns home with formula can really undermine a woman's determination to breast-feed. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green) HOLD FOR RELEASE AT 12:01 A.M., EDT MONDAY, SEPT. 26 - In this Sept. 14, 2011 photo, Nathan and Jessica Ewald hold their 5-month-old son, Bennett, at their home in Oakbrook Terrace. Like many new moms, she got a hospital goody bag with supplies including free formula and formula coupons that she gave away as soon as she got home. Ewald, the daughter of a breast-feeding activist who fought to get those goody bags out of hospitals, says hospitals sending newborns home with formula can really undermine a woman's determination to breast-feed. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green) HOLD FOR RELEASE AT 12:01 A.M., EDT MONDAY, SEPT. 26 - In this Sept. 14, 2011 photo, Nathan and Jessica Ewald hold their 5-month-old son, Bennett, at their home in Oakbrook Terrace, Ill. Like many new moms, she got a hospital goody bag with supplies including free formula and formula coupons that she gave away as soon as she got home. Ewald, the daughter of a breast-feeding activist who fought to get those goody bags out of hospitals, says hospitals sending newborns home with formula can really undermine a woman's determination to breast-feed. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)eval("var currentItemd57851005a80479aaeeb90a12c70b9ff = 1;");eval("var nextd57851005a80479aaeeb90a12c70b9ff = 0;");eval("var previousd57851005a80479aaeeb90a12c70b9ff = 0;"); CHICAGO (AP) — Jessica Ewald brought more than a new baby boy home when she gave birth earlier this year. Like many new moms, she got a hospital goody bag, with supplies including free infant formula and formula coupons.

"We gave it away the moment we came home because I said I'm not having that in our house," Ewald said.

Ewald, 32, of Oakbrook Terrace, Ill., is the daughter of a breast-feeding activist who fought to get those goody bags out of hospitals. Ewald was taught early on that "breast is best," and even though as a teen she rolled her eyes when her mom asked pregnant women about nursing, Ewald knew she'd choose breast over bottle when her own time came.

Borrowing a line from a blogger, Ewald says hospitals sending newborns home with formula "is like giving somebody divorce papers at their wedding." It can really undermine a woman's determination to breast-feed, she said.

The head of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shares her concern.

"Hospitals need to greatly improve practices to support mothers who want to breast-feed," Dr. Thomas Frieden said last month in releasing a CDC report card on breast-feeding. It showed that less than 5 percent of U.S. infants are born in "baby-friendly" hospitals that fully support breast-feeding, and that 1 in 4 infants receive formula within hours of birth.

Routinely offering new moms free formula is among practices the CDC would like to end. In some cases, hospitals agree to give out those freebies in exchange for getting free supplies for special-needs infants, Frieden said.

Exactly how many U.S. hospitals hand out formula is unclear. The American Hospital Association and the International Formula Council, a trade group for formula makers, do not keep statistics and formula companies contacted for this story declined to comment.

A nationwide study of more than 3,000 U.S. hospitals and maternity centers published last year in the Journal of Human Lactation found that 91 percent sent new moms home with free formula in 2006-07. A smaller 2010 study of 1,239 hospitals suggests that the practice has decreased, although most — 72 percent — still offered formula. That study is being released Monday in October's Pediatrics.

"I don't think hospitals are the right place to market anything and I don't think hospitals should be marketing a product that is nutritionally inferior to breast milk," said study author Anne Merewood, an associate pediatrics professor at Boston University medical school and editor of the Journal of Human Lactation.

"People do think if a doctor gives something it must be good for you," Merewood said.

Some women and activists, though, say the move to end formula freebies is part of a breast-feeding movement that has gone too far, overstating the benefits and guilt-tripping new moms who have difficulty nursing or just choose not to. And even some breast-feeding moms don't have a problem with the free formula.

"I think it's fine to offer freebies to any mom, especially those who are undecided or have already made up their mind not to breast-feed. We are always free to refuse," said the Rev. Camille Lebron Powell, an associate Presbyterian pastor in Little Rock, Ark.

Breast milk contains antibodies that strengthen babies' immune systems and help them fight infections. Research has shown that breast-fed babies have reduced chances of becoming obese or developing diabetes in childhood, and sudden infant death syndrome is less common in breast-fed infants.

The American Academy of Pediatrics and other medical groups recommend that infants receive only breast milk for their first six months. The new CDC report shows that only 15 percent of new mothers achieve that goal, and only 44 percent of new moms breast-feed at all for six months.

Lebron Powell doesn't dispute the benefits and chose to breast-feed her children, aged 9 months and 4 years old. But she says those who choose to use formula shouldn't be demonized.

"Breast-feeding is free. It's good for the baby and it's good for the mom. But it's hard and if you work and the employer doesn't support your pumping needs, you are in trouble," she said.

Hospitals have been offering formula freebies for decades, but they have a new incentive to abandon the practice.

The Joint Commission hospital accrediting group last year added "exclusive breast milk feeding" during newborns' hospital stays as a measure that hospitals can be evaluated on. While formula giveaways won't be evaluated, the commission mentions monitoring that practice when it educates hospitals on how to improve their performance, said Celeste Milton, an associate project director at the commission.

The goal is to discourage hospitals from giving infants formula when it's not medically necessary, said commission spokeswoman Elizabeth Zhani.

Central DuPage Hospital in Winfield, Ill., the suburban Chicago hospital where Ewald had her baby last March, boasts that 93 percent of its new mothers are breast-feeding when they're sent home. It also supplies lactation consultants to new moms — a service Ewald said she appreciated. But Ewald said she got a mixed message about breast-feeding, because nurses there wanted to give her baby formula to help him gain weight, and because of those free samples in her goody bag.

Hospital spokeswoman Amy Jo Steinbruecker said the gift bags contain "literature and samples of common items newborns may need, including a small sample of formula," and are meant to support healthy parenting and baby care.

But she said the hospital is examining the formula freebies as it seeks to be designated "baby-friendly."

The World Health Organization and the United Nations Children's Fund established that designation to encourage breast-feeding, with 10 criteria hospitals must meet. These include allowing new moms and infants to remain together throughout the hospital stay and not giving newborns any pacifiers or formula.

Jennifer Smoter, a spokeswoman for Abbott Nutrition, makers of Similac formula, declined to disclose how many hospitals Abbott provides with formula samples and would not comment on the practice. Representatives of Mead Johnson, makers of Enfamil formula, did not respond to several email and telephone requests for comment.

Haley Stevens, a scientific affairs specialist for the International Formula Council trade group, said not offering new moms formula samples "is really irresponsible."

New moms should have formula available, along with information on how to use it so they don't water it down or make other mistakes that could endanger their babies' health, Stevens said.

"We agree breast-feeding is the best, when you can do it," she said. "There's no question. But if one size doesn't fit all, it's good to have a backup."

___

Online:

CDC breast-feeding report: http://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/data/reportcard.htm

American Academy of Pediatrics: http://www.aap.org

___

AP Medical Writer Lindsey Tanner can be reached at www.twitter.com/LindseyTanner

Associated Press

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Do hospitals' freebies undermine breast-feeding?

AppId is over the quota
CHICAGO (AP) - Jessica Ewald brought more than a new baby boy home when she gave birth earlier this year. "Like many new moms, she got a hospital goody bag, with supplies including free infant formula and formula coupons.""We gave it away the moment we came home because I said I'm not having that in our house," Ewald said.Ewald, 32, of Oakbrook Terrace, Ill., is the daughter of a breast-feeding activist who fought to get those goody bags out of hospitals. Ewald was taught early on that "breast is best", and even though as a teen she rolled her eyes when her mom asked pregnant women about nursing, Ewald knew she'd choose breast over bottle when her own time cam.Borrowing a line from a blogger, Ewald says hospitals sending newborns home with formula "is like giving somebody divorce papers at their wedding." It can really undermine a woman's determination to breast feed, she said."The head of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shares her concern.""Hospitals need to greatly improve practices to support mothers who want to breast feed," Dr. Thomas Frieden said last month in releasing a CDC report card on breast-feeding. It showed that less than 5 percent of U.S. infants are born in "baby-friendly" hospitals that fully support breast-feeding, and that 1 in 4 infants receive formula within hours of birth.Routinely offering new moms free formula is among practices the CDC would like to end. In some cases, hospitals agree to give out those freebies in exchange for getting free supplies for special-needs infants, Frieden said.Exactly how many U.S. hospitals out hand formula is unclear. The American Hospital Association and the International Formula Council, a trade group for formula makers, do not keep statistics and formula companies contacted for this story declined to how.A nationwide study of more than 3,000 U.S. hospitals and maternity centers published last year in the Journal of Human Lactation found that 91 percent feel new moms home with free formula in 2006-07. A smaller 2010 study of 1,239 hospitals suggests that the practice has decreased, although most — 72 percent - still offered formula. "That study is being released Monday in October's Pediatrics."""I don 't think hospitals are the right place to market anything and I don' t think hospitals should be marketing a product that is nutritionally inferior to breast milk,"said study author Anne Merewood, an associate pediatrics professor at Boston University medical school and editor of the Journal of Human Lactation.""People do think if a doctor gives something it must be good for you," Merewood said.Some women and activists, though, say the move to end formula freebies is part of a breast-feeding movement that has gone too far, overstating the benefits and guilt-tripping new moms who have difficulty nursing or just choose not to. "And even some breast-feeding moms don't have a problem with the free formula."I think it's fine to offer freebies to any mom, especially those who are undecided or have already made up their mind not to breast feed. "We are always free to decline," said the Rev. Camille Lebron Powell, an associate Presbyterian pastor in Little Rock, Ark.Breast milk contains antibodies that strengthen babies' immune systems and help them fight infections. Research has shown that breast fed babies have reduced chances of becoming obese or developing diabetes in childhood, and sudden infant death syndrome is less common in breast-fed infants.The American Academy of Pediatrics and other medical groups recommend that infants receive only breast milk for their first six months. The new CDC report shows that only 15 percent of new mothers achieve that goal, and only 44 percent of new moms breast-feed at all for six months.LeBron Powell doesn't dispute the benefits and thing to breast feed her children, aged 9 months and 4 years old. "But she says those who choose to use formula shouldn't can't be demonized."Breast-feeding is free. It's good for the baby and it's good for the mom. "But it's hard and if you work and the use doesn't support your pumping needs, you are in disorder," she said.Hospitals have been offering formula freebies for decades, but they have a new incentive to abandon the practice.The Joint Commission hospital accrediting group last year added "exclusive breast milk feeding" during newborns' hospital stays as a measure that hospitals can be evaluated there. While formula giveaways won't be evaluated, the commission mentions monitoring that practice when it educates hospitals on how to improve their performance, said Celeste Milton, an associate project director at the commission.The goal is to discourage hospitals from giving infants formula when it's not medically necessary, said commission spokeswoman Elizabeth Zhani.Central DuPage Hospital in Winfield, Ill., the suburban Chicago hospital where Ewald had her baby last March, boasts that 93 percent of its new mothers are breast-feeding when they're sent home. It also supplies lactation consultants to new moms - a service Ewald said she appreciated. But Ewald said she got a mixed message about breast-feeding, because nurses there wanted to give her baby formula to help him gain weight, and because of those free samples in her goody bag.Hospital spokeswoman Amy Jo Steinbruecker said the gift bags contain "literature and samples of common items newborns may need, including a small sample of formula," and are meant to support healthy parenting and baby care.But she said the hospital is examining the formula freebies as it seeks to be designated "baby-friendly."The World Health Organization and the United Nations Children's Fund established that designation to encourage breast-feeding, with 10 hospitals must meet criteria. These include allowing new moms and infants to remain together throughout the hospital stay and not giving any pacifiers newborns or formula.Jennifer Smoter, a spokeswoman for Abbott Nutrition, makers of Similac formula, declined to disclose how many hospitals provides Abbott with formula samples and would not how on the practice. Representatives of Mead Johnson, makers of Enfamil formula, did not respond to several email and telephone requests for comment.Haley Stevens, a scientific affairs specialist for the International Formula Council trade group, said not offering new moms formula samples "is really irresponsible.""New moms should have formula available, along with information on how to use it so they don't water it down or make other mistakes that could endanger their babies' health, Stevens said.""We agree breast-feeding is the best, when you can do it," she said. "There's no question." "But if one size doesn't fit all, it's good to have a backup."___Online: CDC breast-feeding report: http://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/data/reportcard.htmAmerican Academy of Pediatrics: http://www.aap.org___AP Medical Writer Lindsey Tanner can be reached at www.twitter.com/LindseyTannerAssociated Press

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In Pittsburgh, Public Art Doubles as a Sanctuary for Breast-Feeding Moms

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

If you're a nursing mother being made to feel uncomfortable for breast-feeding your baby in public, you might want to consider moving to Pittsburgh. On Sept. 17, that city will unveil a mobile sanctuary for breast-feeding moms. You can't miss it: it's a souped-up ice cream truck with a 3-ft. fiberglass boob on top, painted light pink, with a hot-pink areola and a flashing dome light for a nipple.

"It's definitely something to marvel at," says Jill Miller, the truck's creator and an instructor in the School of Art at Carnegie Mellon University. "We joke we had to give it a breast reduction because it was too tall."

For all its gimmicky appeal, there's a serious backstory to the truck's evolution. Miller, who had moved to Pittsburgh from San Francisco, noticed that breast-feeding on the East Coast attracted way more unwelcome attention than it had out West. She heard stories about women being harassed by mall security guards and about fellow mothers making snide comments. After an urgent-care nurse gasped at the sight of Miller nursing her 15-month-old, Miller figured Pittsburgh could use a little enlightening.

When Miller was invited to participate in the 2011 Pittsburgh Biennial exhibition at the city's Andy Warhol Museum, she decided to use the opportunity to champion both public art and public breast-feeding.

With $18,000 raised mostly through Kickstarter, which helps creative projects find seed money, Miller purchased a 1990 ice cream truck, gussied up the interior with pink paint and brushed aluminum and outfitted it with a breast-milk pumping station, a rug and some chairs.

Women anywhere in the Pittsburgh area can contact The Milk Truck through its Facebook and Twitter sites, if they're told they can't nurse in a public place or have been admonished to cover up or find a restroom. The truck will also make rounds providing a private place for working mothers to pump milk.

Miller, along with a former La Leche League leader and a doula, say they are "first responders," and they anticipate helping lots of local moms. "Basically, the truck shows up, and we have a nursing party," says Miller. There will be snacks and lawn chairs and a soundtrack featuring some classic odes to femininity: Rusty Warren's "Bounce Your Boobies" and Ruth Wallis' "Boobs."

MORE: Child's Play: What's So Bad About 'The Breast Milk Baby'?

Earlier this week, Pittsburgh's City Council got in on the fun, lauding the mobile breast-feeding unit as a "combination of guerilla theater, activism and a little humor" and issuing an official proclamation:

Now, therefore be it resolved that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby recognize The Milk Truck for delivering an important public service by ensuring that our community's babies are nourished when and wherever needed; and,

Be it further resolved, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby declare Tuesday, September 13, 2011 'The Milk Truck Day' in the City of Pittsburgh.

Pennsylvania is one of 45 states that protects the rights of women to breast-feed in public and is among 28 states that specifically exempts breast-feeding from public indecency laws. But legislation hasn't necessarily changed public opinion. An unscientific poll published by the Pittsburgh Gazette that gauged uneasiness about public breast-feeding found that 28% of men and 41% of women were uncomfortable. That women were more critical of public nursing than men won't surprise many breast-feeding mothers.

The only time anyone ever said anything to me about breast-feeding in public was at a science museum during storytime. I was, I thought, discreetly nursing my infant daughter while keeping an eye on my two older children when a woman a row behind hissed at me to cover up. "What am I supposed to tell my son?" she demanded. My face burning, I responded, "Tell him that a mother is feeding her child."

MORE: Facebook and Breast-Feeders Face Off Again Over Nursing Photos

The Milk Truck — which debuts Saturday at the Warhol museum, where moms and their nurslings will get complimentary admission — has already engendered a fair amount of criticism from people who think public breast-feeding is disgusting. Miller has received threatening emails, including one earlier this week suggesting that if she doesn't agree, she should get a rope and hang herself. "Could you imagine someone getting so mad about breast-feeding?" she says.

But while the truck is all about safeguarding the rights of women who want to breast-feed, what it's not about is proselytizing. "Our mission is to be pro-breast-feeding, but we're also not saying everyone needs to breast-feed," she says. "We are not entering that conversation."

Rather, the truck's presence is just a practical way to show support for a mom who's been shamed for doing something that she's allowed to do by law: feed her baby.

"I support a woman's right to stay and breast-feed, but you are so surprised when someone harasses or embarrasses you that your reaction is to stop," says Miller. "My response is we've got a nice van with a boob on top, and we've got a bunch of moms who will show up and hang out with you."

Bonnie Rochman is a reporter at TIME. Find her on Twitter at @brochman. You can also continue the discussion on TIME's Facebook page and on Twitter at @TIME.

View the original article here

Peliculas Online

Read More

In Pittsburgh, Public Art Doubles as a Sanctuary for Breast-Feeding Moms

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

If you're a nursing mother being made to feel uncomfortable for breast-feeding your baby in public, you might want to consider moving to Pittsburgh. On Sept. 17, that city will unveil a mobile sanctuary for breast-feeding moms. You can't miss it: it's a souped-up ice cream truck with a 3-ft. fiberglass boob on top, painted light pink, with a hot-pink areola and a flashing dome light for a nipple.

"It's definitely something to marvel at," says Jill Miller, the truck's creator and an instructor in the School of Art at Carnegie Mellon University. "We joke we had to give it a breast reduction because it was too tall."

For all its gimmicky appeal, there's a serious backstory to the truck's evolution. Miller, who had moved to Pittsburgh from San Francisco, noticed that breast-feeding on the East Coast attracted way more unwelcome attention than it had out West. She heard stories about women being harassed by mall security guards and about fellow mothers making snide comments. After an urgent-care nurse gasped at the sight of Miller nursing her 15-month-old, Miller figured Pittsburgh could use a little enlightening.

When Miller was invited to participate in the 2011 Pittsburgh Biennial exhibition at the city's Andy Warhol Museum, she decided to use the opportunity to champion both public art and public breast-feeding.

With $18,000 raised mostly through Kickstarter, which helps creative projects find seed money, Miller purchased a 1990 ice cream truck, gussied up the interior with pink paint and brushed aluminum and outfitted it with a breast-milk pumping station, a rug and some chairs.

Women anywhere in the Pittsburgh area can contact The Milk Truck through its Facebook and Twitter sites, if they're told they can't nurse in a public place or have been admonished to cover up or find a restroom. The truck will also make rounds providing a private place for working mothers to pump milk.

Miller, along with a former La Leche League leader and a doula, say they are "first responders," and they anticipate helping lots of local moms. "Basically, the truck shows up, and we have a nursing party," says Miller. There will be snacks and lawn chairs and a soundtrack featuring some classic odes to femininity: Rusty Warren's "Bounce Your Boobies" and Ruth Wallis' "Boobs."

MORE: Child's Play: What's So Bad About 'The Breast Milk Baby'?

Earlier this week, Pittsburgh's City Council got in on the fun, lauding the mobile breast-feeding unit as a "combination of guerilla theater, activism and a little humor" and issuing an official proclamation:

Now, therefore be it resolved that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby recognize The Milk Truck for delivering an important public service by ensuring that our community's babies are nourished when and wherever needed; and,

Be it further resolved, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby declare Tuesday, September 13, 2011 'The Milk Truck Day' in the City of Pittsburgh.

Pennsylvania is one of 45 states that protects the rights of women to breast-feed in public and is among 28 states that specifically exempts breast-feeding from public indecency laws. But legislation hasn't necessarily changed public opinion. An unscientific poll published by the Pittsburgh Gazette that gauged uneasiness about public breast-feeding found that 28% of men and 41% of women were uncomfortable. That women were more critical of public nursing than men won't surprise many breast-feeding mothers.

The only time anyone ever said anything to me about breast-feeding in public was at a science museum during storytime. I was, I thought, discreetly nursing my infant daughter while keeping an eye on my two older children when a woman a row behind hissed at me to cover up. "What am I supposed to tell my son?" she demanded. My face burning, I responded, "Tell him that a mother is feeding her child."

MORE: Facebook and Breast-Feeders Face Off Again Over Nursing Photos

The Milk Truck — which debuts Saturday at the Warhol museum, where moms and their nurslings will get complimentary admission — has already engendered a fair amount of criticism from people who think public breast-feeding is disgusting. Miller has received threatening emails, including one earlier this week suggesting that if she doesn't agree, she should get a rope and hang herself. "Could you imagine someone getting so mad about breast-feeding?" she says.

But while the truck is all about safeguarding the rights of women who want to breast-feed, what it's not about is proselytizing. "Our mission is to be pro-breast-feeding, but we're also not saying everyone needs to breast-feed," she says. "We are not entering that conversation."

Rather, the truck's presence is just a practical way to show support for a mom who's been shamed for doing something that she's allowed to do by law: feed her baby.

"I support a woman's right to stay and breast-feed, but you are so surprised when someone harasses or embarrasses you that your reaction is to stop," says Miller. "My response is we've got a nice van with a boob on top, and we've got a bunch of moms who will show up and hang out with you."

Bonnie Rochman is a reporter at TIME. Find her on Twitter at @brochman. You can also continue the discussion on TIME's Facebook page and on Twitter at @TIME.

View the original article here

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