A Good Example
by Kate Kahn - 13th February 2008
As you know by now I'm incredibly tired of people (read that lactivists) who insist that the small sample of formula handed out in goodie bags at hospitals encourages women to stop breastfeeding. Maybe it's because I know it never influenced my decision, and I feel that most women would bristle at the idea that some people think they are that impressionable (plus it's not like the sample included in the bags is a large amount). And, importantly, I've blogged about several other factors that experts say influences a woman's decision to stop breastfeeding.
Some public hospitals feel that banning the goodie bags altogether will increase breastfeeding rates. That remains to be seen. I read an article today about a hospital that impressed me because I believe it's approaching the issue in the most healthy way. The Salem Hospital in Oregon toyed with the idea of banning those goodie bags, but instead, decided that rather than do that it would hire an on-site lactation specialist to help new moms having problems breastfeeding. What a concept! Surely that's getting to the heart of the matter. The article quotes hospital spokesperson, ā€ˇSherryll Johnson Hoar:
"What we give them is an amount of formula that will only make four half-ounce servings. So it really isn't very much." She says a larger part of the package new moms leave with is their Breastfeeding support kits which has a number of accessories for nursing mothers. "It really is geared more in that way if you look in one of these bags and see the contents. There are things that can really help a woman who is breastfeeding."
She's right. The goodie bags handed out only have a very small sample of formula. Most of the rest of the stash is geared towards enhancing the breastfeeding experience. More hospitals should follow the lead of Salem Hospital. Rather than point the finger, that hospital looked at the issue, considered all options, and decided to take action in a way that helps, not hurts, new moms.
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