Hate to be the one to post this

[Joannarachel]

http://www.boston.com/news/local/art...a_for_infants/

[wawap]

: I'm not surprised, but it still stinks.

[rmzbm]

"Gail Wood , spokeswoman for Mead Johnson & Company , maker of Enfamil , the leading infant formula, said the decision means that mothers can decide what works best for them."

Well, thank God!! Cuz we wouldn't want them deciding based on something silly, like what's best for the baby!! :

[aileen]

public health council my arse!
i couldn't have dreamed up this outcome. i knew it might not be reinstated but i never dreamed it would such an obvious, need-to-secure-my 08-nom, gross, polital ploy. WHAT A JOKE!
must stop typing. taking it out on keyboard.
i'm steamed.

[Jade2561]

I am so annoyed right now.

In an interview, Cote said a prohibition ``is probably a little bit too heavy-handed for government from a regulatory perspective. We certainly counsel people and educate them toward the benefits of breast-feeding, but we don't absolutely eliminate the option for people to choose the alternative."

You don't eliminate the option by not providing them with formula gift bags. If they want to formula feed let them buy it or provide gift bags for nursing moms excluding formula - plain and simple. Uggh! I am sick to my stomach.

[foenyx]

So not handing out formula samples takes the choice of how to feed your baby away from you?

They can't have the argument both ways. First the argument is that the samples don't have an effect on whether a mom continues to BF or not, next they argue that these samples are so important that without them FFing moms are 'forced' to BF? It seems like that's what it boils down to.

[Sustainer]

Romney objected to the ban, saying it deprived women of the right to decide whether they wanted to breast-feed their babies or give them formula.

How did it do THAT?

In an interview, Cote said a prohibition ``is probably a little bit too heavy-handed for government from a regulatory perspective. We certainly counsel people and educate them toward the benefits of breast-feeding, but we don't absolutely eliminate the option for people to choose the alternative."

How does refraining from providing free formula samples "ABSOLUTELY ELIMINATE THE OPTION FOR PEOPLE TO CHOOSE" formula-feeding?????


WHAT IS PREVENTING PEOPLE FROM BRINGING THEIR OWN STINKING FORMULA TO THE HOSPITAL????????? GRRR!!!

[JamieCatheryn]

I'm confused, I thought this was about gift bags, not the formula they provide while in the hospital if you're not breastfeeding? I mean, if they didn't hand out those ready to feed bottles at feeding time yeah mom's wouldn't have a choice but to BF. But all the gift bags do is either provide a little free formula (under $10 worth) if they're already FF or simply undermine breastfeeding by encouraging tired nursing moms to give "just one bottle". Which, by the way, is encouraged in similac's literature on how to breastfeed that comes in those bags.

Hmm what if they did stop giving out formula for feeding in the hospital, except for serious medical reasons? I know it would never happen considering the public's feelings on formula and the amount of money those companies have, but just imagine the effect it would have!

[Soxfan Mom]

On the bright side, I like the photo that accompanies the story.

[rmzbm]

Originally Posted by Soxfan Mom

On the bright side, I like the photo that accompanies the story.

Yeah...w/her Got Milk shirt...

[Belle]

This doesn't make sense.

The council's unanimous decision in December made Massachusetts the first state in the nation to prohibit the giveaways.

The governer ousted three members of the nine person counsel and presumably replaced them with people who would vote his way. What happened to the other six members who also voted for the resolution in December? Were their votes bought? Or were they threatend with political muscle.

At the council meeting, members had little comment. A council member, Maureen Pompeo, described it as ``a good compromise."

Politics disgust me.

[aisraeltax]

there is really nothign else to say that hasnt been said here in this thread. i am not surprised at all, but really perplexed at the crap that comes out of their mouths!
so, the council prohibits these gift bags (which by the way, make hundreds of thousands for hospitals each year), so the council gets abolished???

just friggin' incredibe! but of course, with everything else that happens politically, this doesnt surprise me! just more of the same!

[mamabadger]

Originally Posted by Soxfan Mom

On the bright side, I like the photo that accompanies the story.

Soxfan Mom, you sound like a glass-half-ful kinda gal. Yes, at least the photo's pretty good.

In an interview, Cote said a prohibition ``is probably a little bit too heavy-handed for government from a regulatory perspective. We certainly counsel people and educate them toward the benefits of breast-feeding, but we don't absolutely eliminate the option for people to choose the alternative."

I absolutely see her point, which is why I think hospitals should stop this silly ban on smoking and cigarette machines on hospital property. They should also include a pack of Marlboros iin every new mother's gift bag. It's the mother's own choice to smoke or not, after all, and think of what they could do with the revenues from tobacco companies!

[rmzbm]

Originally Posted by mamabadger

I absolutely see her point, which is why I think hospitals should stop this silly ban on smoking and cigarette machines on hospital property. They should also include a pack of Marlboros iin every new mother's gift bag. It's the mother's own choice to smoke or not, after all, and think of what they could do with the revenues from tobacco companies!

Actually...you're right. Because to NOT include the smokes would be taking away her right to smoke!!

[Ruthla]

I guess money is more important than babies' health in the USA.

[JamesMama]

Although I'm not really all that surpirsed.

Originally Posted by rmzbm

Originally Posted by mamabadger

I absolutely see her point, which is why I think hospitals should stop this silly ban on smoking and cigarette machines on hospital property. They should also include a pack of Marlboros iin every new mother's gift bag. It's the mother's own choice to smoke or not, after all, and think of what they could do with the revenues from tobacco companies!

Actually...you're right. Because to NOT include the smokes would be taking away her right to smoke!!

[Momtwice]

The other thread about this
http://www.mothering.com/discussions...d.php?t=455298

[Joannarachel]

Originally Posted by mamabadger

I absolutely see her point, which is why I think hospitals should stop this silly ban on smoking and cigarette machines on hospital property. They should also include a pack of Marlboros iin every new mother's gift bag. It's the mother's own choice to smoke or not, after all, and think of what they could do with the revenues from tobacco companies!

[firstkid4me]

I called Gov Romney's office and gave them an earful (not angry, spirited but polite ) and they said they'd pass on the information to him. I think if more MDC mamas called and gave their opinions, he might change his mind. (I made sure to say that if he runs for Pres, I feel so passionately about the bfing issue that I probably wouldn't vote for him because of this action.)
Here's his information:
State House
Office of the Governor
Room 360
Boston, MA 02133
Phone: [phone]
[phone] (instate use only)
FAX: [phone]
TTY: [phone]

Washington D.C.
Office of the Governor
444 N. Capitol Street, Suite 208
Washington, D.C. 20001
Phone: [phone]
FAX: [phone]

[firstkid4me]

I basically told his lackey that taking away the sample of formula is not taking away their choice to go to the store and buy it themselves. I also said that if they're going to continue to pass out the formula bags, they should give out TRUE breastfeeding support bags (not with formula, but good breast pads, lanolin, a breastfeeding booklet, possibly coupons for $ off a pillow and/or breast pump.) The guy I talked to said he understood where I was coming from, and I drove the point home by explaining my particular breastfeeding experience (I almost gave up because I was giving myself deadlines while the "free" formula sample was in the house, dh supported me, and I tried once more, and here we are!) I also said that 2 months ago, dd had rotavirus, and if we had been ffing, we would have needed to give her an IV of fluids because she came close to needing it, but the bfing kept her from needing it.