Thoughts on formula bags - Page 3

[Benji'sMom]

Originally Posted by Wolfmeis

I will join you under the chair. I did that with my first two children. With this last one, I even gave away my breast pump! Liberation!

I think I have the free sample still on the shelf too - it might even be expired by now, I don't know... I think I kept it in case I died or something.

[annettemarie]

Originally Posted by Sharondio

You're not in trouble for taking it, or even for using it. The blame lies where it should: with the formula companies.

Absolutely.

[MisaGoat]

My son will be one month old tomorrow. I have received soooo much formula. The first was at a group meeting to explain the prenatal tests available. It was a prize for answering a question right (should have taken one of the books, but we didn't realize it was a formula bag yet). Mind you I was months away from delivering. It did come in handy when a friend's baby came over and they forgot her formula (she nursed for 4 months). I also got formula in the mail from being on the Motherhood mailing list. Formula in the mail from a different mailing list. Formula from my pediatrician and of course the formula bag from the hospital. All this formula has been sitting around my house and I don't really know what to do with it. I was planning on donating it to the food bank but now I read on this thread that a food bank wouldn't take the formula. I only mananged to give away one can to my cousin's gf.

I agree that the 'breastfeeding bags' are way more annoying. I kept thinking that maybe there would be something good in there. The only thing in any of the bags that I use is the travel wipe container. My husband asked why I even took the bag. I guess I didn't really think to refuse it at the time.

I did use formula for my son's second and third days because the pediatrician told me too because he hadn't peed yet and the ped said he was dehydrated. Once he was peeing again and my milk came on the formula was done. I was crying when he told me to use formula. I was crying 1) bc I was worried that something might be wrong with my son. They put a catheter in him and nothing, had ultrasounds of his kidneys and bladder and put another catheter in him which is when he finally peed. 2) bc I was really upset about giving him formula. We fed him with a syringe at first but then went to bottles because it was taking too long to get enough formula in him. He nursed at each feeding, my husband fed him the bottles while I used the pump and then I used a syringe to feed him whatever I managed to pump. The first night we were home and still using formula my milk came in. We were up all night with him because he was really hungry and frustrated with the boob and we were upset and debating giving him a bottle all night but stuck it out and by 5 am he had remembered how to latch on right and we finally got some sleep. I really think my husband was responsible for us not giving him formula that night. I was upset that my baby was hungry and not eating and was more worried about him eating than what he ate at that point. But since then he has only had my milk.

I guess the reason I told that whole story is to say that I understand how just having the formula available can make it that much easier to cave and give it. Luckily I have a very awesome husband who is on the same page as me with a lot of the parenting things and puts breastfeeding as the #1 thing he wants us to do for our son. I have to add that all the nurses were very helpful (except one who I yelled at when I found a pacifier in his bassinet when she brought him back from the nursery after she kept him longer than she said he would, delaying a feeding while he was dehydrated and who couldn't tell me anything from his visit with the pediatrician in the nursery. (another thought why is it the nursery when no nursing happens there?). She knew I didn't want him to have a paci bc I told her 3 times the night before when he was up and she kept suggesting I give him one so I could sleep) All the other nurses were great about waking me up to nurse during the night, bringing the baby to me when he was hungry (he was in the nursery maybe a total of 4 hours during the 3 days we were in the hospital), teaching me how to latch him on (all the reading doesn't really compare to hands on help), teaching me how to use the pump, storing the colostrum, helping me use the syringe to get the colostrum in, comforting me when I was worried about my son etc.

Similac has got Enfamil beat on marketing the formula though. Similac gave me formula 4 times before Enfamil did. Any good ideas for what to do with the formula if the food bank doesn't take it?

[sharon71]

Originally Posted by annettemarie

Just a thought--when you (general you) use those free formula bags, you are advertising for free for the formula industry. Everyone recognizes those bags, and the assumption is that you are using the formula that came in them, just like millions of other women in America. Using those bags does nothing to help normalize breastfeeding.

I got a BF friendly bag last yr from Enfamil(sp) it's black with a small gold embelm on it I took it off.

[intorainbowz]

I used one of my black bags to haul my LACTINA to and from work.... Tehe.

I gave the other bag and all the formula to my SIL, who is hoping to adopt. I will admit, she and I have signed up for ever formula program there is, soaking every dime from them. I just love it when those cupons come....

She would breast feed if she could.

[firstkid4me]

Originally Posted by intorainbowz

I used one of my black bags to haul my LACTINA to and from work.... Tehe.

I gave the other bag and all the formula to my SIL, who is hoping to adopt. I will admit, she and I have signed up for ever formula program there is, soaking every dime from them. I just love it when those cupons come....

She would breast feed if she could.

She actually can induce lactation, a friend of mine has.

[newbad]

The hospital that I work at takes out all of the formula, samples and paperwork and just gives the bag. *hee hee*

[Shahbazin]

I got one of those little black bags w/the bear tag; since I said I was definitely breastfeeding, there were a couple of disposable breast pads in there, & some breastmilk storage bottles, besides the formula (hmm... the milk's already *in* my own personal storage bottles, I'm gonna take it out & stick it in something I have to sterilize & wash?) I put the formula in my dogs' food, thought it might add some calories or something (I have skinny, working farm dogs). I guess I could take some fabric paint, & make a picture of a bountiful mamma breastfeeding, on the side of the bag, if I wanted to make a statement (it's still in the closet), since I already have the thing.

[AidansMommy1012]

After reading some of the replies on here, I got curious and hunted up my formula bag from the hospital. I had ds2 12 weeks ago, and I just found the thing, which was covered in dust and had somehow found its way to the board game shelf in the playroom. It was all crumpled under a boxed chess set and Trivial Pursuit: Lord of the Rings. I guess I'll probably donate it to the women's shelter. I thought about giving it to the cat, but he has a touchy tummy. Happily, that's the only formula sample I've received.

[eepster]

Originally Posted by Shahbazin

I guess I could take some fabric paint, & make a picture of a bountiful mamma breastfeeding, on the side of the bag, if I wanted to make a statement (it's still in the closet), since I already have the thing.

I love that idea :.