My new baby experience and "The Bag" - Page 2

[TattooedMommy]

Originally Posted by Da WIC Lady

Talk about your mixed messages. Though she was a walking billboard for mixed messages. A white nursery nurse with ratty dreadlocks talking out of both sides of her mouth when it comes to breastfeeding and expecting me to respect her "professional " opinion. You would think hospitals would have hygiene standards for their employees. This woman looked like she got plucked out of a Rainbow gathering and thrown into scrubs, hemp and wood bead necklace, shells in the hair, and all. Not that I have a problem with the Rainbow kids, but they're not exactly the picture of professionalism.

In any case, I'm glad there are some hospitals with staff that have a clue out there. I just wish I had found one of them.

Wow. Um, just wow.

Anyways, the hospital I gave birth in gave me the BF bag full of formula samples, but the nurses took them out and tossed them for me both times. And the bags I was given were just solid black, no emblem.

[momo7]

When I USED to have babies in the hospital I'd take the bag and dump out the crap I didn't want into the trash (Why give it back so that it can be given to someone who doesn't know better?) I totally didn't go into with anyone, I just didn't have the energy.

Now that I go to a birthing center they give me a really COOL canvas tote bag with only breastfeeding stuff in it (herbal teas, nursing pads, coupons for cloth diaper products....even a free Mothering issue: That's how I found you guys to begin with!)

Why not give something that people can REALLY REALLY use?

[juliebird]

have you heard of ban the bags? it's a movement to get Formula bags banned - Portland, OR is the first city in the nation to ban them throughout the city

check it out
http://www.banthebags.org

lots of good info

[lovingmommyhood]

Originally Posted by gcgirl

I received an Enfamil "breastfeeding" bag from my OB's office. Um, yeah right. Chock full of formula and coupons, with the Enfamil logo all over it. But they included a couple of disposable breast shields, a water bottle and an excerpt from The Nursing Mother's Companion, so it's okay.

I got this same one. I thought it was ALRIGHT because it actually had quite a bit of bf'ing stuff in it but there were tons of formula coupons. I pulled the Enfamil logo off of the bag and I'm going to use it for cloth diapers...dirty ones that is.

I DID like the $20 off at the babycenterstore... I bought 2 pairs of babylegs.

[lovingmommyhood]

Originally Posted by momo7

When I USED to have babies in the hospital I'd take the bag and dump out the crap I didn't want into the trash (Why give it back so that it can be given to someone who doesn't know better?) I totally didn't go into with anyone, I just didn't have the energy.

Now that I go to a birthing center they give me a really COOL canvas tote bag with only breastfeeding stuff in it (herbal teas, nursing pads, coupons for cloth diaper products....even a free Mothering issue: That's how I found you guys to begin with!)

Why not give something that people can REALLY REALLY use?

I want one!!

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

birthing center they give me a really COOL canvas tote bag with only breastfeeding stuff in it (herbal teas, nursing pads, coupons for cloth diaper products....

That was what I got when I had ds :

With dd it was in the hospital and they sent me home with the ff bag. There was not 1 6pack of ready made formula but 2 in that thing along with the coupons etc. I ended up dumping the formula. At the time I didnt give it much thought really but for me bfing was the only option and it never crossed my mind to use formula. As a matter of fast dd was like 2yo when I remembered the formula I had it in the back bathroom that we never use.

[sunnymw]

I got a Similac bag with DS1 when we birthed in the hospital. I gave the formula to a friend who had already long since given up on BFing and was watering down formula b/c she couldn't afford it (and there were some other psychological issues too... long story).

The bag was nice... I sharpied the logo out, and put spare diapers and onesies in it and put it in the trunk of GMIL's car just in case we ever took it and didn't have enough stuff packed (happened to us more than once).

[ashleyhaugh]

mine wasnt too bad i dont think. i got it as we were leaving, and it was zip tied shut so i didnt see the contents till we got home. there was a 6 pack of similac powder tubes, but i also got breast pads, lanolin samples, a cooler bag and ice packs, breast milk storage bottles, a razor (the one with the shaving cream stuff on the blade) some other little samples, a few booklets, and the normal baby ads for the book clubs, and gerber lfe insurance stuff. i think i got an excerpt of the nursing mothers companion.

i won a different bag from a hospital at a drawing from babies r us, and aside from a ready to feed bottle of similacm it was just papers and itty bitty samples of like lotion and stuff.... oh, and a pacifier, so compared to that one, the one i got when i had ds was pretty good

[Ivan's Mom]

Originally Posted by juliebird

have you heard of ban the bags? it's a movement to get Formula bags banned - Portland, OR is the first city in the nation to ban them throughout the city

check it out
http://www.banthebags.org

lots of good info

This is why I refused the bag this time. The campaign. I did not want to take anything in the bag or the bag itself. This is so that I would not contribute to the # of bags given away by these criminals. Yes, criminals. I think anyone who interferes with breastfeeding and goes against the WHO is criminal.

I did not know what the bag was when I had Ivan, so I took it.

I also get formula in the mail and send it back "Return to Sender" and call the companies to have my name removed from the mailing list.

[feebeeglee]

Haven't read the whole thread, but I recently gave birth in hosp and I took the bag. I wanted it for a friend who is relactating - she still needs formula for the SNS when she can't get donor milk.

I asked for the ff bag, assuming it would have lots of formula, but it had almost none! One box of four of those little single serve powders. The bf bag I got with my previous hosp birth had one full can, two readymades with nipples, and two single serve powders!

Upon thinking on this, all I can figure is the artificial baby milk manufacturers have nothing to gain by giving formula to someone who's already commited to their product... better to give it to a bf mom in a "first one's free!" drug pusher way. :

[lovingmommyhood]

Originally Posted by feebeeglee

Haven't read the whole thread, but I recently gave birth in hosp and I took the bag. I wanted it for a friend who is relactating - she still needs formula for the SNS when she can't get donor milk.

I asked for the ff bag, assuming it would have lots of formula, but it had almost none! One box of four of those little single serve powders. The bf bag I got with my previous hosp birth had one full can, two readymades with nipples, and two single serve powders!

Upon thinking on this, all I can figure is the artificial baby milk manufacturers have nothing to gain by giving formula to someone who's already commited to their product... better to give it to a bf mom in a "first one's free!" drug pusher way. :

It could be a difference of brands too. I know last time I delivered my son I got a Similac sponsored bag and this time I got an Enfamil. They were very different even though they were both breastfeeding bags.

[NewMama2007]

I got some pads, a teeny tiny little Lansinoh packet, a coolie pack and the bag - everything else went in the trash. The bag is great for groceries, and the coolie pack that says "Similac" on it carries dd's breastmilk to daycare.

[Bellejar]

Baby Friendly

I have given birth twice at a baby friendly hospital with a midwife. The CNM offices are in the hospital complex and I have never once been given the "bag" or any formula samples or coupons or anything. I think this was a key to my breastfeeding success. At the hospital on the other side of town they hand out 6 packs of ready formula to new moms. I lucked out big time by deciding to birth where I did, but didn't understand how great the place was until after hearing all of my friends horror stories.