I've been reading a lot about Latch On NYC lately. I can't seem to get away from it. Just when I thought the talk had died down a little.. I find it in my email box again this week.
I've read everything from 'formula will be under lock and key' to 'new moms are being forced to breastfeed whether they want to or not.' Crazy, right? I have no idea what to believe anymore. But, on the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene website there was a simple Latch On NYC myth and fact sheet (http://www.nyc.gov/html/om/pdf/2012/latch_myth_fact.pdf). Finally.
I'm going to believe it. With a grain of salt. Because every hospital and nurse will have their own take on "the rules" of it.. and of course some will go too far (one way or the other). But that is the way with everything. And as adult human beings we should come to expect that by now.
So.. Latch On NYC is basically an, in hospital, initiative to support/encourage new mothers with breastfeeding. Etc.
I think it's okay that the hospitals in this program won't be giving out promotional materials from different formula brands. I totally understand that when you get a specific brand from a hospital, it does seems like they are promoting it, even when they are just offering it to you as one of many options you have. If you really want that promotional stuff, you can sign up on each brand's website. Or you may even get it from your OB (I did).
When my daughter was born in 2008, I got a promotional bag when I left the hospital, after I'd already been giving her brand x (that I had chosen from 3 options) for a week.. so it wasn't a big deal. When my son was born earlier this year, I still got to choose the brand of formula for him, but there was no promotional bag. And, I had already gotten one from my OB's office AND signed up through the brand's website.
Latch On NYC doesn't mean formula will be on lock down, that you need a medical reason to get it, or that you will be subject to a lecturing. Hopefully.
But, I can see the lecturing happening. With my first child, I didn't get a lecture, but I did get regularly harassed (yes, harassed) by a lactation consultant while at the hospital. Before she was born, my hospital wanted to know if my daughter would be drinking formula or breast milk. I said something like "I don't know, both maybe." I regretted it the rest of my stay.
I am a college-educated woman, with plenty of internet access, so I'd done a little research. I wasn't super excited about breastfeeding, but I was least open to it. Maybe. And in my mind that meant trying it out, possibly. At some point. And definitely with privacy. Like, in my own home. What the hospital took it to mean was I'd totally love a lactation consultant to be up my ass during my entire hospital stay and while extended family was visiting.
As a private person, in real life, I was mortified. And annoyed, but felt small and bullied. When my husband had finally had enough of her (and me being upset), he snapped at her, sending her out of my room.
Breastfeeding didn't end up being the "best" (as they say), choice for me, my baby, or my family. Not because I didn't feel like making the effort, or because I was lazy, or whatever else moms get accused of. It didn't matter what kind of tactics the "consultant" was using.. it wasn't consulting. I didn't request it. And it didn't work. But I can imagine some women got bullied into it. And will continue to be, at hospitals all over- not just the one I was at.
If you want use formula? Awesome. If you want to use breast milk? Awesome. I think if a woman isn't informed about her options, the hospital should inform her. Of EVERYTHING. Neutrally. Of her OPTIONS. And leave it up to her.
Or when a mother lets them know she'd like her baby to have formula- they could say "have you considered breast milk? It CAN BE really beneficial for reasons x, y, and z IF factors a, b, and c are true for you." As in, IF you are healthy enough- and have a healthy diet. IF your baby is healthy enough- and continues to thrive on it. IF you aren't taking medication. IF you aren't drinking/doing drugs. IF you have the support system to succeed with it. IF you WANT to. Etc.
But I guess IFs don't market as well as the blanket "best" phrase.
Maybe as part of Latch On (and any education for first time moms), when they promote breastfeeding as an OPTION, they also counsel when maybe it shouldn't be an option.
There are situations where a mother should probably NOT be breastfeeding and I wonder how often nurses/doctors try to talk her out of it? Because maybe it's not the best option for mom and/or baby. There are plenty of medications that are known to definitely pass into breast milk and lots that are known to maybe pass into it. And tons that they just don't know about yet. If a new mother isn't willing to, shouldn't, or cannot stop the medication.. shouldn't she be counseled of the risks? Or mothers with a history of drug abuse? Or alcoholism? Or extremely poor diet/nutrition? Because what is that going to do a baby?
Options, folks. That's why we're lucky.. as a parent, a mom.. we have a lot of options. WE should be getting to choose. As moms- choosing without being bullied into it.
Here's my proposed campaign.. "Latch On or Latch Off. Know the risks and benefits. Know your options." Who's with me?
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