There was an interesting story in the Wall Street Journal last week about the fact that all New York City public hospitals began implementing a plan to stop giving newborn mothers bags with free formula samples in them, along with other breastfeeding friendly initiatives. The article also mentions Kaiser Permanente hospitals in California, Brigham and Women’s in Boston, and other Massachusetts hospitals that have implemented similar measures.
The initiatives to which the article refers are likely part of the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative, a global program to promote breastfeeding and optimal newborn nutrition in hospitals. The article does not mention this initiative specifically, but it does refer to the UNICEF and World Health Organization efforts to promote breastfeeding in hospitals. The Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative is the U.S. program to implement these standards. A link to the program is provided below.
As of September, 2006, there were only 55 hospitals in the United States that have been certified as Baby Friendly, and none in Georgia. Requirements for certification are rigorous, but the biggest barrier has been that hospitals must stop accepting free formula samples and buy any formula that they wish to give to parents.
Research has shown that breastfeeding is more common and lasts longer when women are not given free formula samples. According to the article, there have been attempts in the past to ban free formula samples at the statewide level in California, Massachusetts and Texas, but the legislation failed due in part to lobbying from the formula industry.
This initiative appears to be gaining momentum, and the federal government as well has begun a major breastfeeding campaign. Perhaps some hospitals in Georgia will someday become more breastfeeding, baby friendly.