Writing in the Eugene Register Guard, Cathy Rasmussen, a registered nurse and lactation consultant, makes an eloquent case for banning formula marketing in hospitals.
We know that the hours and days immediately following delivery are critical in the breast-feeding success of new moms and their precious babies. We also know that breast-feeding can be impaired by birth experiences that include medications and other interventions, and by a postpartum hospital environment that may include outdated practices such as “supplementing” the diets of healthy, intact babies with sugar water or formula, offering artificial teats or pacifiers, and giving free formula samples.
Yet the discredited practice of giving new mothers free samples of infant formula persists in many areas. And it continues to be defended by formula manufacturers and their sales representatives.