There is no doubt that formula companies use any number of tricks including ” breastfeeding kits” that include a couple of ice packs and a big sample of ” just in case” formula. I was given two separate bags during my most recent stay. I wonder, though, if the low rate of exclusive breastfeeding looks at the whole picture? For example, My son was born 3 weeks ago, had some trouble stabilizing and his glucose was 38. He was given less than an oz of formula but has had nothing but breastmilk since. I still consider him exclusively breastfed although technically he’s likely to be a formula statistic.

Sajmom–just wanted to respond to your comment. I have two kids. I exclusively bottle-fed one (long story, but there were complications that didn’t allow me to breastfeed) and exclusively breastfed the other one. I honestly have to say that I dealt with MUCH more harrassment/judgement/snarkiness with my formula-fed baby. I couldn’t believe how nosy and rude other women were about the fact that I wasn’t breastfeeding. (The ONLY person who ever expressed concern about my breastfeeding, on the other hand, was my grandma!) So, I can definitely understand the breastfeeding backlash. The la leche crowd can be so vehement and intrusive that it can almost turn you off the whole idea of trying to breastfeed, even when you understand the benefits.

P.S. I haven’t noticed a great difference in the health or intelligence of either child, so even though I will probably breastfeed my next kid, I’m skeptical that it makes that much of a difference.

Im not any less of a Mom because I only breastfed for 6 weeks. And once they start Kindergarten, you wont be able to look at the class full of kids and point out bottle fed kids vs. breastfed kids. In the end, a healthy kid is all that matters.

I work in NICU that is VERY pro-breastfeeding and I love it! If a mom wants to breastfeed (which we counsel them on the importance of, esp for preemies) then her baby gets fed through a feeding tube until he is ready to breastfeed, then is exclusively breastfed- NO BOTTLES. Its amazine. Its true that if your baby goes from tube –> bottle then you are much much less likely to switch to breast when you get home with your now-3-month-old 6 lb baby. Also if a regular term baby needs glucose stabilization we will place an IV if the sugar is truly low and then work on breastfeeding with no rush. If he nurses well, we start weaning the IV. Most hospitals would panic with such a loose policy. They want formula because its easy to measure and quantify. I love that my hospital (in NH) does this. Our breastfeeding rates are wonderful.

My son is 11 months old and we are still breastfeeding. He hasn’t had a drop of formula. The first 4 months were horrible complete with latching problems requiring use of a shield for 2 months, extremely sore nipples, thrush, and concerns about my son’s somewhat slow weight gain (he was in the 5th to 10th percentile for weight his first 4 months of life). I almost quit numerous times, but being an uptight first-time mom who wanted to do everything “right” and being fed the hype that breast is best, I persevered, despite an enormous amount of stress. It got a lot easier after the fourth month. Also, by then, I had started him on cereal (even though my original plan was to hold off until 6 months, again because of what I had read on the internet). I am proud of the fact that we made it this long, and that I still have those 3 unopened cans of formula that were sent home with us from the hospital. That said, with the next one, I am not going to be as uptight. If I have problems again, I will try to work through them, but I will supplement if need be and will ENJOY my baby. If there was as much emphasis placed on raising our children to be thoughtful, obedient, and moral individuals as there is on feeding methods, I think the world would be a much better place.