I have had the misfortune to have to visit several relatives who were
hospitalized for a variety of reasons (none after having a baby).  NONE of
them received gifts from the nurses or other members of the care staff who
attended to their needs while hospitalized.  And NONE of these individuals
felt put out that they did not get such gifts.  They were HAPPY TO GO HOME
(indeed, eager to do so!).

What are we seeing when parents (male or female variety) complain about not
getting gifts? We have violated their expectations (often based on the
experiences of others, or themselves with previous childbirths).

We have created the expectation and now are reaping the dubious rewards of
that expectation.

The only way to reduce the likelihood of such complaints is to change the
expectation.  That can be done with sufficiently numerous parents have
given birth at hospitals where no such gift packs are provided (and thus
not expected) or where gift packs are NOT part of an advertising ploy by
the formula companies to generate new customers.

Articles in the medical literature have decried the giving of baby powder
and ointments.  Why not also formula?

Think about it.  When we create a customer base for a product, it is not
surprising that that "customer" then seeks the product.  Perhaps we need to
change the product and then the customer expectation will also change.

PS My personal preference would be EXCELLENT CONCERNED CARE while in the
hospital: I will settle for nothing less.

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"We are all faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly
disguised as impossible situations."
Kathleen G. Auerbach,PhD, IBCLC (Ferndale, WA USA) [log in to unmask]
WEB PAGE: http://www.telcomplus.com/~kga/lactation.html
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