Hi All,
  Kathleen, you have hit the problem exactly, one does not recieve
'gifts' in any other segment of the hospital. I feel that the 'gift
pack' has two main reasons: 1) the most important one is to 'hook' a
potential customer, especially here in the US. Formula needs advertising
and a 'hook,' otherwise the majority of women would not use it in great
quanity, hence the 'gift.' I just don't understand how women,
particularly those who 'want' to breastfeed accept them. To me, number 2
is that we want to keep birth in the hospital environment (where else is
a natural bodily function required to be done in the hospital?) Yes
things can and do go wrong with birth, but do 100% of mothers need the
safety net? By keeping birth in the hospital, money is made from
interventions, medications, the bed/room charge, food charge and of
course charging for all the 'extras.'
   What I just don't understand is that many do not see how these
'gifts' add to the cost of our hospital stay (nothing is free) and adds
to the cost of formula for those who chose or must use it. If the
companies stopped these practices, perhaps formula costs, for those who
actually need to use it, would be low enough that governments could pick
up the whole cost, with less financial outlay than they are doing now.

Leslie Ward
Vine Grove, KY