Patricia hit it on the head.  The very size of the formula bottles in
the hospital can send so many wrong messages.  Every time I see one of
them in a mom's room, in addition to finding out why it's there and
giving my "if at all possible, nothing but mom in baby's mouth for at
least 3-4 weeks" speech, I will point out that even the formula fed
babies don't take that much until they are older-a lot gets tossed out.
I can just hear moms thinking, "There's no way I have that much in my
breasts right now, so I guess I should give some formula so my baby
won't starve."!
I'd like to put a big poster in every room stating "Your baby's tummy is
only about the size of his/her closed fist.  And that's the outside
dimension!"  Every time I point that out, the parents are amazed and
reassured that baby can get enough at the breast even though mom doesn't
"feel" there's any milk there yet.  Now if I can just get the nurses to
see it.
The bottom line is that too many HCPs just do not know or believe that
there are hazards to not breastfeeding.  Until they do, we will continue
to run into this brick wall.  They will continue to resist approaching
formula feeding like continuing to smoke or not following a diabetic
diet.  If everyone did see it as hazardout not to breastfeed, there
would not be the reluctance to give a mom all the info for fear of the
"G" word!.
Winnie

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