We already reflected a while ago on how considering artificial milk a medicine would help increase breastfeeding rates, and this determination has been made in New York. As of September, in the city of skyscrapers only formula milk will be given to babies by medical prescription.
This is a "bet" of the mayor of New York, Michael Bloomberg, who continues his crusade for health after striving to end tobacco smoke in the streets, eliminate trans fats from food and reduce the size of sugary drinks.
Now his effort is aimed at artificially reducing breastfeeding to promote women breastfeeding their children. The health program "Latch on NYC" It will take effect on September 3, will be publicized in the New York subway and will urge hospitals to minimize the use of artificial breastfeeding formulas.
It is good news that a mayor of such an important city makes statements in this regard, saying he is proud to be a leader in the support and education of mothers about the benefits of breastfeeding and publicly committing to breast milk Feed the 22,000 babies born in New York hospitals every year.
A controversial measure
However, controversy is anticipated in this regard, since mothers can use formula milk for the baby only under medical prescription. Those who, for personal and non-medical reasons, have decided not to breastfeed their baby, will they find themselves in front of medical professionals willing to prescribe artificial milk with ease? Or on the contrary doctors will do everything possible to "convince" mothers who have made that decision? Whatever your attitude, you should record each time they prescribe formula milk to a baby.
As always we will find cases and cases, in doctors, and also in regard to mothers: unaware of the risks associated with not giving breast milk to the baby; but also informed mothers who make that decision. Do not restrict the freedom of these mothers, as some associations have said after knowing the measure?
The fact is that with this new regulation in New York, which has received 27 of the city's hospitals, mothers who after giving birth insist on using formula milk may do so, but the nurses and doctors of the hospital will have The last word on whether this decision is appropriate or not. Hopefully they will be provided with enough information even for the so-called "support bottle". Will this bottle also be considered sporadic and sometimes more helpful for mothers than for babies, within the measure?
Of course, women who have difficulties breastfeeding their children may use this type of products, but always under medical prescription.
The main reason that has pushed the mayor to implement this measure is that breast milk reduces the risk of obesity in childhood and adulthood, as explained in a statement.
On its website, the City Department of Health reports that hospitals that have agreed to join this measure have committed to support the regulation of not supplying breast milk substitute products unless necessary, to limit their access to workers, who must register each time they prescribe this product, and not admit advertising of these formulas in its facilities.
The hospitals that take advantage of these actions have given orders to eliminate any gift bag that includes this type of products or other objects such as cups or pens that have the printed logos of the pharmaceutical companies that supply them.
These are the eleven public hospitals administered by the New York City Health and Hospital Corporation (HHC) and several private hospitals that join this commitment. HHCs since 2007 have been banning gift bags with formulas and promotional materials in maternity units.
They are small steps to promote breastfeeding, which, remember, is the best food for the baby and prevents many diseases, allergies, overweight ... You want to increase at the same time the duration of breastfeeding and a lower early abandonment of the same, after having analyzed the data in New York City.
The State of New York is not the only one in the United States that is in this battle: a rule has just come into force in Massachusetts that will eliminate free artificial milk tests in its 49 hospitals.
We will hear more about this decision that in New York only artificial milk is given to babies by medical prescription. What is clear is that, regardless of controversies among adults of one or another opinion, that a baby drinks breast milk only has beneficial consequences.
Official Site | NYC In Babies and more | Are there samples of milk in your health center ?, Europe asks that artificial milk containers and advertising do not show images of babies, Dairy products in infant feeding: which artificial milk is better?
