Thank you for the comment.

I think the problem with formula samples is that moms often turn to them in a moment of desperation, rather than a thought out decision to supplement. My guess is most samples get torn open at about 4am. A Canadian study did find that people who were sent home from the hospital with formula samples were much less likely to be exclusively breastfeeding a couple of weeks later than those who were not sent home with any. I wrote about that here: http://www.phdinparenting.com/2010/03/17/new-study-on-impact-of-free-formula-on-breastfeeding-rates/

And I’d like to add that I had my entire pregnancy and delivery within the US healthcare system. With an OB, in a hospital (I had a great very validating experience in my hospital and my doctor). Somehow the companies totally missed my name and I never got a single sample. It would have helped us immensely because I have to take the occasional migraine medication, and as the baby got older, I just couldn’t pump enough for those times. Instead, I had to purchase formula and actually financially support the formula companies. We’ve used so little formula that we would have benefited from the samples. For my next baby, I hope to get some.

And by the way, we’re still breastfeeding at almost 12 months, and have struggled and enjoyed every minute of it. An occasional bottle of formula hasn’t affected us. In fact, the thing that gave me the strength to keep breastfeeding during those initial hatd times was knowing that I could always give formula here and there. I never did, but knowing that my breasts could get a break was a powerful thing.

Which is not to say that I don’t think formula advertising is deceitful. Specially their supposedly backhanded “breastfeeding support”. That really irks me. Maybe I’ve just been surrounded by a particularly supportive community, but we need to give mothers their proper credit. If they want to breastfeed, they’ll do it regardless of whether there’s a can of formula sitting in their pantry. Am I being totally naive?

It’s more important to make sure people have access to lactation consultants, that people know how to be properly supportive of mother’s decisions, and that we normalize public breastfeeding. And to that end, Annie, I think your blog is doing a wonderful job giving people tools for that.

What you are doing for your child, to me, is the ultimate sacrifice. How wonderful it is for your child to have someone who will go through so much to give him the best food. Pumping is such a pain. I had to pump for almost 3 weeks before my third child would latch, and I had reached the end of my rope after that short period of time.
Please, have no regret that you could not provide milk directly from your breast. What you are doing is amazing.

I still wish BFing had worked out for us and am determined to succeed with my next child. I’m proud to say my baby is 6.5 months old and has only had formula a few times (and this was during the first week of his life, before my milk came in). I plan to continue pumping until he’s one year old and hopefully store some so he can have a few more months of milk even after I quit. I know EPing is not quite as good as straight from the breast, but it’s the next best thing.

I do have plenty of cans of formula that I received as samples while pregnant. I am giving some to a friend who BF for 7 months despite having to supplement due to supply issues. She tried everything (including Reglan) to boost her supply to no avail. She was still forced to supplement but still BF for 7 months.

Exclusive pumping is an option, it is not easy, but well worth it. I did not know much about it until I started doing it a few days PP. I wish more women knew about this option. There is a lot of good information and support available online. I do hate pumping (it is not enjoyable like BFing) but my baby deserves the best I have to offer.

I didn’t read my full reply before replying to you. And I quoted Matt, not me.

Here’s what I’m saying:

There are medical reasons why the mother cannot breastfeed. But there are very few.
There are medical reasons why a mother cannot be pumped. But there are very few.

A mother who is too weak to get out of bed to go to the NICU can still be pumped. If she chooses not to pump, then it is her choice. I am not saying that it is her choice to be too weak. But if she is medically stable, then she can still provide milk for her baby.

What we must all realize is that breastfeeding is all about choices. And we have to own up to our decisions. If you CHOOSE not to breastfeed, then feel confident in that decision. I CHOSE to breastfeed through YEARS of hurdles and sacrifice for my youngest. (My older two went more smoothly.) And I am confident in that decision.