Today I want to know what you think about government regulated or government subsidized breastfeeding. How would you feel if you learned that your country required new mothers to sign a consent form if they wanted to give baby formula to their infants? How would you feel if breastfeeding women got paid to breastfeed? Is this a good idea or would citizens start crying “Socialism!” as though we lived in the Nazi Germany era when “German women were required to breastfeed at regular intervals and to undergo tests to establish exactly how much milk they were producing” (Marilyn Yalom, History of the Breast, 1996).
In the province of Quebec, Canada low income mothers who can prove to their doctor that they are breastfeeding receive a nursing benefit, a monthly premium of $55. To be “fair” moms who feed their babies formula also receive government assistance, but substantially less.
Parents of infants younger than 7 months receive up to $35/month to purchase no more than 2 cases of 24 cans, or 4 cases of 12 cans of infant formula. Parents with infants 7-12 months receive up to $26.50 to purchase no more than 3 cases of 12 cans. Formula feeding parents receive assistance to purchase formula, but breastfeeding families essentially get paid to breastfeed! Deal!
According to Yalom (1996), in The History of the Breast, Tasmanian mothers are required to sign a consent form if they choose to formula feed their babies. (I tried my hardest to validate this beyond Yalom’s own reference but had no luck. Perhaps someone out there reading this might know.)
I for one, think these practices would help ensure healthier babies and and create less burden on our health care system. Moms would still be able to make the choice to formula feed, or have formula available if they needed it, but I bet there would be less moms willing to choose formula if their health care provider made them sign a consent form accompanied by information against it, or if they could make extra cash by breastfeeding. First, however, health care providers need more formal training on human lactation and best breastfeeding practices. Until our doctors and nurses know what they are talking about and can make their policies stick, current breastfeeding rates and statistics will not likely change. Oh yes, and then there’s the need for paid maternity leave in the States…
What is your opinion? Should North American governments (or any government for that matter!) adopt these practices or something similar? Or are they a slippery slope? Let me know your thoughts by leaving a comment.
P.S. Thanks to Annie at PhDinParenting for the nursing benefit link.
Related posts:
- Monday Musings: Why Do So Many Women Living in Poverty Not Breastfeed??
- Monday Musings: The Root Of The Mommy Breastfeeding Wars
- Monday Musings: Is It Okay To Advertise Baby Bottles To Pumping Moms?
- Monday Musings: Cloned Breastmilk?
- Monday Musings: How Hospitals Contribute to Lower Breastfeeding Rates
Tags: History of the Breast, maternity leave, Monday Musings
I think the government’s only job should be to raise awareness, and make it easier for a mother who wants to breastfeed to do so (i.e. maternity leave benefits, etc.) but as far as consent forms and whatnot? No way. The government should not have any control over what I do with my body. If they did, perhaps they could have forced me to formula feed my newborn when the dumb-ass docs said that he wasn’t regaining his birth weight quick enough and they suggested I supplement. I knew my baby, and I knew they were wrong, but if the government had a say-so in how my baby was fed, maybe I could have ended up fined or jailed for my decision?
Nope. As a society we have a responsibility to make it easier for moms to breastfeed, but in no way should the government have any final word on whether she does or not.
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I’ve always thought that making formula available by prescription only would be a simple, but effective way to support breastfeeding mothers. It certainly wouldn’t be difficult for formula feeding mothers to get a prescription prior to hospital discharge and it would nip those ‘free samples’ right in the bud, whether a country has legalized the ‘code’ or not.
One of the things that I’ve found in speaking with moms is that most people who formula feed, at least in my area, tried to breastfeed. And then they weren’t successful, for one reason or another. Many of them carry a lot of baggage around, and I don’t blame them. I almost didn’t make it with my first child, and I’m pretty sure I would carry baggage if things had gone the other way.
I think we really need to educate health professionals and create a breastfeeding culture. I think that working to promote and support optimal feeding for infants is a better option than further ostracizing those who already feel ostracized. Because a lot of the problems women encounter can be overcome if they have good support, but if they have a negative experience with a support person they are less likely to get the info they need when they need it.
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I agree with the PP who suggested formula by prescription. I’m not sure a waiver should be signed, but at the same time, it’s almost like a medication, isn’t it? And you might sign a waiver to receive a medication at the hospital … I don’t know.
As for getting paid to breastfeed? YES, PLEASE! I think this would be a great way to encourage women to breastfeed – acknowledge their positive choice!
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Breastfeeding needs to continue to be a FREE CHOICE.
Those of us who choose to breastfeed, do so freely, and choose to stop freely. Those decisions should be based SOLELY on my child & I – NOT government wishes or monetary considerations. If monitary rewards are placed on breastfeeding, do they get taken away when a mother decides to wean? What about when a child decides to wean? What if a child is ready to wean, but mom still wants to keep receiving the money?
What about women who cannot breastfeed? Shouldn’t they too, in fairness, be offered the breastfeeding money, and subsequently not be required to sign the “waiver” if they can prove their intent to breastfeed?
The details get too sticky, and really borders on intrusive & controlling.
Regardless of how we feel about the benefits of breastfeeding, it still is a function connected with a woman’s body, and a woman should always have the choice regarding what she wants to do with her body. If she chooses not to feed her baby with her body, she should have that choice, without strings attached.
For women who think its a great idea to have their baby feeding choice rewarded by money – what about your birthing choice? Should a woman get paid to have a vaginal birth, and sign a waiver to c-section? Or paid to homebirth, and sign a waiver to hospital birth. Or vice versa?
These are choices we have about our babies & our bodies. I don’t want my choices dictated by government or anyone else.
Absolutely not. What if moms who were drinking heavily or using drugs decided to keep breastfeeding so they could make money? And I wouldnt’ breastfeed in front of a doctor to prove it just for $50 a month.
I think the money would be better spend on education for health care providers and moms. And paid maternity leave makes a big difference too. I wouldn’t mind formula being avaiable by prescription with a informed consent for all the drawbacks of using formula
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I thought this might be a hot topic. I love everyone’s feedback so far.
I don’t think the government should have any control over anyone’s body. I think formula should continue to be a choice. It HAS to be a choice. Some moms can’t breastfeed and others aren’t supported in other ways to continue, whether that be work or family pressure. Everyone has a different story and all of these situations should and deserve to be respected. However, making
formula accessible by prescription helps to inform the moms who choose to formula feed and intercepts them with education if they haven’t already been educated. If formula is by prescription or even an over-the-counter product, then a doctor or pharmacist is responsible for telling the parent what the risks are and what better alternatives are available. I am fortunate to have a family doctor who is also a Chinese Medicine practitioner. When I have a problem she asks me how I want to deal with it (herbs or western medicine) and then she proceeds from there. I am given a choice and educated about both. I just think there needs to be more education out there. I agree we need to develop a breastfeeding culture, and I agree women need to maintain their right to choose, but if I suddenly decide I want to choose to do something that puts my baby “at risk,” like say, sleep her on her tummy because she seems more comfortable that way and I don’t know any better, shouldn’t there be someone out there to inform me about those risks and talk to me about “Back to sleep?” Oh, there ARE people out there who do that? Great! Well then there should also be people out there educating formula feeding moms too. And I’m sorry,I don’t mean to slam formula feeders, but I do want to drive the point home about needing to support the breastfeeding culture we want to create by increasing education.
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I think we need to go in the opposite direction, stop the subsidies for formula – if we are going to have choices (which I agree we should – I certainly don’t want the government telling me what to do with my body) then we shouldn’t be subsidizing formula or breastfeeding – we should instead put that money into education and support for new moms. Right now (in the US at least) a new mom gets a good subsidy if she chooses to formula feed – so many choose that route because they don’t have support and the subsidy is there. There isn’t as much help for breastfeeding moms – so we either help both or discontinue subsidies and put the money into providing support and education. Just my 2 cents!
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I have long thought that BFing moms should get a rebate on life insurance (and medical insurance, where they pay for it) both for themself and for their babies, because they contribute to a lower overall risk of health issues by BFing.
Being paid to BF? Sounds like a good way to encourage it too.
WOW! I’m all for breastfeeding but I believe that is one’s own personal choice and the government really needs to stay out of our lives! Government is already growing too large. Mandating breastfeeding is just as bad as when Gov. Perry (R-TX) tried to mandate that adolescent girls over 13 yo be required to receive Gardasil vaccinations. While I believe that girls should receive it, I DO NOT think the government has the right to make girls be vaccinated for something that you cannot pass on by merely breathing the same air and germs.
Furthermore, that totally disregards the millions of women that are unable to breastfeed for many different reasons. Does that mean that the government will provide Wet Nurses like they did in days past and still in other cultures?
At 7 months old, I am still breastfeeding my daughter and recommend that all women do the same. However, that is their own choice – NO MINE and certainly not the government!!!
P.S. I like have an intrinsic reason for breastfeeding because I get a lot out of it. Paying me turns it into something extrinsic and then becomes somewhat of a job. Some things are sacred – leave them as they are!
Let me preface my comments by saying I am a libertarian and my typical reaction to “should the government regulate [anything?]” is NO WAY!
However, I see the loss in income I’ve had by making the choice to breastfeed. As a work-at-home mom, breastfeeding takes far more time than formula feeding, a loss I didn’t account for when I looked at the money I’d be saving on formula. It WOULD have been less expensive for me to formula feed, from a pure dollars and cents standpoint, but the emotional and physical benefits for both myself and my daughter–well, you can’t put a price on that.
So, if the government wanted to give me money for doing this quite important job, I’d take it and run.
This may spark some controversy, but I am honestly against the WIC program for formula-fed babies. My reaction would probably make me look really bad, but essentially, my philosophy is, “You’ve got two milk producing organs, use them.” (I didn’t use those words.) Now, if a mother *can’t* breastfeed, that’s another story and by all means they should receive assistance if they also aren’t making enough to pay for the formula. So maybe a prescription, at least in those circumstances, would be the answer.
Also, I think too many women say they “can’t” breastfeed simply because of the lack of support here in the states for struggling women trying to breastfeed. I wonder how many of those women would find they COULD given the proper support? I was one of those who could have just as easily given up in those first two weeks because my doctor was highly recommending formula supplementation.
My heart and my mother’s intuition told me to press on. Seven months later, my daughter is still petite but lively, alert, and extremely healthy and will NOT drink formula — doesn’t like the taste. (I also “can’t” use a breast pump, in that it hasn’t been important enough for me to make it work yet. I’m sure I could if it was necessity). So on very rare occasions hubby tries to give her formula and she wants nothing to do with it.)
Mindy, your comment is something I would normally write. I agree wholeheartedly with most of what you are saying. Maybe I am being greedy in asking for money to do something I believe to be best and happily do for free? Or maybe it’s just the government assistance for formula fed babies that I don’t feel is fair. Or maybe I’m just using a double standard here because I could use the extra cash? LOL
If I’m going to be all greedy, then, I agree with kblogger’s (sarcastic) statement, and I want some cash for the money I saved the hospital with my drug-free natural childbirth, too. LOL
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LOVE the idea of a nursing benefit!!! I am breadfeeding my 2 1/2-year-old toddler
I also think that a lot of moms don’t get the right support to breastfeed or to continue for a long time, it isn’t that easy for most – wasn’t for me at first – and that is why I blog and what I blog about, to make things easier for bf moms. I believe that almost every mom can successfully bf if she gets the right support and encouragement.
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Gosh, I’ve never even heard of this! I nursed my little guy until he completely lost interest at 9 months, and while I think it was really important, I really don’t like the idea of discouraging formula use in such ways. The only friends of mine that used formula did it because they had to, and felt awful about it. I can just imagine the humiliation and pain they would feel having to get a prescription for the formula they need to feed their child. I wonder if this would lead to earlier weaning and earlier switching to cow’s milk?
I certainly could have used a bfing supplement, but I agree with above posters that the rewards of nursing should be intrinsic. I think education is always the answer in these types of situations!
What a thought-provoking idea, thank-you!
I would have loved to have been paid to breast feed my twins tandum. Although I know they and I reaped some beautiful benefits I think money would and could taint peoples ideas about breastfeeding. While a good idea, I think a moral dilemma would be raised with those who are less than morally sound as mothers or parents. Great post! Sharing love from MBC, grab your One Lovely Blog award!
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I know very few women who switched to formula feeding because they truly “couldn’t” breastfeed. A friend of mine breastfed her first two kids for 2 years each, and then formula fed her last baby – literally – because she wanted her body back, and because she got free formula from WIC as an unmarried mom (even though her boyfriend makes good money and fully supports her and all the kids.) She just recently told me she regretted being so “selfish” (her word, not mine.)
I would say that *maybe* 10% of the moms I know who formula feed do so because they really, truly could not breastfeed. However, I doubt that making formula available only by prescription would change anything. Do you know how easy it is to get a prescription for something? Every time I’ve ever had any issue in my life, doctors throw prescriptions at the problem, instead of helping me work it out naturally. I don’t even take half the things I’m prescribed. A midwife tried to give me “Reglan” for my supply issues after I had PPD – which is known to cause psychosis in those with a history of depression. She prescribed it anyway. It’s a good thing I have the freaking internet and could figure out for myself that I shouldn’t be taking that drug with my history. And with the way doctors already push formula feeding – a prescription would be the easiest thing in the world to get.
I think the only answer is education. I used to be a total ANTI-breastfeeding feminist, but with a little education, I learned the error of my ways. If stubborn ol’ me can change, it shouldn’t be that hard for anyone else who really wants to do right by their child.
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I am Canadian but I live in the US right now and I have seen first hand how less Socialism really does benefit society. I think Canadians have wonderful access to good health care but seeing the difference that Private Health Care has is amazing and kind of makes me glad that my daughter is getting surgery in the US and not in Canada. The same goes for your topic. I am a huge breastfeeding supporter but I really believe that it is really not the government’s place to pay women to breastfeed. Breastfeeding is a choice that we make because we want what is best for our babies not because someone is going to pay us to.
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I have lived here all my life and have never heard of mothers getting money to FF. I FF and was never offered any money, neither were any of the other FF moms I know. Where does this money come from?
As a side note I don’t think anyone should be paid. If you BF it’s free. If you choose to FF, be prepared for the cost, why should others support your decision when you could BF for free?
Oooops I’m sorry, clicked the link and see that you have to be on welfare right? That explains why I or no one I know has received any of those benefits.
I think that is indeed a slippery slope. If we offer to pay women to breastfeed and introduce waivers for formula nothing will change because the source of the problem hasn’t changed–which is lack of support and knowledge in the medical community–including a large number of Lactation Consultants (I am speaking of the US). What we need is more support from our doctors and fellow women. Sadly our bf rates here are low and it seems women encourage each other to give into formula rather than encourage each other that their body is incredible and they CAN do it.
Every ped’s office I have been to, every obgyn, and every hospital passes out free formula which tells new mom that she will certainly need it at some point. Its like telling a mom yes breast is best but you will surely fail. I think the change in culture needs to start there.
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