Mitt Romney Hates Breastfeeding, Disagrees With Ban On Infant Formula Freebies In Massachusetts Hospitals
Mitt Romney may disagree with a ban on formula freebies in hospitals, but breastfeeding advocates in Massachusetts can rejoice over a new decision on giving away free formula packs to new mothers. As of the beginning of July, all 49 maternity hospitals in the state had voluntarily eliminated the infant formula giveaways, reports CBS News.
Massachusetts first tried to instill a ban on formula freebies to new mothers in hospitals back in December 2005. However, as reported by Time, then governor Mitt Romney disagreed with such as ban. As Mitt Romney stated in February 2006, the decision to accept formula freebies should be up to each individual mother:
“We’re not disputing the health benefits of breast-feeding, but we think that new mothers should make that choice. If they choose to bottle-feed, they should be supported in that decision.”
Unfortunately for Mitt Romney’s uninformed logic, offering free formula to new mothers is associated with a decreased breastfeeding rate. As Anne Merewood, the director of The Breastfeeding Center at Boston Medical Center, explains:
“Someone might go home from the hospital determined to breast-feed, but if there’s formula sitting right there, they are more likely to use it. If it’s being endorsed by hospitals, people think there can’t be anything wrong with it.”
Mitt Romney might think that the decision to accept and use formula freebies is up to each individual mother, but reality indicates that mothers who are offered free infant formula as less likely to meet their breastfeeding goals. With the benefits of breastfeeding well-documented, formula freebies most definitely negatively impact women and babies.
Peggy O’Mara, the editor-in-chief of Mothering magazine, criticizes the practice of offering formula freebies to new mothers that Mitt Romney supports:
“It is naïve to believe that the formula industry’s distribution of formula to you is an innocent gift. A “gift” of formula is like a “gift” of a pack of cigarettes when you’re trying to quit smoking; it will undermine your resolve. The formula company has bought your name and address from the hospital, without your knowledge, and will now solicit you for sales. Do you really want this commercial intrusion into your life?”
When Massachusetts first tried to instill the ban on formula freebies in birthing hospitals, the ban passed. However, Mitt Romney quickly replaced council members who were in favor of the ban, and the decision was overturned several months later.
Dr. Lauren Smith, the medical director of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, is excited that the state has finally repassed the decision on the ban on formula freebies that Mitt Romney originally helped overturn. As The Boston Globe reports:
“We applaud the effort of all of the hospitals to make this explicit statement of their support of breast-feeding here in the Commonwealth.”
According to a 2011 study, just 25 percent of hospitals ban formula freebies to new mothers, a figure that is up from the mere 14 percent in 2007.
Do you agree with Mitt Romney that the decision to accept free infant formula should be up to each individual woman? Or do you agree that formula freebies hurt attempts at breastfeeding?
Tags : baby formula, breastfeeding, formula, formula freebies, formula in hospitals, infant formula, massachusetts, Mitt Romney, Mitt Romney Hates Breastfeeding
Posted: July 17, 2012
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Aug 11, 2012
Man, I guess that means my son would have starved to death, because he couldn't digest breast milk, and we couldn't afford formula, thanks "Commonwealth" for once again making the decision for us!
Aug 11, 2012
Romney is a complete and total fool. Don't get me wrong, I do believe that breast feeding should be optional but pushing formula into the hands of a new mother who isn't exactly aware of the health issues that it may bring about is wrong and shouldn't allowed. Breast feeding is as equally important to the mother as it is the baby. for the first almost year of a childs life, he or she has no immunities and the best way for them to develop those needed nutrients and immunities is through the mothers breast milk. Interestingly enough, children who are not breast fed tend have a higher rate for infectious morbidity and are also at risk for other illnesses such as type's 1 and 2 diabetes and some possible childhood cancers. The mothers may also experience premenopausal breast cancer, ovarian cancer, retained gestational weight, type 2 diabetes and even illnesses as severe as a heart attack. I'm not saying that this will happen but these have been proven to be in connection with mothers who don't breast feed. If a child is unable to feed on breast milk because of an illness, there are methods to prevent health issues for the mother and baby. Personally, I believe that Romney has done his homework and has found a way to collect more money from the people of Ma
Aug 11, 2012
I'm not talking about Romney's view or pushing of it, my child needed food, should I have waited to be billed for formula? It's the fact that because the "experts say" its better it is enforced regardless of public opinion or concerns, or views. I and my wife know that breastfeeding is better in fact we have read up and studied nutrition for the past three years, but my son couldn't handle it even months after. I just don't like the refusal of free formula, what if the woman cannot produce, at all?
If/when you have a child Mike and if he or she has problems they will most likely only suggest it(formula) if there is a problem with breast feeding or the child's digestion. Like they did for us, they never pushed for it or anything.
Aug 11, 2012
Good to see you did your homework too bud on the breast-feeding
, just don't like the Government choosing to push its way in because they believe its better even of it is better, if they want to go that far (and if they cared so much about our health) they should shut down every fast food chain/liquor store/smoke shop in New England because it damages people's health. Both sides of the spectrum don't actually care about me and you they just want our money and our votes.
Aug 11, 2012
They also don't force any formula out of policy (they don't want to discourage breast feeding) which I agree with, it is the healthier decision.
Aug 11, 2012
I have definately done my homework lol. Like you, I too hate being ill informed or un-educated about a serious topic that could effect me or the people I care about. I'm not in favor of another politician making choices for me or in "my best interest". I'm pro choice, I just believe that people need to be aware of the facts before making a choice on anything that relates to their health or the health of a child. I'm sure that when I do have a child I will be able to better understand the full gravity of every parent's worries but until then I can only try to understand.