The health care system has traditionally been a major conduit for the promotion of infant formula use. The medical sanctioning of artificial feeding of infants starts at obstetrical visits with pregnant women being signed up for formula clubs, distribution of coupons for infant formula, starter packs of artificial baby milk, and literature from infant formula manufacturers. This commercial pressure continues in the hospital with commercial discharge packs, gifts and services to the staff, and large amounts of cash paid to the hospital to accept the free formula supplies used to feed non-breastfed babies.
Some hospitals sell their pre-admission list of pregnant women to formula companies.
These practices make it difficult to fully implement the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding upon which the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative is based. Perform a survey of your institution or agency, logging all the items and services provided by infant formula companies. Keep track of these practices for several months to produce a log. Ask if any of these products or services have any therapeutic value to patients. Ask for research-based data showing that these products or services benefit mothers and babies.