Many Hospitals No Longer Offer Free Baby Formula To New Moms, Study Finds

Many hospitals in the U.S. have stopped offering new moms free baby formula, new survey finds. Government research has spotted a decline in the number of hospitals observing the common practice, according to a report from NBC news.

A survey performed by the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention or CDC, discovered that in 2013, less than one-third of U.S. maternity wards gave out free baby formula as opposed to three-fourths recorded in 2007. The study published on Monday in the journal Paediatrics saw that the rates differ from one region to another and such practice is more observed in hospitals than in homes.

In the study, CDC researchers assessed surveys of U.S. hospitals performed every two years. Questions were focused more on maternity services and included the subject of childbirth, particularly finding out if hospital discharge packets as giveaways for moms contain samples of infant formula. There were 3,000 hospital respondents for every survey, ABC 13 reports.

Reports from NBC also said that several U.S. states have tried enforcing a ban on giving free packets, but no such laws have been passed. However, due to the pressure coming from lobbyists, many hospitals have abandoned the practice of giving discharge package, which usually contains milk bottles, formula and coupons.

"Duration of breastfeeding depends on successful establishment of breastfeeding during the first days of a new-born’s life," researchers wrote in their report. "Successful breastfeeding is hampered by distribution of infant formula discharge packs, which is a common practice in the U.S."

The American Academy of Paediatrics or AAP, recommends that babies should only get exclusive breast milk until they reach six months old. The recommendation also encourages breastfeeding at least up to one year and more, if possible.

These recommendations are based on several studies conducted to show the benefits of breastfeeding. Despite recommendations set by AAP, Dr. Jennifer Nelson from CDC and her team wrote in their findings that only 19 percent of U.S. babies are breastfed exclusively for six months.

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