Does Free Baby Formula Discourage Breast-feeding?

Feb. 23, 2006 — -- While it has been a common practice since the beginning of time, breast-feeding has also been a source of constant debate and discussion. The latest controversy is no exception.

A new study by the Government Accountability Office suggests that a federal program designed to aid low-income mothers may inadvertently discourage them from breast-feeding because it provides them with free infant formula in hospitals.

While the U.S. government encourages mothers to breast-feed their infants, the study reports that low-income mothers who participate in the federal Women, Infants and Children health and nutrition program have significantly lower breast-feeding rates than the rest of the population.

The thought is that mothers -- particularly those in low-income brackets -- take the baby formula freebies as an endorsement for formula. These new mothers, according to the report, presume their doctors support baby formula nutrition over breast-feeding.

"It truly is a strong, powerful message to mothers about breast-feeding, when you are most vulnerable and you are handed a bottle of formula by a medical professional," said Judy Hopkinson, assistant professor at Baylor College of Medicine. "That's a pretty strong message."

The U.S. government wants more mothers to breast-feed because of it benefits. It reduces infant diabetes, ear infections and asthma, according to the GAO report. Women who breast-feed, said the report, are less likely to get certain types of cancers.

There's a financial benefit for the government, too. The report claims the government could save at least $3.6 billion in direct and indirect health care costs if its breast-feeding goals are met.

One of the U.S. Healthy People 2010 breast-feeding goals is to get 75 percent of mothers to breast-feed for the first six months of their baby's life. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that about 70 percent of U.S. women in 2003 breast-fed at least once after bearing a child.