Latch On NYC Breastfeeding Initiative Takes Effect

-

A controversial city-wide program took effect Monday.

Latch On NYC was designed to support mothers who choose to breastfeed their newborns.

“The Latch On New York Initiative is really to try to foster increasing rates of breastfeeding initiation as well as help mothers sustain breastfeeding, optimally for at least six months but even longer for those women who choose to do so,” Dr. Deborah Campbell, the director of neonatology at Montefiore Medical Center told WCBS 880.

The program has been criticized by some who say the city is dictating how new mothers feed their babies.

Instead, the 28 participating hospitals will no longer promote formula for newborns, according to the city.

“They’re working to try to create an atmosphere within the hospitals that really does try to support and promote breastfeeding by encouraging staff when a family asks for a bottle instead of right away just handing over a bottle of formula to try to explore with the mom what are her concerns, what are the difficulties she may be having with breastfeeding, if she’s expressed an interest in breastfeeding her child,” Dr. Campbell told WCBS 880

Some have said they think the nurses will lecture them if they ask for formula, or worry that formula will be under lock-and-key at participating hospitals.

“I know that there have been some concerns in terms of some women feeling that they were going to be forced to breastfeed if they were not interested. That’s, in fact, not the case. Certainly, as I said, any mother who wishes to formula-feed her infant, her baby will receive formula,” free of charge Dr. Campbell said.

Experts have said breastfeeding is healthier for the mother and the baby.

The city announced the creation of the Latch On NYC Initiative back in May.

CBS NY


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Huge Japan Quake Cracked Open Seafloor

-
The March 2011 megaquake off the coast of Japan opened up fissures as wide as 6 feet (3 meters) in the seafloor, a new study finds. The fissures now scar the seafloor where peaceful clam beds once lay, according to Takeshi Tsuji, a researcher at Kyoto University in Japan . Along with seismic studies, the fissures, revealed by manned submersible vehicles that investigated the seafloor after the quake, show how the crust around the quake's epicenter expanded and cracked.
Read more

Index for a million documents on Polish Jewry to go online

-
Researchers of Polish Jewry are set to gain online access to more than 1 million new documents following an agreement signed by the Polish State Archives. Under the agreement signed last week, Jewish Records Indexing-Poland will receive indices to the documents from the Polish archives authority and place them on the website of the online database within one year, a JRI-Poland statement read.
Read more

A lot of the bread in the US will no longer be kosher

-
The largest baking company in the United States will be removing kosher certification from nearly all of its bread and rolls. Bimbo Bakeries USA confirmed to JTA that it will be removing the certification. The company produces brands including Arnold, Sara Lee, Stroehmann, Freihofer’s and others. Two of its major brands, Entenmann’s and Thomas, will remain certified kosher. So, kosher eaters, your crumb doughnuts and English muffins are still safe. A couple of rye breads also will retain their certifications. “Removing the kosher certification from some of our products was strictly a business-process decision to enable more efficient operations, and it was one we did not make lightly,” Bimbo said in a statement. “Thomas’ and Entenmann’s products as well as Arnold’s and Levy’s Rye Breads will remain kosher-certified. It is important to note that we have heard our consumers’ concerns and are working with kosher certification organizations and discussing alternative solutions.” The c
Read more