Some of the posts I read when I happened on this exchange seem to imply that formula is just another freebie like diapers and such -- promoting the "donor's" brand over others. But formula freebies are very different. If you start using a certain kind of diaper, it does not sabotage your use of others which you may find superior in the future. If you do not keep emptying your breasts, however, because you are feeding your baby formula, it's very difficult to change your mind and relactate later. What if your child turns out to be allergic to most formulas, or you read an ACCURATE account of how mother's milk supports an infant's immune system?

Breast milk has numerous advantages, no doubt.

But with the newest info within the last year about all the chemicals found in breastmilk, I'd certainly think twice about feeding that stuff to my baby.

Commonly found: DDT (the banned but stubbornly persistent pesticide famous for nearly wiping out the bald eagle), PCB's, dioxin, trichloroethylene, perchlorate, mercury, lead, benzene, arsenic. These particulates are breathed in from the air, so no matter how healthy your diet is, the plastics, toxins and chemicals around you end up in your milk.

When we nurse our babies, we feed them paint thinners, dry-cleaning fluids, wood preservatives, toilet deodorizers, cosmetic additives, gasoline byproducts, rocket fuel, termite poisons, fungicides and flame retardants.

Maybe some day we will REALLY clean up our envirnoment and the air we breath and this won't be an issue.

"By sending home formula with women who are unable to afford to purchase formula, the formula companies are putting them in a position where they have to find some way to continue to purchase a lower grade product than that which they could have provided for their own baby in the first place--at no cost."

Excellent point. The formula makers have an economic interest in creating demand for their products. Somehow, we need to make it clearer to new mothers that they have an economic interest in using free breastmilk as much as possible. In the long run, formula can be very expensive, especially the premixed type. And from what I'm told, powdered formula is a bit of a pain -- mixed too strong, it causes diarrhea and dehydration; too weak, not enough nutrition.

Also, better availability of lactation consultants and breastfeeding-friendly doctors and nurses would help enormously. (Despite going back to work fairly quickly, I never had to use a drop of formula with my babies, thanks entirely to the help of lactation consultants, doctors and nurses. But I knew to ask for the help.) Postpartum home visits would be good and would probably make economic sense in the long run. Slightly longer postpartum hospital stays -- to help new mothers get their breastfeeding routines on track -- wouldn't hurt, either.

(Before I get flamed, rest assured that I'm NOT in any way criticizing mothers who use or have used formula. I know this is a sensitive topic, but my post here is not intended in any way as judgmental of other mothers.)

The last line of this article is the most ridiculous of all...and the most telling.

By sending home formula with women who are unable to afford to purchase formula, the formula companies are putting them in a position where they have to find some way to continue to purchase a lower grade product than that which they could have provided for their own baby in the first place--at no cost.

It's unfortunate that La Leche League is virtually the only breastfeeding support group option available because they have their own right-wing agenda. It's even more unfortunate that feminists pander to formula companies instead of creating their own breastfeed support group alternative.

Carbon wrote: “Since when is it okay for medical decisions to be made by people other than physicians and patients? The discussion about whether or not to breastfeed should take place between the mother, the father, and the paediatrician, and no one else should be involved.”

Exactly. But I think you meant to say that you want the decision to remain among the parents, the doctor and the formula industry. It’s the new legislation that takes the formula company’s message out of the picture. If the mother and doctor conclude formula is a good choice, all the mother needs to do is request a free sample and she gets it.

Some posters question whether giving away formula is an endorsement of formula use. But, if a doctor suggested to a patient that they need to eat right and exercise and then handed them a coupon and a free sample from a fast food restaurant, would you consider it a mixed message? I know I would.

Everyone knows eating fast food regularly is bad, but formula is perfectly acceptable, right? Well, not quite. That is the point of the legislation. Formula companies want people to believe that the decision to breastfeed or not is simply a personal choice. One everyone should be free to make. Where breastfeeding is an “A+” choice, today’s infant formulas are an “A”. It’s more accurate to say that breastfeeding is an “A” (it’s got everything it’s supposed to) and infant formulas are a “C-” (acceptable).

This action is a very positive step toward the creating the paradigm shift from “It’s a personal choice,” to “Breastfeeding makes a difference.” It’s great that this discussion is happening.

(By the way the use of the term, Nazi, is extremely offensive. I cannot envision another arena in which the use of the term would be condoned.)

I'm epileptic and two of my anticonvulsant medications can not be taken while breastfeeding. I am also on federal disability, which means I am very poor. While I am not a mother, I can only imagine being grateful if I were given free formula samples and coupons for the same if I had had a baby.

I have no qualms about presenting breast-feeding as the most nutritious and economical cost for *most* mothers; however, there are very real reasons why some of us not only want but *need* inexpensive formula. Massachusetts is going a bit too far with outlawing all formula samples. That formula companies practice aggressive marketing practices is no reason to make their products difficult or pricey to obtain for someone who *needs* them.